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Linking biogeographic and life history information for nonindigenous marine and estuarine species in the North Pacific: An introduction to the Pacific Coast Ecological Information System (PCEIS)
Citation:
MARKO, K. M., H. LEE, II, E. Saarinen, AND D. REUSSER. Linking biogeographic and life history information for nonindigenous marine and estuarine species in the North Pacific: An introduction to the Pacific Coast Ecological Information System (PCEIS). Presented at Pacific Estuarine Research Society Meeting, Astoria, OR, March 03 - 05, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
Nonindigenous species (NIS) are a pervasive problem throughout the world. To help address this threat the EPA and USGS have developed a hierarchical database (PCEIS) that synthesizes existing biogeographic, life history, and invasion history information for near-coastal and estuarine species at a global scale.
Description:
Nonindigenous species (NIS) are a pervasive problem throughout the world. To help address this threat the EPA and USGS have developed a hierarchical database (PCEIS) that synthesizes existing biogeographic, life history, and invasion history information for near-coastal and estuarine species at a global scale. As a manifestation of this database, we have produced an Atlas of 630 marine and estuarine nonidigenous invertebrates, vertebrates, and SAV in the North Pacific. The Atlas has a two-page profile for each species containing a map of all known global locations by ecoregion as defined by the Marine Ecosystem of the World (MEOW) biogeographic schema. NIS presence at each location is classified by invasion status (native, introduced, cryptogenic, transient, and unknown). Additionally, there is a standardized keyed summary of its life history information (salinity tolerances, depth ranges, habitat preferences). Both PCEIS and the NIS Atlas will soon be made publically available as research and management tools. It is also hoped that by identifying the gaps in our current knowledge of NIS, the database and Atlas will serve as catalysts to collect additional information on these invaders. In addition to a general introduction to PCEIS and the Atlas, we will summarize our current knowledge of NIS taxa in the northeast Pacific by providing a breakout of the number and taxonomic composition of NIS at the ecoregion scale; focusing on the North American west coast from southern California to the Gulf of Alaska including Puget Sound and Hawaii.