Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Cape Town/South Africa/Milnerton Estuary (Davies et al. 1989; Mead et al. 2011b)
Geographic Extent
Cape Town/South Africa/Milnerton Estuary (1951, ten Hove and Weerdenburg 1978; Davies et al. 1989); Mead et al. 2011b); Marina del Gama, Zvandlei/South Africa/Table Bay (Davies et al. 1989; McQuaid and Griffiths 2014); South Africa/SE Atlantic. Zandvlei Estuary; ,MilnertonLagoonan; Berg River Estuary
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Alternate | Hull Fouling |
| Alternate | Ballast Water |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Herbivory | |
| Filtation of phytoplankton by F. enigmaticus was estimated to clear the volume of the Marine del Gama in 26 hours (Davies et al. 1989). | ||
| Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
| Ficopomatus enigmaticus was encrusting submerged vegetation (Stukenia pectinata, Sago Pondweed (mentioned by Davies et al. 1989). Increasing water clarity is implied, but not discussed by Davies et al. (1989). A major change is the transformation of the estuary from sand-banks to encrusted concrete walls and reefs, with an increase of infaunal biomass and abundance as well (McQuaid and Griffiths 2014). | ||
| Economic Impact | Shipping/Boating | |
| Ficopomatus enigmaticus was encrusting docks and concrete walls- a safety hazard to recreational users (Davies et al. 1989). | ||
| Economic Impact | Aesthetic | |
| Filtration by Ficopomatus improves water clarity (Davies et al. 1989). | ||