Date of the first record

The date of the first documented record of the species occurrence in a country/country region.
Date fields usage example:

Date to be specifiedDate FromDate To
Exact 198519851985
18th century17011800
before 1700 1700
after 20012001 

Environmental position

Environment(s) occupied by a species throughout its life cycle.

OPTIONS:

Biofouling. Assemblage of organisms on wetted artificial substrates.

Commensal. An organism in a symbiotic relationship, in which one benefits while the other is not adversely affected.

Demersal. Synonyms: hyperbenthic, benthopelagic, nektobenthic. An organism living at, in or near the bottom of the sea, but having the ability to swim.

Ectoparasite. A parasite living on the surface of its host.

Endoparasite. A parasite living within the organs or tissues of its host.

Epifaunal. Synonym: epibenthic. An animal inhabiting the surface of the seabed, submerged plants and animals.

Epilithic. An organism living on the surface of rock or other hard inorganic substrata.

Epiphytic. An organism living on the surface of a plant, non-parasitic.

Epizoic. An organism living on the surface of an animal, non-parasitic.

Infaunal. Synonym: endobenthic. An animal living within the seabed sediments.

Interstitial. An organism (< 1 mm) living in the spaces between sediment particles.

Lithotomous. An organism burrowing into rock.

Neustonic. An organism living on (epineuston) or under (hyponeuston) the surface film of water bodies.

Pelagic. An organism inhabiting the water column.

Pleustonic. An organism inhabiting the water surface due to their own buoyancy, normally positioned partly in the water and partly in the air.

Habitat type

Estuary. River mouth, transition zone between riverine and marine environments, subject to influences from both.

Lagoon. Shallow, enclosed water body separated from the sea by barrier islands, narrow spit or reefs.

Offshore. Areas located at least 50 nautical miles from the shore.

Open coast. A coast not sheltered from the sea.

Strait/Sound. Channels between the mainland and an island or between two islands which are open at both ends to the open coast (it does not refer to similar features or narrows within marine inlets).

Sheltered coastal area. Coastal area partly surrounded by land (e.g., bay, inlet, fjord).

Ports. A location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbours where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land.

Port vicinity. The area near a port where ballast water operations may occur, including areas where vessels may conduct ballast water discharge or uptake operations when approaching a port or leaving it, e.g., port approaches, anchorage areas and designated ballast water exchange areas. The dimension is port specific.

Marina. A specially designed harbour for pleasure craft and small boats.

Aquaculture sites. Areas set out for the purpose of farming aquatic organisms.

Marine Protected Area (MPA). Defined marine area where natural resources are given greater protection than the surrounding waters. Different categories exist depending on the level of protection afforded by legislation.

Migration pattern

Diurnal. Movements between alternative habitats over day and night, e.g. vertical migration.

Life-time. One time migration between different habitats during the life cycle, e.g. anadromus migration.

Not relevant. No evidence of any life history cycle stages to migrate.

Seasonal. Movements between alternative habitats during a specific time of a year (e.g., spawning and feeding migrations).

Pathway / Vector

Pathway

A pathway is the route a NIS takes to enter or spread through a non-native ecosystem e.g. vessels. Each pathway may have a number of vectors.

Vector

A vector is a transfer mechanism and is the physical means by which species are transported from one geographic region to another. More than one vector within a pathway may be involved in a transfer of species.

Pathways and vectors included:
PathwayVector
Aquarium tradeIntentional organism release
Transported water
Waste discharge
Culture activitiesAquaculture equipment
Associated water & packaging material
Intercontinental stock movement
Regional stock movement
Unintentional release & escapees
Leisure activitiesAngling catch
Cultural releases
Live bait
Live souvenirs
Sport equipment
Stocking for angling
Waste discharge
Live food tradeIntentional organism release
Transported water
Waste discharge
ManagementBiological habitat management
Construction equipment
Construction materials
Release for biological control
Natural spread from neighboring countriesOther natural vectors
Water currents
Other canalsCanal de Midi (linking the Bay of Biscay with the Mediterranean Sea)
Kiel Canal (linking the North Sea with the Baltic)
Northern waterway (linking the Baltic with the Ponto-Caspian region through Volga river canal system)
Rhone waterway (linking the North Sea with the Mediterranean)
Southern waterway (linking the North Sea with the Black Sea through Danube river canal system)
Central waterway (linking the Baltic Sea with the Black Sea through the Dnieper river canal system)
Other waterways
Irrigation canals
Research and educationGear movement
Intentional releases
Unintentional release & escapees
Waste discharge
Suez Canal 
VesselsAnchor and anchor chain
Ballast tank sediments
Ballast water
Ship’s hull
Sea chest
Others
Wild fisheriesDiscard of by-catch
Fishing gear
Live bait release
Live packaging material
Processed live material
Stock movements
Transported water

