Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Point Loma, San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (1972, Abbott and Johnson 1972; Carlton 1979)
Geographic Extent
Point Loma, San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (1972, Abbott and Johnson 1972; Carlton 1979); Shelter Island, Harbor Island, Fiddlers Cove, J St., San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (Cohen et al. 2002; Lambert et al. 2003);; San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (2000, Fairey et al. 2002; 2011, California Department of Fish and Wildlife 2014)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Probable | Hull Fouling |
| Alternate | None |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Competition | |
| Styela clava is abundant in Southern California harbors, often forming dense patches with 100% cover (Lambert and Lambert 1998; Lambert and Lambert 2003). It and other introduced ascidians have replaced the native species Pyura haustor and Ascidia ceratodes in southern California harbors (Lambert and Lambert 1998). | ||