Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Woods Hole/MA/Eel Pond (Vineyard Sound) (41 deg 31.2 min N lat, 70 deg 40.0 W lon, 1-1-2000, USGS Woods Hole Science Center 2003-2007)
Geographic Extent
Woods Hole/MA/Eel Pond (Vineyard Sound) (41 deg 31.2 min N lat, 70 deg 40.0 W lon, 1-1-2000, USGS Woods Hole Science Center 2003-2007); Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard/MA/Vineyard Sound (41 deg 27.6 min N lat, 70 deg 33.6 min W (1/22/04, USGS Woods Hole Science Center 2003-2007); Vineyard Haven/MA/Vineyard Sound (2004, MIT Sea Grant 2003-2007; USGS Woods Hole Science Center 2003-2007); Vineyard Haven/MA/Vineyard Haven (2003, Carman et al. 2007); Martha's Vineyard/MA/Lagoon Pond (6/2007, 41o27'28.4" 70o35'11.8", Carman et al. 2009); Tisbury, Marthas Vineyard/MA/Lake Tashmoo (2008, Carman and Grunden 2010, on eelgrass, Zostera marina) 13 of 24 aquaculture sites, Marthas Vineyard/MA/in 19 surveyed embayments (2008, Carman et al. 2010); Marthas Vineyard/MA/Stonewall Pond (2012-2013, Colarusso et al. 2016)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Probable | Hull Fouling |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Competition | |
| In experiments at Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Didemnum began to recruit later than other species, in October, and rapidly expanded its coverage on plates in October-December (Agius 2007). | ||
| Economic Impact | Fisheries | |
| Didemnum vexillum was found fouling aquaculture gear at 11 sites, and cultured Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians) at three sites, of 26 aquaculture sites surveyed on Marthas Vineyard (Carman et al. 2010). This tunicate was also reported at aquaculture sites in Rhode Island (Carman et al. 2010). | ||