Early warning and mitigation of the impact of invasive colonial ascidian tunicates

入侵殖民地海鞘被囊动物影响的早期预警和减轻影响

• 批准号: 365321-2008
• 负责人: Deibel, Donald
• 金额: $ 9.55万
• 依托单位: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Strategic Projects - Group
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2010-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=434529
• 关键词: Early; warning; mitigation; impact; invasive

Invasive species are among the most important anthropogenic components of global change. Shipping has led to a global homogenization of the distribution of species, resulting in catastrophic reduction in native species biodiversity with severe economic consequences. Invasive species have caused large reductions in native species biodiversity on the east and west coasts of Canada and have reduced the sustainability of aquaculture. We have discovered two species of invasive colonial ascidian tunicates in several harbours on the south coast of Newfoundland. They have not yet attained high densities however, providing the rare opportunity to conduct 'pre-invasion' research and increasing the probability of successful mitigation. Our first objective is to develop TaqMan gene probes and real-time PCR assays, permitting early detection of a single ascidian egg or larva in a plankton sample. These probes will be based upon the nucleotide sequence of the cytochrome oxidase I gene of mitochondrial DNA, a reliable indicator of species identity. The gene probes may be made commercially available in 3-5 years.

入侵物种是全球变化最重要的人为因素之一。航运导致物种分布的全球同质化，导致当地物种生物多样性的灾难性减少，造成严重的经济后果。入侵物种导致加拿大东海岸和西海岸的本地物种生物多样性大幅减少，并降低了水产养殖的可持续性。我们在纽芬兰南海岸的几个港口发现了两种入侵的殖民地海鞘动物。然而，它们还没有达到高密度，这为进行“入侵前”研究提供了难得的机会，并增加了成功缓解的可能性。我们的第一个目标是开发TaqMan基因探针和实时聚合酶链式反应分析，从而能够在浮游生物样本中早期检测到单个海囊虫卵或幼虫。这些探针将基于线粒体DNA的细胞色素氧化酶I基因的核苷酸序列，这是物种特性的可靠指标。基因探针可能在3-5年内实现商业化。