Species Regional Summary
Botryllus schlosseri
Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras ( NA-ET3 )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st Record: Woods Hole/MA/Buzzards Bay-Vineyard Sound (Verrilll and Smith 1873)

Geographic Extent

Chatham/MA/Chatham Harbor (2003, Carman et al. 2007); Woods Hole/MA/Buzzards Bay-Vineyard Sound (Verrilll and Smith 1873); Woods Hole/MA/Buzzards Bay-Vineyard Sound (1881, USNM 15761, U.S. National Museum of Natural History 2003; Bock et al. 2012); Penikese Island/Buzzards Bay-Vineyard Sound (Sumner et al. 1913); Tarpaulin Cove, Naushon Island/MA/Vineyard Sound) (Sumner et al. 1913); Falmouth/MA/Waquoit Bay (Vineyard Sound) (1871, Verrill and Smith 1873); Falmouth-Mashpee/MA/Waquoit Bay (2003, Carman et al. 2007); West Chop, Martha's Vineyard/MA/Vineyard Sound (Sumner et al. 1913); Martha's Vineyard/MA/Lagoon Pond (6/2007, 41o27'28.4" 70o35'11.8", Carman et al. 2009); Tripp Marina, Westport/MA/Westport River (Buzzards Bay) (MIT Sea Grant 2003; 2010, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management 2013); Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Bourne/MA/Buzzards Bay (MIT Sea Grant 2003; 2010, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management 2013); Popes Island Marina, New Bedford (2010, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management 2013); "Rhode Island" (1880, USNM 20014, U.S. National Museum of Natural History 2003); Fall River/MA/Mount Hope Bay (MIT Sea Grant 2003); Edgewood Yacht Club, Cranston/RI/Providence River (MIT Sea Grant 2003; 2010, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management 2013); Cove Haven Marina, Barrington/RI/Providence River (MIT Sea Grant 2003); Colt State Park, Bristol/RI/Narragansett Bay (MIT Sea Grant 2003); Roger Williams University Dock, Bristol//RI/Mount Hope Bay (MIT Sea Grant 2003); North Kingston/RI/Allens Harbor (MIT Sea Grant 2003; 2010, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management 2013); Wickford/RI/Wickford Harbor (MIT Sea Grant 2003); Newport Shipyard, Newport/RI/Narragansett Bay (MIT Sea Grant 2003); Fort Adams State Park/Newport/RI/Narragansett Bay (2010, MacIntyre et al. 2010; Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management 2013); Block Island/RI/Great Salt Pond (2007, 41o10'62" 71o34'58", Carman et al. 2009); Watch Hill/RI/Rhode Island Sound (Verrill and Smith 1873); Noank/CT/Long Island Sound (1874, USNM 16013, U.S. National Museum of Natural History 2003); Avery Point (Groton)/CT/Long Island Sound (Osman and Whitlatch 1995) (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003); Brewer Yacht Center, Mystic/CT/Long Island Sound (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003; Pederson et al. 2021); Milford Yacht Club, Milford/CT/Long Island Sound (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003); Brewer Yacht Haven Marina, Stamford/CT/Long Island Sound (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003; Pederson et al. 2021); Stirling Harbor Shipyard, Greenport/NY/Long Island Spound, (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003; Pederson et al. 2021); East Creek Marina, Jamesport/NY/Peconic Bay (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003); Point Lookout/NY/Reynolds Channel, South Oyster Bay (Freeman et al. 2016, 2012-213, 4035037.9700N, 73350, 26.7900W); South Street Seaport, New York City/NY/New York Harbor (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003); Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island/NY/Kill Van Kull; (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003); Great Kills Park, Staten Island/NY/New York Harbor (2003, MIT Sea Grant 2003; 2019, Pederson et al. 2021); NJ/Barnegat Bay (Richards 1938; Loveland and Shafto 1984); Cape May, Schelengers Landing/NJ/Delaware Bay-Atlantic Ocean USNM 13042, U.S. National Museum of Natural History 2003); Gloucester Point /VA/York River (1962, Wass 1963; Calder, in Wass 1972); Virginia Beach/VA/Lynnhaven Bay; (Otsuka and Dauer 1980; Ruiz et al., unpublished data) VA/Mobjack Bay (Andrews 1973; Ruiz et al., unpublished data); Eastern Shore/VA/Lower Chesapeake Bay (Ruiz et al., unpublished data); dredge 'Chinook'/VA/Hampton Roads (1923, Visscher 1928); Norfolk/VA/Hampton Roads (Calder and Brehmer 1967); Chincoteague/VA/Chincoteague Bay (1994, USNM 20713, U.S. National Museum of Natural History 2003)

Vectors

Level Vector
Probable Hull Fouling

Regional Impacts

Economic ImpactFisheries
Botryllus schlosseri was 'a fast-growing pernicious pest' on oyster trays in lower Chesapeake Bay, but is absent or rare on natural oyster beds, presumably because of siltation (Andrews 1973). Botryllus schlosseri was found fouling aqaculture gear at nine sites, and cultured Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians) at one site, of 26 aquaculture sites surveyed on Marthas Vineyard (Carman et al. 2010). This tunicate was also reported at aquaculture sites in New York State (Carman et al. 2010).
 
Economic ImpactShipping/Boating
Botryllus schlosseri (Golden Star Tunicate) was a common fouling organism in a survey of ship fouling among ships in northeastern US ports (Visscher 1927).
 
Ecological ImpactCompetition
Bancroft (1903) listed hydroids, bryozoans, and 'worms' as competitors for space with B. schlosseri at Woods Hole and Naples. B. schlosseri is abundant and occasionally dominant in spring-early summer fouling communities in lower Chesapeake Bay (Andrews 1973; Ruiz et al. unpublished data). When fouling plates in Lynnhaven Bay were covered with wire mesh to exclude larger predators, B. schlosseri became dominant during December-March (Otsuka and Dauer 1982). Recruitment of other fouling organisms including native Spirorbis spp. was reduced in the vicinity of B. schlosseri colonies in Long Island Sound (Osman and Whitlatch 1995).
 

References

Full Reference List for Botryllus schlosseri

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