title: The Panama Canal and the transoceanic dispersal of marine invertebrates: evaluation of the introduced amphipod Paracaprella pusilla Mayer, 1890 in the Pacific Ocean.
abstract: Although the Panama Canal is one of the major corridors for shipping and potential dispersal of marine invaders in the tropics, little is known about the effect that the Canal has had on the distribution of marine biota. In this study, we (a) document the existence of established populations of the Western Atlantic caprellid amphipod Paracaprella pusilla, Mayer, 1890 for the first time at the Pacific entrance to the Canal, (b) review its distribution in the Pacific Ocean, and (c) evaluate possible mechanisms of introduction. The confirmed distribution of P. pusilla in the Pacific Ocean is limited to Australia, Hawaii, and Panama, despite earlier published reports from Chile and China. Laboratory experiments demonstrated intolerance of P. pusilla to freshwater, causing 100% mortality, and suggest invasion of the Pacific coast of Panama occurred through the Canal via ships' ballast water or by secondary spread via ships (ballast water or hull fouling) from another Pacific region.
authors: Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012, Sevilla, Spain. Electronic address: mros@us.es.
authors: Macarena
authors: M
authors: Ros
authors: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Romberg Tiburon Center, 3152 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA 94920, USA.
authors: Gail V
authors: GV
authors: Ashton
authors: Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19023, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Mariana B
authors: MB
authors: Lacerda
authors: Maritime Studies Program, Williams College-Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT 06355 USA.
authors: James T
authors: JT
authors: Carlton
authors: Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors: Maite
authors: M
authors: Vázquez-Luis
authors: Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012, Sevilla, Spain.
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Guerra-García
authors: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA.
authors: Gregory M
authors: GM
authors: Ruiz
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000502:physiology*; D063147:Animal Distribution / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D058865:Introduced Species; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010177:Panama Canal Zone; D054712:Salinity; D012767:Ships
keywords: Ballast water; First record; Fouling organisms; Invasive species; Panama Canal; Paracaprella; Salinity; Tolerance