Description
Synonymy- Bankiella gouldi Bartsch; Xylotrya gouldi Bartsch 1908; Bankia mexicana Bartsch 1921
Bankia schrencki Moll; 1935. The last three names actually refer to tropical species (B. fimbriatula; B. bipalmulata; Abbott 1974); but were frequently used for specimens of B. gouldi before its description by Bartsch (e.g. Dall 1889; Ingersoll 1884; Tryon 1862).
Potentially Misidentified species- These species are native to the Caribbean and other tropical waters (Abbott 1974).
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalia | Mollusca | Bivalvia | Myoida | Teredinidae | Bankia |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
| First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883 | Established | Stable | Native | Regular Resident | Western Atlantic | Western Atlantic | none |
History of Spread
Bankia gouldi is generally considered to be native to the mid-Atlantic region (Bartsch 1908; Coomans 1962; Hoagland and Turner 1980; Turner 1973). 'This species appears to be indigenous to this coast' (Ingersoll 1884; as Xylotria fimbriata). Its present range is New Jersey to Brazil (Abbott 1974; Clench and Turner 1946). The type specimen was collected from Norfolk Harbor (Smiths Point; Elizabeth R.) VA in 1883 (Bartsch 1908; USNM collections). The distribution of B. gouldi is somewhat unusual; in that its northern boundary bisects the Virginian Province at New Jersey; rather than reaching Cape Cod; a more typical northern limit (Coomans 1962). Northward natural dispersal of larvae or adults to Chesapeake; Delaware and Barnegat Bays in floating wood from south of Cape Hatteras is unlikely; since nearshore currents near the Bay mouth run southward; while further offshore; the Gulf Stream runs northeastward away from land (Bumpus and Lauzier 1965). One scenario which could explain this pattern would be colonizing of the Virginian province by natural dispersal; folowed by extinction of the populations north of Barnegat Bay by severe winters or other factors. However; the possibility that the range of this species was extended northward from south of Cape Hatteras by shipping cannot be excluded. Such transport; if it occurred must have taken place before the late 1800's; since B. gouldi appears to have been well established in Chesapeake Bay by 1884 (Bartsch 1908; Bartsch 1922; Dall 1889) and in Barnegat Bay by the 1920's (Turner 1973). Since B. gouldi is the only shipworm in many low salinity areas; its arrival would have been a notable event and probably would have been discussed in the above papers if it were a recent occurrence. Curiously; it was not mentioned by DeKay (1843); who stated that among the six genera of Teredinae then known: 'The living representative of one only (Teredo navalis) has yet been observed on the coast of the United States.'. It isn't clear whether this was because B. gouldi was not recognized as a separate species at that time; or whether B. gouldi was absent from the mid-Atlantic region. Tryon (1862); discussing 'Xylotrya fimbriata'; in which B. gouldi was then included; describes it only as 'a doubtful inahbitant of the British coast'. Atlantic Coast (U.S.) records are summarized below: Boston MA before 1915-as Xylotria palmulata. 'Taken from one of the timbers of 'Old Ironsides' (Johnson 1915). Long Island Sound; New haven CT 1869-as Xylotria palmulata. 'A few specimens of this shell were found with Teredo navalis' in ' an old half-buried wreck hear the entrance of the harbour' (Perkins 1871). Cold Spring Harbour NY 1898-99-'found in an old hull' (Balch 1899). Barnegat Bay NJ 1921-as Xylotria fimbriata. Apparently abundant (Nelson 1922; cited by Turner 1973). But only T. navalis found on test boards at Barnegat City (Brown 1952). Abundance greatly increased following construction of Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant (Turner 1973; Richards et al. 1984). Chesapeake Bay 1883-Smiths Pt.; Elizabeth R (Norfolk Harbour VA)(USNM collection). Bartsch (1908; 1922) consideres the Virginia Capes as the northern limit of B. gouldi's range. Bearfort NC 1907-Studied by Sigerfoos (1907). USNM specimen 1911. FL-southern limit of range given by Ingersoll (1884). TX; LA-(Bartsch 1908) Chesapeake Records; in more detail: Lower Bay-Smiths Pt.; Elizabeth R.; VA 1883 (Norfolk Harbour VA)(USNA collection); Newport News VA 1906; Hampton Roads (Bartsch 1908). Norfolk VA 1944-53; Portsmouth VA 1944-52 found on test boards (Brown 1952). 