Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Records: Santa Barbara/CA/Pacific Ocean (Sarver and Foltz 1993); Gaviota/CA/Pacific Ocean (1990, Sarver and Foltz 1993, molecular survey)
Geographic Extent
Santa Barbara/CA/Pacific Ocean (Sarver and Foltz 1993; ongoing aquaculture, Conte 1992; California Department of Fish and Game 2010; 2010, Saarman and Pogson 2015); Gaviota/CA/Pacific Ocean (1990, Sarver and Foltz 1993, molecular survey; 2010, Saarman and Pogson 2015)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Alternate | None |
| Alternate | Hull Fouling |
Regional Impacts
| Economic Impact | Fisheries | |
| Mussel (M. galloprovincialis) aquaculture has been conducted in San Diego Bay and the Santa Barbara Channel, involving growing mussels on ropes from former oil platforms (Conte 1992; California Department of Fish and Game 2010). Websites indicate that the Santa Barbara Channel operations continue (http://www.sbmariculture.com/shellfish.html). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Competition | |
| Competition with, and nearly complete replacement of, native M. trossulus occurred in southern California waters, possibly in the 1940s (Carlton 1979; McDonald et al. 1991; Suchanek et al. 1997). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Hybridization | |
| Hybridization between M. galloprovincialis and M. trossulus was probably widespread during the early invasion and replacement of M. trossulus. In 2010, the Santata Barbara population was found to be pure M. galloprovincialis (Saarman and Pogson 2015). | ||