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MULTI-COMPONENT EVALUATION TO MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SEAWEEDS AND HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM MICROALGAE VIA LIVE BAIT VECTORS IN LONG ISLAND SOUND
Impact/Purpose:
Assess the importance of bait products as a vector for invasive species introductions
Description:
The goal of this project is to quantify the importance of bait products and associated packing materials as vectors for the introduction of non-indigenous species and harmful algal bloom (HAB)-forming microalgae to Long Island Sound. Non-native, invasive seaweeds and HAB-forming organisms represent threats to the ecological and economic health of the Sound. Samples of bait will be examined for non-indigenous species and cultured to identify microscopic stages and HAB microalgae using molecular analysis. Specific outputs include reports of the frequency of non-native, invasive seaweeds and HAB-forming microalgae by taxon as functions of season and the location of bait product purchase. A workshop on the project’s findings will be held at the end of the research to bring together relevant stakeholders.