Chronicle Of Exotic Species Introduction
CHRONICLE OF EXOTIC SPECIES INTRODUCTION
INTO THE BLACK SEA
B. Alexandrov, Yu. Zaitsev
Odessa Branch Institute of Biology of Southern Seas, National
Academy of Science of Ukraine
According to the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (see s. 41) the "Black Sea states will present a joint proposal to the IMO (International Maritime Organization), in 1997, for conducting an in-depth study on measures to avoid any further introductions of exotic species into the Black Sea through the deballasting of vessels" [20].
A special GEF/IMO/UNDP Project "Removal of Barriers to the Effective Implementation of Ballast Water Control and Management Measures in Developing Countries" was launched in 1999. In order to ensure effective actions in this direction a Scientific Workshop on Ballast Water Management and Control was held in the Black Sea on board of the research vessel "Georgij Ushakov" from 14 to 17 September 1999. The Workshop was attended by 40 participants from the Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea riparian countries and IMO. This meeting was a first step to support the GEF/IMO/UNDP Project.
The Odessa Branch, Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas National Academy of Science of Ukraine carried out long-term researches of different aspects of man-made impact on the Black Sea ecosystem, including such a specific form of pollution like the introduction of nonnative species [25].
A summary table of accidentally and/or intentionally introduced exotic species in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and adjoining water bodies is represent bellow.
More than 30 species of alien aquatic plants and animals were registered in the Black Sea basin during XX century. There are three periods of accidentally introduction of the new species into the Black Sea, which have been directly connected with human activity.
The firs one (1920-1950) is the period of intensive shipping development (appearance of high-speed diesel engine vessels and building of the new harbors). There were 8 exotic organisms, which are mostly fouling species and have penetrated into the Black Sea on the hulls.
The second period (1951-1980) have been characterized by diminishing of the accidentally introduction of exotic species. This fact it is possible to explain by the wide application of the antifouling coating. For example, in 70-s overwhelming majority of the ships processed by tributyltin (TBT) which protected the hulls from fouling during 18-24 months. So 11 from 12 exotic organisms during the second period were intentionally introduced species (fishes and shrimps). It is interesting to note, that increasing salinity of the Sea of Azov as a result of infill of Tsemliansk reservoir in 1952 and regulated run-off of Don and Kuban rivers cause the penetration of some new species from the Black Sea.
During the third period (1981-2000) have been revealed of disequilibrium of marine ecosystem because of large-scale eutrophication started from 1973 [26]. So high intensity of alien species appearance (about one species per year) was connected with changes of productivity benthic and pelagic communities of the Black Sea. Owing to this situation, it may be confirmed that with the changing conditions of the ecosystem that have taken place during a rise in trophic status during eutrophication, there has been a disturbance in the stability and the ecological niches formed by the invading highly productive species, which are more adapted to new conditions [1]. Principal mediator of alien species penetration during this period was ballast water. The main part of exotic species have been registered during this period were pelagic organisms during their ontogenesis. Another confirmation of causal relationship of the alien species and the vessels were their discovering in immediate proximity to harbors. It is necessary to stress that uncontrolled delivery of exotic organisms promotes to appearance the new competitors to native flora and fauna species and stimulates still more destabilization effect. According rough estimate of IMO, about 10 billions ton of the ballast water which contained not less than 3000 species transported yearly in World Ocean [21].
The authors are entertaining a hope that the data of this summary table compiled from published materials, unpublished author\’s surveys and personal communications can serve for following investigations in one of the most critical and urgent marine environmental problems.
Accidental and intentional introduction of exotic species into the Black Sea
№
Taxa
Species
Year
Place of the first registration
Habitat
Author
1
BIVALVIA
Teredo navalis
750-500 B.C.
