(249f) Impacts of Invasive Species Resulting from Canals

A canal is a human-made waterway allowing ships to pass from one body of water to another. Examples of major canals include the Panama Canal, the Erie Canal, and the Suez Canal. Canals are also used to transport water for irrigation and other human uses. The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Construction of the Panama Canal began in 1904; construction was completed in 1914. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea; construction of the canal began in 1859 and was completed in 1869. Although canals greatly reduce the time of transport of commodities, it also has resulted in invasive species being transported from one body of water to another. This is an environmental problem that has implications on the healthy development of the ecological biosphere. Canals serve as a conduit for animals and plants to interact in new areas. Species can be picked up in their native area and brought to a new location on the other side of the world.

This presentation summarizes the results of a comprehensive technical literature review, addressing the impacts of invasive species on various waterways connected through major canals. Examples of invasive species investigated include: puffer fish (Torquigener flavimaculosus), mollusks, green crab (Carcinus maenas), Asian bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nolibis), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus), silver-cheeked toad-fish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), Rabbit fish, Erythrean mytilid mussels, spiny waterflea (Bythotrepes longimanus), fishhook waterflea (Cerapagis pengoi), mosquitos (Culux and Aedes species), and aquatic plants such as European watermilfoil (Lythrum salicaria), water chestnut (Trapa natans), tall invasive grass (Saccharum sponteneum), Western Atlantic caprellid amphipod (Paracaprella pusilla), geen alga (Caulerpa prolifera Lamouroux), and perennial herbaceous species (Saccharum spontaneum).