Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record? Puntarenas Province/Costa Rica/Caribbean Sea (Villalobos et al. 1985
Geographic Extent
Puntarenas Province/Costa Rica/Caribbean Sea (Villalobos et al. 1985); Panama/Caribbean Sea (Davidson et al. 2016); Bocas del Drago/Panama/Caribbean Sea (Davidson et al. 2016);Galeta Marine Laboratory, Colon /Panama/Caribbean Sea (Davidson et al. 2016); Zulia Province/Venezuela/Laguna De Sinamaica (1987, USNM 234047, US National Museum of Natural History 2009); Venezuela/Lago De Maricabo, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Venezuela (USNM 64474, US National Museum of Natural History 2009)
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Probable | Hull Fouling |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Habitat Change | |
| In field observations in Costa Rica, Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle responds to boring activity by increasing the number of root endings in unparasitized roots, mostly those already buried in soil. Sphaeroma's boring activity could actually increase the stability of shorelines (Simberloff et al. 1978; Ribi 1982; Villalobos et al. 1985). However, in caging experiments in Galeta and Boca del Drago, Panama, exclusion of S. terebrans resulted in much more extensive growth and complexity of mangrove roots (Davidson et al. 2016). | ||
| Economic Impact | Shipping/Boating | |
| Damage to plastic floats was extensive in Colon, Panama (Davidson 2012). Boring by S. terebrans in plastic foam floats contirbute to pollution by plastic particles, with adverse consequences to marine foodwebs (Davidson 2012). | ||