Species Regional Summary
Ciona intestinalis
Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras ( NA-ET3 )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st Record: off New Bedford/MA/Buzzards Bay (Agassiz 1859, cited by Gould 1870, as Ascidia ocellata)

Geographic Extent

Nantucket Shoals, South Of/MA/Atlantic Ocean, (1882, 40 N, 70.6 W, USNM 4647, US National Museum of Natural History 2007); Tripp Marina, Westport/MA/Westport River (Buzzards Bay), (MIT Sea Grant 2003); Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Bourne/MA/Buzzards Bay (MIT Sea Grant 2003); Woods Hole/MA/Eel Pond (Vineyard Sound) (MIT Sea Grant 2003); off New Bedford/MA/Buzzards Bay (Agassiz 1850, cited by Gould 1870); Fall River/MA/Mount Hope Bay (MIT Sea Grant 2003); Off Beaver Tail Light/RI/Narragansett Bay (1880, USNM 3818, US National Museum of Natural History 2009); Point Judith Marina, Wakefield/RI/Point Judith Pond (2019, Pederson et al. 2021); Groton/CT/Fishers Island Sound (Osman and Whitlatch 1995); NJ-DE/Delaware Bay-Atlantic Ocean (Plough 1978)

Vectors

Level Vector
Probable Hull Fouling

Regional Impacts

Economic ImpactFisheries
On Matha's Vineyard, Ciona intestinalis was frequently found fouling aquacultural gear, though not attaching to shellfish (Carman et al. 2010).
 

References

Full Reference List for Ciona intestinalis

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