Factors Affecting Establishment Success

Identifying which species enter Canadian waters is not enough, as only a small percentage of those introduced are able to survive in the receiving environment. Theme 2 CAISN projects explore physical, chemical and biological factors that affect establishment success of AIS. Their potential ability to survive in Canadian coastal waters is crucial to determining the estimated future threat of AIS.

A portion of this theme is focused on invasive tunicates and their relationship with mussel aquaculture in Canada. The shellfish aquaculture industry is critical to sustainable development in Prince Edward Island and other regions in Canada. CAISN is developing efficient and sensitive monitoring tools and molecular tests for invasive tunicates needed to minimize their impact. The CAISN Invasive Tunicate DNA Bank puts Canada on the forefront of molecular research into invasive tunicates and allows researchers access to a collection of invasive tunicate DNA, which is critical since the species id growing on a global level.

Analysis of source and destination port similarity

Hugh MacIsaac, Richard Rivkin, André Rochon, Suzanne Roy

Effect of human disturbances on establishment success

Claudio DiBacco (year 1), John Dower (years 2–4),Glen Jamieson, Thomas Landry, Chris McKindsey,Tom Therriault

Physiological tolerance of Bythotrephes

Brian Leung, Norman Yan

“Invasional meltdown” field studies & computer simulation

Ladd Johnson, Anthony Ricciardi

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of round gobies at an invasion front: factors influencing round goby expansion

Daniel Heath, Dennis HIggs