Species Regional Summary
Didemnum vexillum
_CDA_N135 (Piscataqua-Salmon Falls) ( N135 )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st Record: Duck Island, Isles of Shoals/NH/Gulf of Maine (2-03, Bullard et al. 2007)

Geographic Extent

Duck Island, Isles of Shoals/NH/Gulf of Maine (2-03, Bullard et al. 2007)

Vectors

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

Regional Impacts

Ecological ImpactFood/Prey
Increasing abundance of the introduced colonial tunicates Didemnum vexillum and Diplosoma listerianum has resulted in population growth of the native Bloodstar starfish Henricia sanguinolenta (Dijkstra et al. 2012).
 
Ecological ImpactTrophic Cascade
Increased abundance of the Bloodstar starfish (Henricia sanguinolenta), supported by growing populations of Didemnum vexillum and Diplosoma listerianum, has resulted in increased predation and near-disappearance of the cryptogenic sponge Halichondria panicea (Dijkstra et al. 2012).
 

References

Full Reference List for Didemnum vexillum

  • Nemesis (current)
  • Marine Invasions Lab
  • Partner Portals
    Nemesis California Panama Galapagos Cocos Island NP JTMD
    Archived Projects
    Chesapeake
  • Browse Species
    Taxonomic Groups All Species
  • Browse Regions
    States
    Alaska
    Bioregions & Bays
  • News
  • login

Direct questions and comments to nemesis@si.edu.

©