Nonindigenous Marine Species on Coral Reefs Seychelles, Indian Ocean

1
Non-indigenous Marine Species on Coral Reefs
Seychelles, Indian Ocean
IUCN Global Marine Program Ameer Abdulla,
Oliver Floerl, Jude Bijoux, Kate Pike, and Matt
RichmondAdvisory Board Carl Lundin, Mary
Stravens, and Rolf Payet
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research
Seychelles Ministry of Environment
Keidanren Nature Fund
2
Tropical invasions?

• Non-indigenous invasive species are a global
  threat to biodiversity
• Case Studies
• Australian surveys of tropical ports in 1997 show
  few introduced species
• Surveys of harbors in Hawaii recorded 110
  invasive species (25 of natives)
• Ecological Theory
• Biogeographically isolated, less diverse marine
  communities are more susceptible to introductions
• Artificial, disturbed or polluted habitats are
  more susceptible to establishment of non
  indigenous species

3
Seychelles as a case study

• 1998 Mass Bleaching Event in the Indian Ocean as
  a result of El Nino and rapid increase in SST
• Up to 90 mortality of coral in many reefs of
  the Seychelles archipelago
• High rubble movement due to the Tsunami
• Heavily impacted and disturbed areas may be
  susceptible to invasions appropriate habitat?
• Seychelles archipelago is a stepping stone for
  shipping and boats viable vector?

4
Marine Introduced Species
Mahe Marina

• Bryozoans
• Bugula neritina
• Zoobtryon verticillatum

5
Project Objectives

• Building Partnerships
• Total Corp. of France, Keidanren Nature Fund of
  Japan
• Seychelles Center of Marine Research and
  Technology and Marine Protection Authority,
  Ministry of Environment, Fishing Authority, Coast
  Guard, Marine Conservation Society
• UN IMO-Globallast II
• Enhancing technical capacity
• Seychelles- survey and laboratory training
• W. Indian Ocean taxonomic workshop
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Detection of marine invasive species in ports
  and reefs
• Rapid response protocol to eradicate where
  feasible
• Communicating with public and stakeholders
• raising awareness with documents, workshops,
  documentaries, media

6
Sampling Sites

• Comprehensive port sampling and coral reef
  surveys
• 12-15 sites
• Mahe Port and associated habitats
• St. Anne MPA

7
Protocols (CSIRO)
8
Plankton tow net

• Targets phyto and zooplankton (incl. jellies)

9
Deploying the traps

• Traps baited
• Soak overnight

• Quick to set up
• Good and interesting catches
• Cheap

10
Trapping shrimp traps
Funnel with small opening
Bait (fish)

• Clipped to the box traps
• Target amphipods, isopods, shrimp

Plastic cylinder
11
Pile quadrat scrapings

• 25 x 40cm PVC quadrats (0.1 m2) with mesh
  catchbags
• -0.5 -1.5 -3 -7m depth
• fixed to outside of pilings
• easy sampling with 2 divers (15min per pile)

12
Pile quadrat scrapings
13
Pile quadrat scrapings

• After filming, quadrat contents are scraped into
  a mesh catch bag

14
Global Context
15
Invasives, MPAs, and coral reefs

• Traditional considerations ignore invasives
• MPAs and coral reefs in close proximity to ports
• New considerations / risk assessment
• Vectors Shipping intensity, volume, and type
• Distances physical proximity, larval viability
  and adult mobility
• Introduced Species competitive and reproductive
  ability

16
Important Initiatives to be endorsed

• Development of an inventory of marine introduced
  species in high use ports associated with coral
  reefs.
• Targeted monitoring of high-value areas for early
  detection of NIS in degraded, pristine and
  protected coral reef habitats.
• Monitoring must be complemented with incursion
  response strategies and action plans for managers