Pathway / Vector – Levels of certainty:
LevelCriteriaExamples
Direct evidenceThe species was actually found associated with the specific vector(s) of a pathway at the time of introduction to a particular locality within a country/country region.Documented evidence of an introduction: release to the wild for stocking or biological control; escape/release of live food; import of cultured species and documented findings of their associate organisms, parasites and diseases on transmission; appearance of organisms by hull fouling, ballast water discharge sampling or other ship vectors documented upon an arrival with appropriate scientific methods.
Very likelyThe species appears for the first time in a locality where a single pathway/vector(s) is known to operate and where there is no other explanation that can be argued for its presence except by this likely pathway/vector(s).A highly localized distribution of a species in an area adjacent to an isolated port or other locality where the only pathway is vessels and its vector(s) (ballast water, hull fouling, etc). This often involves geographically discontinuous distributions. It may be a continuous spread as in case of introduction by canals or by natural means. The conclusion is deduced from the analysis of the invasion event and species distribution patterns.
PossibleThe species cannot be convincingly ascribed to a single pathway, but is known to be introduced by this pathway(s) elsewhere.There may be more than one pathway involved in the introduction within a country/country region. Arrival of a species known to have taken place elsewhere by the same pathway(s) which operates in an area. A conclusion is made by expert judgment based on pathways currently or historically present.
UnknownInvasion of a given alien species cannot be clearly explained.Where no rational explanation for the appearance of a species in a given country/region.

Population status

Population status (the lowest level of certainty):

Unknown. There is no reliable information on population status of a species.
Established. A species is known to form a reproducing population in a wild.
Not established. There is no evidence of a species’ reproducing population in a wild.

Population status (the moderate level of certainty):
Extinct/no recent record. There are old records where a species was recorded but have not been seen in the same region since.
Rare/single record. There are only casual observations or a single record of a species'presence available.
Common. A species with successfully reproducing populations in an open ecosystem, which are unlikely to be eliminated by man or natural causes. Not dominating native communities.
Abundant. A species with successfully reproducing populations in an open ecosystem, which are unlikely to be eliminated by man or natural causes. Locally dominating native communities.
Very abundant. A species with successfully reproducing populations in an open ecosystem, which are unlikely to be eliminated by man or natural causes. Largely dominating native communities.
Outbreak. A species undergoing pulse-like, short-term (days to few months) exponential population growth during which they have an adverse effect on one or more of the following: biological diversity, ecosystem functioning, socio-economic values and human health.

Recipient region

The country/region for which introduction is recorded.

References.



References should follow the standard of Biological invasions:


Journal article
Gamelin FX, Baquet G, Berthoin S, Thevenet D, Nourry C, Nottin S, Bosquet L (2009) Effect of high intensity intermittent training on heart rate variability in prepubescent children. Eur J Appl Physiol 105:731-738. doi: 10.1007/s00421-008-0955-8
Ideally, the names of all authors should be provided, but the usage of “et al” in long author lists will also be accepted:
Smith J, Jones M Jr, Houghton L et al (1999) Future of health insurance. N Engl J Med 965:325–329


Article by DOI


Slifka MK, Whitton JL (2000) Clinical implications of dysregulated cytokine production. J Mol Med. doi:10.1007/s001090000086


Book
South J, Blass B (2001) The future of modern genomics. Blackwell, London


Book chapter
Brown B, Aaron M (2001) The politics of nature. In: Smith J (ed) The rise of modern genomics, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York, pp 230-257


Online document
Cartwright J (2007) Big stars have weather too. IOP Publishing PhysicsWeb. http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/11/6/16/1. Accessed 26 June 2007


Dissertation
Trent JW (1975) Experimental acute renal failure. Dissertation, University of California

Reproductive duration

Long. Breeds in one or more discrete periods, each longer than three months.

Medium. Breeds in one or more discrete periods, each longer than a week and less than three months.

Short. Breeds in one or more discrete periods within a week.

Reproductive seasonality

Months for a species known to reproduce in the invaded site.

