Attack of the Alien Invaders, National Geographic Magazine: Scientists Study Aquatic Exotics
Colorful aquatic worms swim across the computer screen as scientists and researchers study samples in a lab after collecting water in San Francisco Bay. According to Dr. Andrew Cohen, hundreds of nonnative species have had a profound impact on the ecology of the Bay making it the world’s most invasive species-impacted ecosystem.
Ballast water dumped by ships moving from port to port spreads bacterial pathogens as evidenced by a cholera outbreak in Peru, which was the first outbreak of the disease in the Western Hemisphere in a century.
One serious invading problem introduced into the Bay waters are Chinese Mitten Crabs, medium-sized burrowing crabs named for their dark furry claws. They cause severe damage to embankments, erosion and clogged drainage systems.
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