While monitoring for invasive species this week with the MIMIC program, I came across a species of shrimp I have not seen in my 4 years of monitoring at this site. The species is Palaemon elegans, the European Rock Shrimp, and is quite different in appearance from our native species of "estuarine" shrimp, Crangon septemspinosa (sand shrimp) and Palaemonetes pugio (grass shrimp). I found 2 adult gravid females in a tide pool on a rocky point surrounded by sand beaches, and many juveniles in the same pool. It was first sighted in New England last summer in Salem Sound (found by Salem Sound Coast Watch volunteers) and we believe this is only the second confirmed sighting of the shrimp in the Gulf of Maine.
Looks like we got a new addition to the intertidal…
MIMIC is a network of trained volunteers, scientists, and state and federal agency workers who monitor marine invasive species throughout the northeast United States. The collaborative provides an opportunity for the general public to actively participate in an invasive species early detection network, identify new invaders before they spread out of control, and help improve our understanding of the behavior of established invaders.
Associated People Michele Dionne Jeremy Miller Jennifer Dijkstra
Last Friday a science team marched to Wells Harbor and began a rapid assessment of marine invertebrates on and around the dock. The taxonomic specialists from MIT, Sea Grant, and the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Program were joined by Reserve research director Michele Dionne and associate Jeremy Miller, who facilitated the Wells Harbor survey.
Every year, scientists come to Wells NERR to do scientific research in the marsh and woodland habitats. One of these researchers, Genevieve Bernatchez, has spent the last three summers at the Reserve, and was recently awarded a Graduate Research Fellowship from the NERR System. This fellowship will allow her to continue her work at the Reserve for up to three years.
Today, Genevieve was constructing 90 research cages made from PVC piping and mesh. If you visit the Reserve this week, you may see her sitting underneath a tree by the research lab making these cages. The cages will be deployed the first week in July on the mud flat of Little River as part of an experiment studying the effects of crabs on snail density and behavior.
Genevieve is pursuing a Ph.D. in Marine Ecology at Northeastern University by studying the ecological impacts of invasive marine species. Her work will contribute to an improved understanding of the workings of estuarine habitats.
Associated People Megan Tyrrell
Here's a question:
Do artificial substrates favor non-indigenous fouling species over natives?
Showing blog posts tagged invasive species: 1–5 of 5
