Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (as Styela barnharti, Ritter and Forsyth 1917, cited by Carlton 1979)
Geographic Extent
San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (as Styela barnharti, Ritter and Forsyth 1917, cited by Carlton 1979); Shelter Island, San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, Lambert and Lambert 2003); Harbor Island, San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, Lambert and Lambert 2003), Fiddlers Cove, San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, Lambert and Lambert 2003); 24th St, San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, Lambert and Lambert 2003); J St., San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, Lambert and Lambert 2003); San Diego/CA/San Diego Bay (2001, Fairey et al. 2002; 2011, California Department of Fish and Wildlife 2014)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Probable | Hull Fouling |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Competition | |
| Styela plicata has been the dominant marina fouling organism in southern California harbors since 1960 (Lambert and Lambert 1998). It produced large monospecific patches in several locations during serveral years in San Diego Bay (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). | ||