Aquatic pollution increases the relative success of invasive species

• DOI: 10.1007/s10530-010-9799-3
• Publication Date: 2010-07-11T21:12:35Z
• Authors: Jeffrey A. Crooks; Andrew L. Chang; Gregory M. Ruiz
• Keywords: Propagule; Propagule pressure; Ecosystem engineer

Although individual ecosystems vary greatly in the degree to which they have been invaded by exotic species, it has remained difficult isolate mechanisms influencing invader success. One largely anecdotal observation is that polluted or degraded areas will accumulate more invaders than less-impacted sites. However, role of abiotic factors alone invisibility isolate, often because supply potential confounded with conditions thought increase vulnerability invasion. Here, we conducted a field experiment test how assemblages versus native marine invertebrates changed during community assembly under different exposure levels common pollutant, copper. The was deploying fouling panels Randomized Block Design San Francisco Bay. Panels were periodically removed, placed into buckets differing copper concentrations, and returned after 3 days. This design allowed propagule availability plates be statistically independent short-term exposure. results demonstrate caused significant differences structure. Average species richness significantly affected exposure, but average not. total pool within treatments exhibited greater 40% decline increasing copper, while did not change significantly. These confirm anthropogenic alteration influences success, indicating management strategies reduce impacts should include both efforts improve environmental as well supply.