Invasive Species and Climate Change:

An Alaska Perspective

Sandra Lindstrom

Department of Botany

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, Canada

National Invasive Species Awareness Week

January 10-14, 2010, Washington, DC

The Arctic Ocean has a history of invasion.

Rhodophyta

Bangiales

rbcL gene sequences reveal relationships among north-east Pacific

species of Porphyra (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) and a new species, P.

aestivalis. Phycol. Res. 51: 211-224 (2003)Sandra Lindstrom

Suzanne Fredericq

University of Louisiana, Lafayette, USA

RhodophytaGigartinales

Chondrus

Recent developments in the systematics of the Gigartinaceae

(Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) based on rbcL sequence analysis

and morphological evidence

Phycol. Res. 47: 139-151 (1999)

Max H. Hommersand

Suzanne Fredericq

D. Wilson Freshwater

Jeffery Hughey

Department of Biology, University of North Carolina,

Chapel Hill, USA

Relationships among species of Chondrus based on analysis of

rbcL data

RhodophytaPalmariales

Palmaria, Halosaccion, Devaleraea

Recent radiation of the Palmariaceae (Rhodophyta)

J. Phycol. 32: 457-468 (1996)

Sandra C. Lindstrom

Jeanine L. Olsen

Wytze T. Stam

Department of Marine Biology, University of Groningen, Haren,

The Netherlands

Relationships among species of Palmariaceae based on analysis

of nrDNA-ITS sequence data

Northern waters are being (re)invaded by

species that were likely driven out by

Pleistocene glaciations.

562

800

553

Macrocystis pyrifera bed

Afognak I.Nemalion helminthoides

Cryptopleura ruprechtiana

There is a significant decline in seaweed

diversity as one moves north in the Bering

Sea through Bering Strait, the Chukchi Sea

and into the Arctic Ocean proper.

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72

40 33

Monitoring Alaska is a daunting task.

SHOREZONE

Habitat Capability Modeling

A study of potential suitable habitat for the

invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas)

in Southeast Alaska, British Columbia, and

Washington State

August 2007

Prepared by:

Jodi N. Harney, Ph.D.

Coastal & Ocean Resources Inc.

Sidney, British Columbia

Figure 2.7. Example of wide mudflats and tidal flats revealed as potential

green crab habitat in Lynn Canal, Southeast Alaska (location not shown on

map). Sediment-dominated shorelines comprise 35% of the study area.

Invasive species are likely to come from the

south, where a large number of introduced

species have already been reported.

Sargassum muticum

Mazzaella japonica

Another significant threat from global

warming is the loss of species.

Some species of seaweeds endemic to Alaska

undescribed Orculifilum denticulatum Pleonosporium pedicellatum

Zinovaea acanthocarpaundescribed

undescribed

Aureophycus aleuticus

The End