Salinity range

The exact salinity range if known (psu), else salinity zone(s) according to the Venice system:
1. Limnetic [<0.5psu]
2. β-Oligohaline [0.5-3psu]
3. α-Oligohaline [3-5psu]
4. β-Mesohaline [5-10psu]
5. α-Mesohaline [10-18psu]
6. Polymixohaline [18-30psu]
7. Euhaline [30-40psu]
8. Hypersaline [>40psu]

Source region

The area the species was introduced from to the recipient country/country region. Depending on the information availability may be ascribed to a particular locality (e.g. port), a country, a LME or a larger Ocean region.
CAUTION: in many cases the source area will be not the same as the area of native origin which is defined in the SPECIES block of the database.

Species status

Non-indigenous species. Non-indigenous species (synonyms: alien, exotic, non-native, allochthonous, introduced) are species, subspecies or lower taxa (such as a variety, form) introduced outside of their natural range (past or present) and outside of their natural dispersal potential. This includes any propagule of a NIS, such as a gamete, seed or resting spore, a gravid female or a pair of individuals of different sexes (in sexual reproduction), or a vegetative reproductive organ and section of tissue (in asexual reproduction), which might survive, reproduce and subsequently form a population. It also includes hybrids between an alien species and an indigenous species, fertile polyploid organisms and artificially hybridized species irrespective of their natural range or dispersal potential.

Cryptogenic. Cryptogenic species are such species which cannot be reliably demonstrated as being either introduced or native. In some cases the true origin of a species remains obscure because of either insufficient taxonomic knowledge or due to a lack of records from the time they became introduced, or for other reasons.

Temperature range

Indicate min. and max. annual temperature range in the area where a species is known to maintain an established (reproducing) population.

Wave exposure

Exposed. Open coastline facing prevailing wind and receiving both wind-driven waves and swell.

Semi exposed. Generally open coasts facing away from prevailing winds or sheltered by offshore reefs/structures.

Sheltered. Coasts with a restricted fetch (<20 km) and lacking persistent swell.

Zonation

Ecological zone(s) occupied by a species throughout its life cycle.

Benthic - Bathyal. Synonym: continental slope. The seafloor between the edge of the continental shelf and abyssal plain (200-4000 m).

Benthic - Littoral. Synonym: intertidal. The shore between the high and low water marks.

Benthic - Sublittoral beyond photic zone. Synonym: lower circalittoral. The lower part of the continental shelf, where photosynthesis cannot take place.

Benthic - Sublittoral within photic zone. Synonyms: subtidal, infralittoral. The shallow part of sublittoral where photosynthesis can occur.

Benthic - Supralittoral. Synonyms: splash zone, spray zone, supratidal zone. The area above the spring high tide line, subject spray or splash.

Pelagic - Littoral. Water mass within littoral zone.

Pelagic - Neritic. Water mass above the continental shelf.

Pelagic - Offshore. Synonym: oceanic. Water mass beyond the continental shelf.

Public domain: Introduction event account

Species Craspedacusta sowerbii  
Date of the first record (?) To 2013

References (not structured):
Minchin D, Caffrey JM, Haberlin D, Germaine D, Walsh C, Boelens R, & Doyle TK (2016) First observations of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in Ireland coincides with unusually high water temperatures. BioInvasions Records, 5(2): 67-74.

Comments:
The medusa stage was first recorded in 2013 following a period of high water temperatures (to 21-25 C. The polyp stage may have been present for many years without being recognised as it is small with little morphological features to distinguish it. All specimens examined were female.
Recipient region (?) Country: Ireland
LME: 24. Celtic-Biscay Shelf
LME sub-region: Celtic seas

References (not structured):
Minchin D, Caffrey JM, Haberlin D, Germaine D, Walsh C, Boelens R, & Doyle TK (2016) First observations of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in Ireland coincides with unusually high water temperatures. BioInvasions Records, 5(2): 67-74.

Comments:
The species appeared at a similar time in two separate catchments, the Erne and the Shannon.
Source region (?) Not entered
Pathway / Vector (?) Unknown

References (not structured):
Pollux B, Minchin D, Van der Velde G, Van Allen T, Moon-Van der Staay SY, Hackstein J (2003) Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in Ireland, AFLP- fingerprinting and boat traffic both suggest an origin from Britain. Freshwater Biology 48: 1127–1138.