Black Sea, Sea of Azov (1953)
Submerged wood
5
2
CIRRIPEDIA
Balanus improvisus
1844
Black Sea, Sea of Azov
Fouling
5
3
CIRRIPEDIA
Balanus eburneus
1892
Sevastopol Bay
Fouling
13
4
BIVALVIA
Crassostrea gigas*
1900s
Crimean and Caucasian coast
Fouling
26
5
BACILLARIOPHYTA
Rizosolenia calcar-avis
1924
The Sea of Azov
Pelagic zone
16
6
PISCES
Gambusia affinis holbrooki*
1925
Kolkheti lowlands
Pelagic zone
26
7
HYDROZOA
Blackfordia virginica
1925
River\’s mouths near Burgas
Fouling
22
8
POLYCHAETA
Mercierella enigmatica
1929
Paleostomi Lake, Sea of Azov (1956)
Fouling
2, 8
9
PISCES
Lepomis gibbosus
1930s
Danube delta
Pelagic zone
26
10
HYDROZOA
Bougainvillia megas
(syn. Perigonimus megas)
1933
Varna Lake, Sea of Azov (1959)
Fouling
8, 14
11
DECAPODA
Rithropanopaeus harrisii tridentatus
1937
Dneprovsko-Bugsky liman
Benthic zone
Fouling
9
12
GASTROPODA
Rapana thomasiana thomasiana (syn. R. venosa)
1946
Novorossiysk Bay
Benthic zone Fouling
6
13
ENTOPROCTA
Urnatella gracilis
1950
Danube and Dniester river mouth area
Fouling
27
14
PISCES
Hypophthalmichthys molytrix*
1950s
Dneprovsko-Bugsky liman, Odessa Gulf
Pelagic zone
26
№
Taxa
Species
Year
Place of the first registration
Habitat
Author
15
GASTROPODA
Potamopyrgus jenkinsii
1952
Razelm-Sinoe lagoon
Benthic zone
5
16
DECAPODA
Pandallus kessleri*
(syn. P. latirostris)
1959
Khadzhibey and Kyzyltash limans
Bentho- Pelagic zone
17, 26
17
PISCES
Plecoglossus altivellis*
1963
Black Sea
Pelagic zone
26
18
PISCES
Roccus saxatilis*
1965
Dneprovsky liman, north-western Black Sea, Caucasian coast
Pelagic zone
26
19
PISCES
Salmo gairdneri*
1965
Shabolatsky liman
Pelagic zone
26
20
BIVALVIA
Mya arenaria
1966
Odessa Gulf
Benthic zone
Fouling
3
21
DECAPODA
Callinectes sapidus
1967
Bulgarian shelf
Benthic zone
4
22
PISCES
Mugil soiuy*
1968
Black and Azov Seas, limans, lagoons, deltas
Pelagic zone
19
23
PISCES
Oryzias latipes*
1970s
Kuban river, Sea of Azov
Pelagic zone
23, 26
24
DECAPODA
Penaeus japonicus*
1970s
Razelm-Sinoe and other Black Sea lagoons
Bentho-Pelagic zone
26
25
PISCES
Onchorhynchus keta*
1972
Caucasian rivers
Pelagic zone
26
26
PISCES
Dicentrarchus labrax*
1977
Black Sea
Pelagic zone
26
27
PISCES
Lateolabrax japonicus*
1978
Black Sea
Pelagic zone
26
28
NUDIBRANCHIA
Doridella obscura
1980
Varna Bay
Fouling
18
29
PRASYNOPHYCEA
Mantoniella squamata
1980s
Inshore Romanian area of the sea
Pelagic zone
10
30
BIVALVIA
Scapharca inaequivalvis
1982
Caucasian shelf
Benthic zone
24
31
CTENOPHORA
Mnemiopsis leidyi
1982
Sudak Bay (Crimean coast)
Pelagic zone
15
32
DINOPHYTA
Scrippsiella trochoidea
1989
Bulgarian coast
Pelagic zone
12
33
CHRYSOPHYTA
Phaeocystis pouchettii
1990
Bulgarian coast
Pelagic zone
12
№
Taxa
Species
Year
Place of the first registration
Habitat
Author
34
DINOPHYTA
Gesnerium mochiamensis
1991
Bulgarian coast
Pelagic zone
12
35
PHAEOPHYTA
Desmarestia viridis
1992
Odessa Gulf
Fouling
11
36
CTENOPHORA
Beroë cucumis
1997
Odessa Gulf,
Bulgarian coast (Shabla)
Pelagic zone
7, 25
37
DECAPODA
Eriocheir sinensis
1998
Yuzhny harbor and Cape Bolshoy Fontan in the north-western Black Sea
Benthic zone
25
*intentional introduction (unsuccessful attempts are print in bold type)
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