1-25 worms/board (light to moderate) at Crisfield MD 1951-52 (Scheltema and Truitt 1954). James R.-Lee Hall 1952; found on test board (Brown 1952). York R.-Yorktown; 1949-52; found on test board (Brown 1952). 1950-52; 2-521 worms/board (light to very heavy; Scheltema and Truitt 1954). Patuxent R.-1-90). 1-25 worms/board (light to moderate); Solomons MD (Scheltema and Truitt 1954). Upper Bay-Baltimore (Sparrows Pt.) 1941; one specimen in test board found on test board (Brown 1952); Annapolis MD 1949-52 slight to moderate borings in test boards (Brown 1952); 1-2 worms/board in Severn R. 1950-52. 1-11 worms/board at Kent Narrows; Choptank R. (Scheltema and Truitt 1954). History Refs- Balch 1899; Bartsch 1908; Bartsch 1922; Brown 1952; Bumpus and Lauzier 1965; Clench and Turner 1946;; Coomans 1962; Dall 1889; DeKay 1843; Hoagland and Turner 1980; Johnson 1915; Ingersoll 1884; Perkins 1871; Richards et al. 1984; Scheltema and Truitt 1954; Sigerfoos 1907; Tryon 1862; Turner 1973
Invasion Comments
Invasion Status- Native to North America and probably to Chesapeake Bay, but early northward transport (before the mid-1800's) cannot be excluded.
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | 5.0 | 33.0 | 17.5 | 30.0 |
| Salinity (‰) | 9.0 | 10.0 | 32.0 | |
| Oxygen | anoxic | |||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | meso-poly |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | 63.0 | |
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 304.0 | |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 607.0 | |
| Maximum Longevity (yrs) | ||
| Typical Longevity (yrs | 2.0 |
Reproduction
| Start | Peak | End | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive Season | |||
| Typical Number of Young Per Reproductive Event |
|||
| Sexuality Mode(s) | |||
| Mode(s) of Asexual Reproduction |
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| Fertilization Type(s) | |||
| More than One Reproduction Event per Year |
|||
| Reproductive Startegy | |||
| Egg/Seed Form |
Impacts
Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay
Shipworms damage wooden boats, pilings, and other structures in ports and marinas. 'Bankia gouldi gouldi is the only species (of shipworm) that previously has been encountered has been encountered north of the York River and appears to be by far the most important species in the Chesapeake Bay' (Scheltema and Truitt 1954).
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
'Gould's shipworm is the most widespread and destructive species in this genus on the Atlantic Coast, and hence is the most destructive' (Abbott 1974).
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Habitat Change; herbivory- If B. gouldi was introduced in Chesapeake Bay; it probably would have been the first shipworm (assuming T. navalis was introduced later) in the Bay and as such would have drastically altered Bay foodwebs as an efficient recycler of coarse woody debris (Turner 1984). Note that chemical treatment or metal sheating of wood to prevent shipworm damage may have toxic effects in the marine environment.
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
Competition- with Teredo navalis (introduced?) is possible but has not been documented. Competition would be restricted to polyhaline parts of the lower Bay; because of T. navalis' preference for high salinities (Brown 1953; Wass 1972). In Barnegat Bay; both species overlap; but B. gouldi dominates in the western parts of the bay; while T. navalis is the predominant form in the more saline eastern parts (Richards et al. 1984).
References
Balch, Francis Noyes (1899) List of marine mollusca of Coldspring Harbor, Long Island, with descriptions of one new genus and two new species of nudibranchs, Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 29: 133-163Bartsch, Paul (1908) A new shipworm from the United States, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 21: 211-212
Bartsch, Paul (1922) A monograph of the American shipworms, United States National Museum Bulletin 122: 1-48
Brown, Dorothy J. (1953) Sixth Progress Report on marine borer activity in test boards operated during 1952, Report No. 8511 , Duxbury, Massachusetts. Pp.
