Species Regional Summary
Botrylloides violaceus
Gulf of St. Lawrence to Bay of Fundy ( NA-ET1 )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st Record: Lunenburg/Nova Scotia/Atlantic Ocean (Locke et al. 2007)

Geographic Extent

Belleoram/Newfoundland/Fortune Bay (2007, Callahan et al. 2010, 47.5272N -55.4092W, 2007-2014. Ma et al. 20101 McKenzie et al. 2016); South Bar, Cape Breton Island/Nova Scotia/Great Bras d'Or Bay (Bock et al. 2011); Chester/Nova Scotia/Atlantic Ocean (Bock et al. 2011); Lunenburg/Nova Scotia/Atlantic Ocean (Locke et al. 2007); Petit de Grat/Nova Scotia/Chedebucto Bay (2006, Sephton et al. 2011); Lockeport/Nova Scotia/Lockeport Harbour (Bock et al. 2011); Port l'Hebert/Nova Scotia/Port Herbert River (Wong and Vercaemer 2012); Point Tupper/Nova Scotia/Gut of Canso (2008, Lacoursiere-Roussel et al. 2016); Big Bras d'Or/Nova Scotia/Bras d'Or Lake (2006, Sephton et al. 2006); Shelburne/Nova Scotia/Atlantic Ocean (2008, Lacoursiere-Roussel et l. 2016)

Vectors

Level Vector
Alternate Hull Fouling
Alternate Fisheries Accidental (not Oyster)

Regional Impacts

Ecological ImpactCompetition
The native eelgrass Zostera marina was adversely affected by fouling by Botrylloides violaceus. The burgundy colored morph had a greater effect than that of orange or cream-colored colonies, as indicated by lower chlorophyll concentrations in the leaf, and leaf mortality. However, fouling by a native sponge, Halichondria panicea, produced a greater reduction of chlorphyll that any of the morphs of B. violaceus, or Botryllus schlosseri (Wong and Vercaemer 2012).
 
Ecological ImpactHabitat Change
The spread of introduced fouling organisms (B. violaceus and B. schlosseri) to eelgrass beds is considered likely to reduce the primary productivity and the extent of grass beds in Nova Scotia waters (Wong and Vercaemer 2012).
 

References

Full Reference List for Botrylloides violaceus

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