Shipping Map Tracks Invasive Species Stowaways

Invasive species can have catastrophic effects on an ecosystem. From algae to jellyfish, ports around the world are faced with a problem, but first, it's necessary to understand how the problem got there.

Researchers at the Carl von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg, Germany set out to crack the case of marine invasive species. Where are they coming from and how did they get there? They knew that many small species hitch a ride in the ballast water of cargo ships, so they plotted the course of 16,363 ships during 2007 to look for connections.

Before now, it was assumed that invasive species were more likely coming from nearby ports, but researchers discovered that wasn't the case.

Excerpt from: http://ecogeek.org/weird-stuff/3036-shipping-map-tracks-invasive-species-stowaways

Related content: UN agencies, shipping corporations to tackle environmental threats; Using Microwaves To Cook Ballast Stowaways; 11th International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species; A Handbook of Global Freshwater Invasive Species; 5th International Conference and Exhibiton on Ballast Water Management (ICBWM) 2010; Near real-time online display of global marine traffic; 5th International Conference & Exhibition on Ballast Water Management (ICBWM) 2010

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Shipping Map Tracks Invasive Species Stowaways

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