Species Regional Summary
Ectopleura crocea
Northern California to Mid Channel Islands ( NEP-V )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st record: San Francisco/CA/San Francisco Bay (as Parypha microcephala, Agassiz 1865, cited by Carlton 1979)

Geographic Extent

San Francisco/CA/San Francisco Bay (as Parypha microcephala, Agassiz 1865, cited by Carlton 1979);  Treasure Island Dock, San Francisco/CA/San Francisco Bay; Hunters Point, San Francisco/CA/San Francisco Bay; Dumbarton Swing (Railway) Bridge, San Francisco/CA/San Francisco Bay; Berkeley Fishing Pier, Berkeley/CA/San Francisco Bay; Port of Richmond Terminal 4, Richmond/CA/San Francisco Bay; Port of Oakland, Oakland/CA/San Francisco Bay; Romberg Tiburon Center, Tiburon/CA/San Francisco Bay; Port of San Francisco Pier 50/CA/San Francisco Bay; Port of San Francisco Pier 23/CA/San Francisco Bay; Port of San Francisco Pier 96/CA/San Francisco Bay; South Hampton Shoal, San Francisco/CA/San Francisco Bay (Ruiz et al., unpublished data); CA/Elkhorn Slough (MacGinitie 1935, cited by Carlton 1979, Wasson et al. 2001); US 1 Bridge, Moss Landing/CA/Elkhorn Slough (1998, Wasson et al. 2001); South Marsh Trail/CA/Elkhorn Slough (1998, Wasson et al. 2001); Kirby Park/CA/Elkhorn Slough (1998, Wasson et al. 2001); Monterey/CA/Monterey Harbor (2011, California Department of Fish and Wildlife 2014); CA/Morro Bay (1986, Needles and Wendt 2012)

Vectors

Level Vector
Probable Hull Fouling
Alternate Oyster Accidental

Regional Impacts

Ecological ImpactCompetition
Ectopleura crocea was a dominant form on fouling plates in San Francisco Bay in late summer and fall, occupying up to 60% of the plates' surface, reaching a peak in October (Okamura 1986).
 
Ecological ImpactHabitat Change
The degenerating stalks of Ectopleura crocea provided a filamentous surface for metamorphosing larvae of Mytilus spp. on fouling plates in San Francisco Bay in winter, facilitating the establishment of dense populations in spring (Okamura 1986).
 

References

Full Reference List for Ectopleura crocea

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