Biological Invasions of Cold-Water Coastal Ecosystems: Ballast-Mediated Introductions in Port Valdez/Prince William Sound, Alaska. Final Project Report.

摘要

This study assesses the risk of biological invasion by nonindigenous species (NIS) associated with oil tanker traffic and ballast water management for Port Valdez / Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska. This study included 8 major components: Review of risk factors for NIS invasions and ship-mediated transfer of species relevant to PWS, a high latitude, cold-water marine ecosystem; Analysis of ballast water delivery patterns and plankton communities associated with ballast water on tankers that arrived to PWS; Experimental analysis of initial survivorship of ballast water organisms in temperature-salinity combinations typical of receiving waters of Port Valdez; Experimental measurements of the effect of ballast water exchange and voyage duration on plankton communities arriving on tankers to PWS; Characterization of organisms fouling hulls and in sea chests of crude oil tankers; Characterization of organisms in sediments of tanker ballast tanks; Determination of NIS established within Alaska, as detected by field surveys and reviews of existing collections and literature conducted by experienced naturalists and taxonomic experts; and Analysis of the biodiversity of PWS.