Lundberg S, Svensson J-E, Petrusek A (2005) Craspedacusta invasions in Sweden. Verh. Internat. Verin. Limnol. 29: 899-902

Comments:
On account of its wide distribution throughout most world regions, and at isolated sites, it might be spread naturally, perhaps by birds. However, there is no evidence to suggest that this is the case. Its arrival in Ireland might have been associated with imports of second hand craft with fouled hulls associated with zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)(Pollox et al., 2003) from 1993. The species has a resting stage the 'podocyst' which may enable it to become dispersed over long distances and so explain its widespread distribution (in Lundberg et al., 2006).
Habitat type (?) Lagoon
Lake
Pond
Reservoir
River

References (not structured):
Minchin D, Caffrey JM, Haberlin D, Germaine D, Walsh C, Boelens R, & Doyle TK (2016) First observations of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in Ireland coincides with unusually high water temperatures. BioInvasions Records, 5(2): 67-74.

Comments:
Medusae may become flushed down into estuarine regions. Currently known from rivers and those downstream from lakes and in lake shallows. It is likely that the polyps are associated in depths down to about 3m attached to firm surfaces.
Wave exposure (?) Sheltered

References (not structured):
Minchin D, Caffrey JM, Haberlin D, Germaine D, Walsh C, Boelens R, & Doyle TK (2016) First observations of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in Ireland coincides with unusually high water temperatures. BioInvasions Records, 5(2): 67-74.

Comments:
All sites where the medusa stage was found were in sheltered environments.
Salinity range (?) Venice system:
1. Limnetic [<0.5psu]

References (not structured):
Dumont HJ (1994) The distribution and ecology of the fresh and brackish-water medusae of the world. –
Hydrobiologia 272: 1–12

Comments:
It is unclear to the range that this species can endure. All previous reports are from freshwater environments.
Temperature range (?) Min: 0.9
Max: 25

References (not structured):
Minchin D (2014) The distribution of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea and its potential to spread in Ireland. Management of Aquatic Invasions, 5(2): 165-177.
91 Minchin D, Caffrey JM, Haberlin D, Germaine D, Walsh C, Boelens R, & Doyle TK (2016) First observations of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in Ireland coincides with unusually high water temperatures. BioInvasions Records, 5(2): 67-74.

Comments:
Water temperatures of 0.9 C to 25 C measured in Lough Derg are within the survival range in Ireland. Such records were obtained over a study of water temperatures in Lough Derg 2000-2018.
Zonation / Substratum (?) Benthic:
Sublittoral within photic zone
Substratum:
Hard (cobbles to bedrock)

References (not structured):
91 Minchin D, Caffrey JM, Haberlin D, Germaine D, Walsh C, Boelens R, & Doyle TK (2016) First observations of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in Ireland coincides with unusually high water temperatures. BioInvasions Records, 5(2): 67-74.

Comments:
Almost certainly the polyps attach top firm surfaces below water level.
Reproductive duration (?)Short

References (not structured):
Kato KI, Hirabayashi S (1991) Temperature condition initiating medusa bud formation and the mode of appearance in a freshwater hydroid, Craspedacusta sowerbyi. Zoological Science, Tokyo 8(6): 1107

Comments:
Water temperatures in excess of 21 C are required to produce the budding of medusae
Reproductive seasonality (?) Jul.

References (not structured):
Minchin D, Caffrey JM, Haberlin D, Germaine D, Walsh C, Boelens R, & Doyle TK (2016) First observations of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in Ireland coincides with unusually high water temperatures. BioInvasions Records, 5(2): 67-74.

Comments:
In Ireland the asexual budding would appear to take place during a warm period, most probably in 2013 took place in or close to July as a result of elevated temperatures. We have no indication of sexual reproduction of the species as all of the specimens examined were female.
Migration pattern (?) Unknown

Comments:
Drift with water movements is the most likely mode of dispersal. Polyps are sedentary.
Population status (?) Common (Moderate level of certainty)

References (not structured):
91 Minchin D, Caffrey JM, Haberlin D, Germaine D, Walsh C, Boelens R, & Doyle TK (2016) First observations of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii in Ireland coincides with unusually high water temperatures. BioInvasions Records, 5(2): 67-74.

Comments:
The appearance of the medusa stage is sporadic and on such occasions may be common.
Species status (?) Cryptogenic

References (not structured):
Fritz GB, Schill RO, Pfannkuchen M, Brümmer F (2007) The freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankester, 1880 (Limnomedusa: Olindiidae) in Germany, with a brief note on its nomenclature. Journal of Limnology 66: 54–49.

Smith AS, Alexander JE (2008) Potential effects of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii on zooplankton community abundance. Journal of Plankton Research 30: 1323–1327

Comments:
It is unclear if this species is a true introduced species as it is so widely distributed world-wide occurring on all continents except Antarctica.
Created byDan Minchin, 2018-08-29

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