What are we missing about marine invasions? Filling in the gaps with evolutionary genomics

Research on invasion biology has been largely dominated by studies on the ecological effects of invasion events, although recently, evolutionary processes have been shown to be important to invasion success. This is largely attributed to novel genomic tools that provide new opportunities to unravel the natural history, taxonomy, and invasion pathways of invasive species, as well as the genetic basis of adaptive traits that allow them to expand within and beyond their native range. Despite these advances and the growing literature of genomic research on terrestrial pests, these tools have not been widely applied to marine invasive species. This is in part due to the perception that high levels of dispersal and connectivity in many invasive marine species can limit the opportunity for local adaptation. However, there is growing evidence that even in species with high dispersal potential, significant site-specific adaptation can occur. We review how these “omic” tools provide unprecedented opportunities to characterise the role of adaptive variation, physiological tolerance, and epigenetic processes in determining the success of marine invaders. Yet, rapid range expansion in invasions can confound the analysis of genomic data, so we also review how data should be properly analysed and carefully interpreted under such circumstances. Although there are a limited number of studies pioneering this research in marine systems, this review highlights how future studies can be designed to integrate ecological and evolutionary information. Such datasets will be imperative for the effective management of marine pests.

Sea search : a community-based citizen science monitoring program for Victoria, Australia, Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries

Community involvement in monitoring Victoria’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) engages coastal volunteers in looking after their marine ‘front yards”. The Management Strategy for Victoria’s System of Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries dedicates an entire theme to community engagement with core key performance areas. This includes community participation. The Sea Search community based monitoring program was developed in 2003 to engage volunteers in meaningful ecological data collection for future sustainability of Victoria’s MPAs. Deakin University, an academic institute, and Parks Victoria, the management agency for Victoria’s MPAs, through a research partner program, trialled three different habitat monitoring methodologies. The trails assessed volunteer ability to collect scientific data, and social science aspects for their involvement in a community-based monitoring program. Information collected by volunteers, feeds directly into their local MPA management strategies to address issues such as climate change, introduced pests and human impacts and natural ecological variation.

The Sea Search program addresses the two action programmes, Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, created at the United Nations Earth Summit, held in 1992. Both documents highlight the need for community engagement and capacity building for sustainability, health and integrity of the earth. Involvement in the Sea Search program builds the volunteer’s capacity by learning scientific skills, interacting with other like minded community members, and creating relationships with all organisations involved in the delivery of the program. In this regard, Sea Search is a citizen science program involving all sectors in society by promoting public-interest and research for decision making and planning of Victoria’s system of Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries.