Species Regional Summary
Membranipora membranacea
_CDA_N135 (Piscataqua-Salmon Falls) ( N135 )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st record: Isles of Shoals/ME-NH/Gulf of Maine (1987, Berman et al. 1993; Harris and Tyrell 2000, on blades of kelp, Saccharina latissima = Laminaria saccharum spp.)

Geographic Extent

Isles of Shoals/ME-NH/Gulf of Maine (1987, Berman et al. 1993; Harris and Tyrell 2000, on blades of kelp, Saccharina latissima = Laminaria saccharum)

Vectors

Level Vector
Alternate Hull Fouling
Alternate Ballast Water

Regional Impacts

Ecological ImpactCompetition
In the Isles of Shoals (NH-ME), Membranipora membranacea's colonies overgrew large areas of the fronds of kelp (Laminaria saccharina = Saccharina latissima), potentially decreasing the photosynthesis and growth of the seaweed. In addition, M. membranacea consistently overgrows the bryozoan Electra pilosa and the hydroid Obelia geniculata on kelp fronds, and is rarely overgrown by other epiphytes (Berman et al. 1992). Over time, from 1996-1999, in the Isles of Shoals, M. membranacea increasingly colonized other algal species, Agarum clathratum, Desmarestia aculeata, and the introduced Codium fragile (Harris and Tyrell 2001).
 
Ecological ImpactHabitat Change
Kelps overgrown by M. membranacea are more vulnerable to breaking and tearing during storm surges (Berman et al. 1992). Decreases in the abundance of large kelps (Saccharina = Laminaria spp.) at the Isles of Shoals have contributed to increases in other seaweeds (Agarum clathratum, Desmarestia aculeata, and the introduced Codium fragile fagile, which suffer less damage from colonization by M. membranipora (Harris and Tyrell 2001).
 

References

Full Reference List for Membranipora membranacea

  • 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.

©