Introduced Marine Aquatic Invaders - a field guide

Marine pests - what are they

There are a number of 'marine invader' species which are having impacts overseas and have a high chance of invading Australian waters. The Chinese clam (Potamocorbula amurensis) is one species which is recognised as one of these potential 'next pests'. Following its introduction to San Francisco Bay in 1986, Potamocorbula amurensis took only two years to spread throughout the estuary and has radically altered both the composition of the benthic community and the phytoplankton dynamics of the bay.

Photo: Janet Thompson United States Geological Society

Introduced marine species are plants or animals that have been deliberately or unintentionally transported to the waters of a new state or country, usually with assistance from people.

These marine invaders include a variety of different plants and animals such as fish, seastars, crabs, microscopic dinoflagellates, shellfish and seaweed. They may travel as adults, juveniles or larvae, and can be transported by a number of mechanisms.

While many of these invaders are ecological pollutants rather than disasters, some of them become serious pests that threaten Australia's marine ecosystems.