INVASIVE SPECIES
The introduction of non-native species is a primary factor influencing abundance of species in any natural biological community. Ecologists have long been aware of the interactions between introduced species, their effect on species composition, food web structure, and on diversity. Invasive species are prevalent in the Gulf of Maine. We are interested in understanding relationships between environmental variables and the biology and ecology of invasive species and their effects on seascapes and biological structure.
RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
J.A. Dijkstra, A. Litterer**, K. Mello, B.S. O’Brien*, Y. Rzhanov. Temperature, phenology, and turf macroalgae drive seascape change: Connections to mid-trophic level species. Ecosphere 10(11): e02923, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2923.
C. Ware, J.A. Dijkstra, K. Mello, A. Stevens*, B. O’Brien*, W. Ikedo**, A novel three-dimensional analysis of functional architecture that describe the properties of macroalgae as refuge. Marine Ecology Progress Series 106:93-103, 2019.
W.J. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, E. Clark, J. Connoly, Larval exposure to low salinity compromises metamorphosis and growth in the colonial ascidian Botrylloides violaceus. Invertebrate Biology 137:281-288, 2018.
B.S. O’Brien*, K. Mello**, A. Litterer**, J.A. Dijkstra, Seaweed structure shapes trophic interactions: A case study using a mid-trophic level fish species. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 506:1-8, 2018.
J.A. Dijkstra*, E.L. Westerman*, L.G. Harris. Elevated seasonal temperatures eliminate thermal barriers of reproduction of a dominant invasive species: A community state change for northern communities? Diversity and Distributions 23(10):1082-1092, 2017. *Equal authorship.
J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris, K. Mello**, A. Litterer**, C. Wells, C. Ware. Invasive seaweeds transform habitat structure and increase biodiversity of associated species. Journal of Ecology, 105:1668-1678 2017.
M.R. Carman., P.D. Colarusso, E.P. Nelson, D.W. Grunden, M.C. Wong, C. Mckenzie, K. Matheson, J. Davidson, S. Fox, H. Neckles, H. Bayley, S. Schott, J.A. Dijkstra, S. Stewart-Clark. Distribution and diversity of tunicates utilizing eelgrass as substrate in the western North Atlantic: A latitudinal study between N 39° and N 47°. Management of Biological Invasions 7:51-57, 2016.
C. Simkanin, P. Fofonoff, K. Larson, G. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, G.M. Ruiz. Spatial and temporal ascidian invasions in the continental United States and Alaska. Marine Biology 1-16, 2016.
Chase, A.*, J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris. The influence of substrate material on ascidian larval settlement. Marine Pollution Bulletin 106:35-42, 2016.
J.A. Dijkstra, W.J. Lambert, L.G. Harris, Introduced species provide a novel temporal resource that facilitates native predator population growth. Biological Invasions 15:911-919, 2013.
J.A. Dijkstra, E.L. Westerman and L.G. Harris, The effects of climate change on species composition, succession, and phenology. A case study. Global Change Biology. 17: 2360-2369, 2011.
J.A. Dijkstra, R. Nolan**, Potential of the invasive colonial ascidian, Didemnum vexillum, to limit the escape response of the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus. Aquatic Invasions 6(4): 451-456, 2011.
S.G. Bullard., M.R. Carman, R.M.Rocha, J.A.Dijkstra, A.Goodwin, Abundance and diversity of ascidians in Pacific Panama. Aquatic Invasions 6(4): 381-390, 2011.
M.R. Carman, S.G. Bullard, R.M. Rocha, G. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, J.J. Roper, A. Goodwin, E.M. Baker and M. Carman, Ascidians at the Pacific and Atlantic entrances to the Panama Canal. Aquatic Invasions 6(4): 371-380, 2011.
J.A. Dijkstra, E.L. Westerman, C. Brooks, L.G. Harris. Linking life-history characteristics, biogeography and success of non-natives in subtidal communities in the Gulf of Maine. Gulf of Maine Symposium – Advancing ecosystem research for the future of the Gulf: Proceedings of a symposium held in St. Andrews, NB. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2904. p. 152, 2010.
