Prevention is the only remaining tool...
The spread of nuisance and invasive species throughout marine environments may be considered the greatest threat to coastal biodiversity worldwide, second only to habitat destruction from human impacts. In the Hawaiian Islands-- the most remote island chain in the entire world-- native species are particularly vulnerable to invasive species. The Department of Aquatic Resources (DAR) estimates that invasive species cost Hawaii around $2.14 billion USD to manage annually.
Recently, a new species of red alga (Chondria tumulosa) was discovered at Manawai (Pearl & Hermes Atoll) in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Its presence was previously undocumented, however it had been observed completely smothering the otherwise pristine coral reefs of the NWHI. We developed a novel environmental DNA (eDNA) assay to help the state map the spread of the nuisance species throughout the atoll, with hopes of preventing further spread throughout the other atolls of the marine monument. We hope that in the near future our eDNA assay will help managers detect the nuisance Chondria tumulosa as an early detection warning, allowing widespread monitoring, particularly at sites that are difficult to visually assess. In the news. |
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