Detection of
441
Part B | 16.1
16. Detection of Invasive Species
Nathan J. Bott
Marine invasive species incursions can cause significant ongoing damage to marine environments,
aquaculture, biodiversity, infrastructure, and social
amenity. They represent a significant and ongoing
economic burden. Marine pests can be introduced
by several vectors, including aquaculture, aquarium trading, commercial shipping, fishing, floating
debris, mining activities, and recreational boating.
Despite the inherent risks, there is currently relatively little routine surveillance of marine pest
species conducted in the majority of countries
worldwide. Accurate and rapid identification of
marine pest species is central to early detection
and management. Traditional techniques (e.g.,
physical sampling and sorting) have limitations,
which has motivated recent progress towards the
development of molecular surveillance tools. This
chapter highlights the importance of effective
sampling and Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction strategies and describes developments in
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based and ecogenomic methods for the detection and surveillance
of marine invasive species. Recent advances provide a platform for the development of practical,
specific, sensitive, and rapid diagnosis and sur16.1 Background......................................... 441
16.2 Traditional Techniques ......................... 442
16.3 Sample Collection ................................ 442
16.3.1 Extraction of Genomic DNA
from Environmental Samples...... 442
16.4 Molecular Approach to the
Identification of Marine Invasive
Species................................................ 443
16.5 PCR-Based Methods Utilized
for Routine Identification
and/or Surveillance ............................. 445
16.5.1 PCR-Based Methods................... 445
16.6 Ecogenomic Techniques ....................... 447
16.7 Future Approaches ............................... 448
16.7.1 Routine Monitoring
and Surveillance of Marine
Invasive Species in Port Waters ... 448
16.7.2 Testing Ballast Water ................. 448
16.7.3 Legal Requirements ................... 449
16.8 Concluding Remarks ............................ 449
References................................................... 450
veillance tools for marine invasive species for use
in effective prevention and control strategies.
16.1 Background
Marine invasive species have the potential to cause
significant harm to endemic biodiversity and habitats [16.1, 2]. Marine pests can be translocated and
introduced by numerous vectors including ship ballast,
hull fouling, floating debris, and man-made structures
such as drilling platforms and canals [16.3]. Marine
invasive species introductions continue to occur and
threaten the marine environment and associated industries [16.4]. With increasing globalization comes faster
and more frequent shipping and air transport of live
seafood. Propagule pressure is only likely to increase
unless effective strategies are employed for early detection, prevention, and control. Central to such strategies
is the ability to rapidly identify invasive species from
the environment.
In San Francisco Bay there are at least 230 established exotic species that account for 40100% of the
common species at many sites in the estuary [16.5].
Even if suitable eradication technologies were available, in some cases it may be un-economical to them,
given the logistical difficulties associated with working in a marine environment. The main economic and
social impacts of marine pests are decreases in the
economic output of marine-based activities from aqua-
441
Part B | 16.1
16. Detection of Invasive Species
Nathan J. Bott
Marine invasive species incursions can cause significant ongoing damage to marine environments,
aquaculture, biodiversity, infrastructure, and social
amenity. They represent a significant and ongoing
economic burden. Marine pests can be introduced
by several vectors, including aquaculture, aquarium trading, commercial shipping, fishing, floating
debris, mining activities, and recreational boating.
Despite the inherent risks, there is currently relatively little routine surveillance of marine pest
species conducted in the majority of countries
worldwide. Accurate and rapid identification of
marine pest species is central to early detection
and management. Traditional techniques (e.g.,
physical sampling and sorting) have limitations,
which has motivated recent progress towards the
development of molecular surveillance tools. This
chapter highlights the importance of effective
sampling and Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction strategies and describes developments in
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based and ecogenomic methods for the detection and surveillance
of marine invasive species. Recent advances provide a platform for the development of practical,
specific, sensitive, and rapid diagnosis and sur16.1 Background......................................... 441
16.2 Traditional Techniques ......................... 442
16.3 Sample Collection ................................ 442
16.3.1 Extraction of Genomic DNA
from Environmental Samples...... 442
16.4 Molecular Approach to the
Identification of Marine Invasive
Species................................................ 443
16.5 PCR-Based Methods Utilized
for Routine Identification
and/or Surveillance ............................. 445
16.5.1 PCR-Based Methods................... 445
16.6 Ecogenomic Techniques ....................... 447
16.7 Future Approaches ............................... 448
16.7.1 Routine Monitoring
and Surveillance of Marine
Invasive Species in Port Waters ... 448
16.7.2 Testing Ballast Water ................. 448
16.7.3 Legal Requirements ................... 449
16.8 Concluding Remarks ............................ 449
References................................................... 450
veillance tools for marine invasive species for use
in effective prevention and control strategies.
16.1 Background
Marine invasive species have the potential to cause
significant harm to endemic biodiversity and habitats [16.1, 2]. Marine pests can be translocated and
introduced by numerous vectors including ship ballast,
hull fouling, floating debris, and man-made structures
such as drilling platforms and canals [16.3]. Marine
invasive species introductions continue to occur and
threaten the marine environment and associated industries [16.4]. With increasing globalization comes faster
and more frequent shipping and air transport of live
seafood. Propagule pressure is only likely to increase
unless effective strategies are employed for early detection, prevention, and control. Central to such strategies
is the ability to rapidly identify invasive species from
the environment.
In San Francisco Bay there are at least 230 established exotic species that account for 40100% of the
common species at many sites in the estuary [16.5].
Even if suitable eradication technologies were available, in some cases it may be un-economical to them,
given the logistical difficulties associated with working in a marine environment. The main economic and
social impacts of marine pests are decreases in the
economic output of marine-based activities from aqua-