J.A. Dijkstra and L.G. Harris, Maintenance of diversity altered by a shift in dominant species: Implications for species coexistence. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 387: 71-80, 2009.
E.L. Westerman, J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris, High natural fusion rates in a Botryllid ascidian. Marine Biology. 156: 2613-2619, 2009.
E.L. Westerman, R.B. Whitlatch, J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris, Variation in brooding period masks similarities in response to changing temperatures. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 391: 13-19, 2009.
P.C. Valentine, M.R. Carman, J. Dijkstra, D. Blackwood, Larval recruitment of the colonial ascidian Didemnum vexillum, seasonal water temperatures in New England coastal and offshore waters, and implications for spread of the species. Aquatic Invasions 4(1): 153-168, 2009.
J.A. Dijkstra, A. Dutton**, E. Westerman, L.G. Harris, Heart Rate reflects osmostic stress levels in two introduced colonial ascidians Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides violaceus. Marine Biology. Vol. 154(5): 805-811, 2008.
J. Dijkstra, H. Sherman**, L. Harris, The role of colonial ascidians in altering biodiversity in marine fouling communities. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 342: 168-171, 2007.
J. Dijkstra, L. Harris and E. Westerman, The long-term distribution and ecology of four invasive colonial ascidians in the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 342: 61-68, 2007.
S.G. Bullard, G. Lambert, M. R. Carman, J. Byrnes, R. Whitlatch, G. Ruiz, R. Miller, L. Harris, P. Valentine, J. Collie, J. Pederson, D. McNaught, A. Cohen,R. Asch, J. Dijkstra, K. Heinonen, Distribution and ecology of Didemnum sp. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 342: 99-108, 2007.
- Media: Boston Globe, EurekAlert, Science Daily, Portland Press Herald, Notizie Scientifiche, Sun Journal Eurasia Review, The Union Leader, DailyMail and others.
C. Ware, J.A. Dijkstra, K. Mello, A. Stevens*, B. O’Brien*, W. Ikedo**, A novel three-dimensional analysis of functional architecture that describe the properties of macroalgae as refuge. Marine Ecology Progress Series 106:93-103, 2019.
- Media: UNH Today
W.J. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, E. Clark, J. Connoly, Larval exposure to low salinity compromises metamorphosis and growth in the colonial ascidian Botrylloides violaceus. Invertebrate Biology 137:281-288, 2018.
B.S. O’Brien*, K. Mello**, A. Litterer**, J.A. Dijkstra, Seaweed structure shapes trophic interactions: A case study using a mid-trophic level fish species. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 506:1-8, 2018.
- Media: Boston Globe, Fox News Online, AAAS, Science Daily, EurekAlert
J.A. Dijkstra*, E.L. Westerman*, L.G. Harris. Elevated seasonal temperatures eliminate thermal barriers of reproduction of a dominant invasive species: A community state change for northern communities? Diversity and Distributions 23(10):1082-1092, 2017. *Equal authorship.
- Media: Global News Connect, Union Leader, The Hippo, Phys.org
J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris, K. Mello**, A. Litterer**, C. Wells, C. Ware. Invasive seaweeds transform habitat structure and increase biodiversity of associated species. Journal of Ecology, 105:1668-1678 2017.
- Highlighted by the British Ecological Society as a study leading the way in empirical and synthetic ecological studies that transcends terrestrial and aquatic systems. Featured in the virtual issue of Aquatic Ecology, 2017.
- Media: Featured in over 350+ global media outlets including New York Times, Washington Post, AAUS, DailyMail, Japan Today, CTV, Chronicle Herald, Telegraph Journal, Federal News Radio, Maine Public Radio, Reddit, and US Weekly.