Bumpus, Dean F., Lauzier, Louis M. (1965) Surface circulation on the continental shelf off eastern North America between Newfoundland and Florida., Serial Atlas of the Marine Environment :
Clench, William J., Turner, Ruth D. (1946) The genus Bankia in the western Atlantic, Johnsonia 2: 1-28
Coomans, H. E. (1962) The marine mollusk fauna of the Virginian area as a basis for defining zoogeographical provinces., Beaufortia 9: 83-104
Culliney, J. L. (1975) Comparative larval development of the shipworms Bankia gouldi and Teredo navalis, Marine Biology 29: 245-251
Dall, William Healey (1889) A preliminary catalogue of the shell-bearing marine mollusks and brachiopods of the south-eastern coast of the United States, Bulletin of the United States National Museum 37: 1-221
Hoagland, K, Elaine (1986b) Genetic variation in seven wood-boring teredinid and pholadid bivalves with different patterns of life history and dispersal, Malacologia 27: 323-339
Hoagland, K. E.; Turner, R. D. (1980) Range extensions of teredinids (shipworms) and polychaetes in the vicinity of a temperate-zone nuclear generating station., Marine Biology 58: 55-64
Hoagland, K. Elaine (1983) Life history characteristics and physiological tolerances of Teredo bartschi, a shipworm introduced into two temperate zone nuclear power plant effluents., In: Sengupta, N. S., and Lee S. S.(Eds.) Third International Waste Heat Conference.. , Miami Beach, FL. Pp. 609-622
Ingersoll, Ernest (1884) The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States. Section I. Natural history of useful aquatic animals. Part IV. Mollusks W. Mollusks in general, United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries : 683-710
Johnson, Charles W. (1915) Fauna of New England. 13. List of the Mollusca, Occasional Papers of the Boston Society of Natural History 7: 1-223
Richards, Beatrice R.; Hillman, Robert E.; Maciolek, Nancy J. (1984) Shipworms, In: Kennish, Michael J.; Lutz, Richard A.(Eds.) Lecture Notes on Coastal and Estuarine Studies - Ecology of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. , New York. Pp. 201-225
Scheltema, Rudolf S., Truitt, R. V. (1954) Ecological factors related to the distribution of Bankia gouldi Bartsch in Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory Publication 100: 1-31
Scheltema, Rudolf S.; Truitt, R. V. (1954) Ecological factors related to the distribution of Bankia gouldi Bartsch in Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory Publication 100: 1-31
Sigerfoos, Charles P. (1907) Natural history, organization, and late development of the Teredinidae, or ship-worms, Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries 27: 191-231, pls. 7-21
Tryon, George W. (1862) A sketch of the history of conchology in the United States, American Journal of Sciences and Arts 33:
Tryon, George W., Jr. (1862) Monograph of the Teredidae, Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 14: 453-481
Turgeon, D.D.; Bogan, A.E.; Coan, E.V.; Emerson, W.K.; Lyons, W.G.; Pratt, W.L.; Roper, E.F.E.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F.G.; Williams, J.D. (1988) Common and Scientific Names of Aquatic Invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks, , Bethesda, Maryland. Pp. 227 pages
Turner, R. D. (1973) In the path of a warm, saline effluent, American Malacological Union Bulletin 39: 36-39
Turner, Ruth D. (1966) A survey and illustrated catalogue of the Teredinidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia), , Cambridge. Pp.
Turner, Ruth D. (1984) An overview of research on marine borers: past progress and future direction., In: Costlow, J.D./Tipper, R. C.(Eds.) Proceedings of the Symposium on Marine Biodeterioration. , Annapolis, MD. Pp.
Wassman, Robert, Ramus, Joseph (1973) Seaweed invasion, Natural History 82: 24-36