Why must research surveys be undertaken to detect marine introduced species?
Baseline surveys must be undertaken to establish how many introduced species are present. Following the baseline survey, all detected species must be monitored over time to see if they are increasing in abundance and distribution, becoming established and/or causing damage. In addition surveys must be undertaken continuously to determine if new species are being introduced, which must then be monitored. Assessing the impacts of these species is difficult as it requires long-term monitoring. Also the potential effects of these species are not fully understood due to the difficulty in studying them and identifying their specific local impacts. How do you find marine introduced species? Using one of the following underwater scientific survey methods: traps, pile quadrat scrapings, plankton nets, diver transects, beach seine nets, anaesthetic (clove oil), gill nets and benthic grabs. Most of these methods can be used in a variety of underwater environments, including ports and coral reefs.