M.R. Carman., P.D. Colarusso, E.P. Nelson, D.W. Grunden, M.C. Wong, C. Mckenzie, K. Matheson, J. Davidson, S. Fox, H. Neckles, H. Bayley, S. Schott, J.A. Dijkstra, S. Stewart-Clark. Distribution and diversity of tunicates utilizing eelgrass as substrate in the western North Atlantic: A latitudinal study between N 39° and N 47°. Management of Biological Invasions 7:51-57, 2016.
C. Simkanin, P. Fofonoff, K. Larson, G. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, G.M. Ruiz. Spatial and temporal ascidian invasions in the continental United States and Alaska. Marine Biology 1-16, 2016.
Chase, A.*, J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris. The influence of substrate material on ascidian larval settlement. Marine Pollution Bulletin 106:35-42, 2016.
J.A. Dijkstra, W.J. Lambert, L.G. Harris, Introduced species provide a novel temporal resource that facilitates native predator population growth. Biological Invasions 15:911-919, 2013.
J.A. Dijkstra, E.L. Westerman and L.G. Harris, The effects of climate change on species composition, succession, and phenology. A case study. Global Change Biology. 17: 2360-2369, 2011.
J.A. Dijkstra, R. Nolan**, Potential of the invasive colonial ascidian, Didemnum vexillum, to limit the escape response of the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus. Aquatic Invasions 6(4): 451-456, 2011.
S.G. Bullard., M.R. Carman, R.M.Rocha, J.A.Dijkstra, A.Goodwin, Abundance and diversity of ascidians in Pacific Panama. Aquatic Invasions 6(4): 381-390, 2011.
M.R. Carman, S.G. Bullard, R.M. Rocha, G. Lambert, J.A. Dijkstra, J.J. Roper, A. Goodwin, E.M. Baker and M. Carman, Ascidians at the Pacific and Atlantic entrances to the Panama Canal. Aquatic Invasions 6(4): 371-380, 2011.
J.A. Dijkstra, E.L. Westerman, C. Brooks, L.G. Harris. Linking life-history characteristics, biogeography and success of non-natives in subtidal communities in the Gulf of Maine. Gulf of Maine Symposium – Advancing ecosystem research for the future of the Gulf: Proceedings of a symposium held in St. Andrews, NB. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2904. p. 152, 2010.
J.A. Dijkstra and L.G. Harris, Maintenance of diversity altered by a shift in dominant species: Implications for species coexistence. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 387: 71-80, 2009.
E.L. Westerman, J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris, High natural fusion rates in a Botryllid ascidian. Marine Biology. 156: 2613-2619, 2009.
E.L. Westerman, R.B. Whitlatch, J.A. Dijkstra, L.G. Harris, Variation in brooding period masks similarities in response to changing temperatures. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 391: 13-19, 2009.
P.C. Valentine, M.R. Carman, J. Dijkstra, D. Blackwood, Larval recruitment of the colonial ascidian Didemnum vexillum, seasonal water temperatures in New England coastal and offshore waters, and implications for spread of the species. Aquatic Invasions 4(1): 153-168, 2009.
J.A. Dijkstra, A. Dutton**, E. Westerman, L.G. Harris, Heart Rate reflects osmostic stress levels in two introduced colonial ascidians Botryllus schlosseri and Botrylloides violaceus. Marine Biology. Vol. 154(5): 805-811, 2008.
J. Dijkstra, H. Sherman**, L. Harris, The role of colonial ascidians in altering biodiversity in marine fouling communities. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 342: 168-171, 2007.
J. Dijkstra, L. Harris and E. Westerman, The long-term distribution and ecology of four invasive colonial ascidians in the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 342: 61-68, 2007.
S.G. Bullard, G. Lambert, M. R. Carman, J. Byrnes, R. Whitlatch, G. Ruiz, R. Miller, L. Harris, P. Valentine, J. Collie, J. Pederson, D. McNaught, A. Cohen,R. Asch, J. Dijkstra, K. Heinonen, Distribution and ecology of Didemnum sp. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 342: 99-108, 2007.
