Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Caen/France/Canal de Caen (Fauvel 1923, cited by Carlton 1979; Goulletquer et al. 2002)
Geographic Extent
London Docks/England/Thames Estuary (1923, ten Hove and Weerdenburg 1978; Zibrowius and Thorp 1989); Emsworth/Sussex/ brackish millpond (1981, Zibrowius and Thorp 1989); Dorset/England/Weymouth Harbor (1937, Zibrowius and Thorp 1989); Cavendish Dock (heated), 2 marinas/England/Irish Sea and English Channel (2015, Wood et al. 2016); Barrow-in-Furness/England/Irish Sea (1959, Zibrowius and Thorp 1989); heated dock, Swansea/Wales/Bristol Channel; Abereiddy Quarry, Pembrokeshire/Wales/Bristol Channel (1975, Zibrowius and Thorp 1989); Oostende/Belgium/North Sea (1951, Kerckhof et al. 2007); Vlissing/Netherlands/North Sea (1974, ten Hove and Weerdenburg 1978); Harlingen harbour/Netherlands/Wadden Sea (2009, Gittenberger et al. 2010); Texel/Netherlands/Wadden Sea (2009, Gittenberger et al. 2010); Caen/France/Canal de Caen (Fauvel 1923, cited by Carlton 1979; Goulletquer et al. 2002); Le Havre to Cherborg/France/English Channel (2015, Charles et al. 2018); Wilhelmhaven/Germany/Wadden Sea (2014, Rohde et al. 2017); Germany/North Sea Coast; (1975, Gollasch et al. 2006); Cork/Ireland/Cork Harbor (Irish Sea) (1973, Zibrowius and Thorp 1989); Arklow/Ireland/Irish Sea (Minchin 2007); Poolbeg Marina, Dublin/Ireland/River Liffey (Minchin 2007); Dublin area, Irish Sea (2021, O'Shighnessyt et al. 2023)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Alternate | Ballast Water |
| Alternate | Hull Fouling |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
| Ficopomatus enigmaticus formed extensive reefs in sheltered lagoons, increasing habitat for attached organisms and shelter for mobile ones (Thomas and Thorp 1994). Ficopomatus enigmaticus fouling provided habitat for 3 introduced species (Amphibalanus improvisus, Rhithropanopeus harrisii, Mytilopsis leucophaeta) (Charles et al. 2018). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Herbivory | |
| The large biomass of F. enigmaticus in a lagoon in England appears to have extensively filtered the water, reducing phytplankton biomass (Thomas and Thorp 1994). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Trophic Cascade | |
| The growth of extensive reefs of F. enigmaticus shifted biomass and nutrients from the water column to the benthos (Thomas and Thorp 1994). | ||
| Economic Impact | Shipping/Boating | |
| Ficopomatus enigmaticus often fouls boats and blocks canals and tide gates in coastal lagoons (Nelson-Smith 1971; Eno 1996). 'However, at CUMB2 (marina in Cumbria, England) it was super-abundant and a severe fouling nuisance on yacht hulls, pontoons and ropes. This marina has previously requested advice from us as to how to remove it, has advised boat owners on what they can do about it, and has carried out cleaning and procedural' (Wood et al. 2015). Ficopomatus enigmaticus is also perceived as having negative impacts in marinas in Normandy (Charles et al. 2018). | ||