Species Regional Summary
Didemnum vexillum
None ( NEA-II )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st Record: Zeeland/Netherlands/Lake Grevelingen and the Oosterschelde (1991, Gittenberger 2007)

Geographic Extent

Zeeland/Netherlands/Lake Grevelingen and the Oosterschelde (1991, Gittenberger 2007); Coljinsplaat to Bonnemede/Netherlands/North Sea (2009-2010, Lindeyer and Gittenberger 2011); Terschelling/Netherlands/Wadden Sea (2008, Gittenberger et al. 2010); Le Havre/France/English Channel (2002, USGS Woods Hole Science Center 2007); Dublin County/Ireland/Malahide Estuary, 53º26'N, 06º09'W (2005, Minchin and Sides 2006); Louth County/Ireland/Carlingford Lough, 54º02'N, 06º11'W (2006, Minchin and Sides 2006); Holyhead Marina/Wales/Irish Sea (10/12/08, Griffith et al. 2009, Holt 2011 (eradication attempted); Graham etal. 2015, 53°19.173' 04°38.488'); Anglesey/Wales/Irish Sea (Lenz et al. 2011); Darthaven Marina, Dartmouth/England/Dart estuary, English Channel (6/29/2005, Griffith et al. 2009, died off with heavy rains, but colonies seen again on 7/27/2009; Graham et al. 2015);1 marina, Essex/ England/English Channel (Wood et al. 2016); Carlingford Marina, County Down/Northern Ireland/Carlingford Lough, Irish Sea (2012, Nunn and Minchin 2013); Cork/Ireland/Iresih Sea (2021, O'Shaughnessy et al. 2023); Cowes, Lymington and Gosport/England/the Solent (3/2010, USGS Woods Hole Science Center 2010; Bishop et al. 2015; Graham et al. 2015); North Kent Coast/England/English Channel (2011, Laing in ICES Advisory Committee on the Marine Environment 2012; Bishop et al. 2015); Largs/Scotland/Firth of Clydes (1/25/2010, USGS Woods Hole Science Center 2010; Grham et al. 2015); Isle of Sylt/Germany/Wadden Sea (2017, Lackschewitz et al. 2017, ctied by ICES WGITMO 2017)

Vectors

Level Vector
Alternate Hull Fouling
Alternate Oyster Accidental

Regional Impacts

Ecological ImpactCompetition
Overgrowth of epibenthic flora and fauna, killing some species (Netherlands, Gittenberger 2007).
 
Ecological ImpactHabitat Change
Overgrowth of epibenthic flora and fauna, killing some species (Netherlands, Gittenberger 2007).
 
Economic ImpactShipping/Boating
Because of potential economic and ecological impacts, eradication was attempted in Holyhead Harbour, Wales, in 2009, by enclosing floats in plastic bags, creating a stagnant environment. This was temporarily effective, but the regrowth of new colonies was seen by 2011 (Holt 2011). Fouling impacts fave been reported for the British Isles (Minchin et al. 2013).
 

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.

©