Distribution of Marine Invertebrates by Ships

Abstract

In comparatively recent years a number of sedentary marine invertebrates have been found on the east coast of Australia, where they were previously unknown. New records for Australian waters are:
Bryozoa — Bugula flabellata Thompson,Conopeum tubigerum Osburn, Schizoporella unicornis Johnston, Watersipora cucullata Busk, and Anguinella palmata van Beneden;
Polycliaeta ( Serpulidae) — Mercierella enigmatica Fauvel;
Cirripedia — Balanus algicola Pilsbry.

By reason of their abundance, these species could not have been overlooked by field collectors, and as they are ship-fouling organisms in other parts of the world it is concluded that they have been introduced by ships.

An examination is made of the factors militating against such importations, but despite the difficulties encountered, organisms can be successfully translocated by ships. Mention is made of some of the more outstanding introductions that have occurred overseas in recent years. The available evidence suggests that many cosmopolitan species may owe their wide distribution to the movements of shipping.