Environment and shipping drive environmental DNA beta-diversity among commercial ports.

The spread of nonindigenous species by shipping is a large and growing global problem that harms coastal ecosystems and economies and may blur coastal biogeographical patterns. This study coupled eukaryotic environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with dissimilarity regression to test the hypothesis that ship-borne species spread homogenizes port communities. We first collected and metabarcoded water samples from ports in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.

Global marine biosecurity and ship lay-ups: intensifying effects of trade disruptions.

Recent global trade disruptions, due to blockage of the Suez Canal and cascading effects of COVID-19, have altered the movement patterns of commercial ships and may increase worldwide invasions of marine non-indigenous species. Organisms settle on the hulls and underwater surfaces of vessels and can accumulate rapidly, especially when vessels remain stationary during lay-ups and delays. Once present, organisms can persist on vessels for long-periods (months to years), with the potential to release propagules and seed invasions as ships visit ports across the global transportation network.

Characteristics of global port phytoplankton and implications for current ballast water regulations.

The International Maritime Organization and U.S. Coast Guard have implemented regulations to reduce introductions of non-indigenous species via ballast water (BW).

Formation of Brominated Organic Compounds and Molecular Transformations in Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) after Ballast Water Treatment with Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate Dihydrate (DICD).

Estuarine water treated with a ballast water management system (BWMS) using a solution of dissolved dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate (DICD) resulted in the formation of newly described brominated disinfection byproducts (Br-DBPs). Analysis of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in untreated water with ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) identified 3897 / ions and their exact molecular formulas. After DICD treatment, a total of 213 halogenated molecular ions with relative abundance of at least 1% were assigned and confirmed using isotope simulation.

Potential application of SMART II for Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 detection in ship's ballast water.

Ballast water is used to safely stabilize and operate shipping vessels worldwide, in a multitude of aquatic settings, including inland, coastal and open oceans. However, ballast water may pose ecological, public health, and/or economic problems as it may serve as vehicles of transmission of microorganisms. Current ballast water regulations include limits of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp.