Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: East Point, Nahant/MA/Massachusetts Bay (spring 1983, Allmon and Sebens 1988, reached high densities in 1985, disappeared by summer of 1986, no further records); Eastport/ME/Passamquoddy Bay (11/11/2013, Timur Kho, photo, http://todivetoday.com/nudibranchs-of-north-east/) Larry Harris rediscovered Tritonia in the Gulf of Maine in the fall of 2011, but he hasn't published it yet (as far as I know), so it's not available for recording or public announcement on NEMESIS (unless he were to give permission). (JTC, 3/13/2012)
Geographic Extent
East Point, Nahant/MA/Massachusetts Bay (spring 1983, Allmon and Sebens 1988, reached high densities in 1985, disappeared by summer of 1986, no further records); southern ME/Gulf of Maine (summer 1985, Allmon and Sebens 1988, no further records, exact region not given);
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Alternate | Ballast Water |
| Alternate | Hull Fouling |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Predation | |
| During its brief peak of abundance, T. plebeia eliminated soft corals (Alcyonium siderium) from rock walls at several sites. Predation by the nudibranch facilitated further predation by sea urchins (Strongylocentrus droebachiensis) by opening up space, permitting urchins to move into the coral-dominated areas and eat most of the remaining corals (Allmon and Sebens 1988). | ||