Measuring the Transfer, Dynamics, and Risk of Invasion for Microbial Communities Associated with
Ballast Water of Ships
There is a growing consensus that the ballast tanks of ships may be implicated in the introduction of many non-indigenous or invasive species into coastal waters throughout the world. While the introduction of phytoplankton, zooplankton and larval crustaceans of foreign origin continues to be well documented, relatively little is known about the transport of microbial pathogens. Bacteria and viruses occur naturally in very high abundances in coastal waters–they are also capable of surviving, and even thriving, over the course of long trans-oceanic voyages. Of special concern is the potential for introducing pathogens from ships that discharge ballast water which has been taken on in foreign ports.
Gregory Ruiz and his colleagues have conducted pathbreaking studies on the survival of larger organisms in the Chesapeake Bay–in this study they will sample ballast water from a number of ships entering Norfolk and Baltimore harbors to determine the presence and numbers of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, they will assess the effectiveness of such procedures as flushing ballast tanks while at sea to eliminate the threat from pathogenic microorganisms.
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Gregory M. Ruiz and Anson H. Hines
Smithsonian Environmental
Research Center
Anwar Huq
University of Maryland, College Park
Fred C. Dobbs
Old Dominion University
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