PhD Candidate Elly Goetz uncovers the history of microscopic invaders in Long Island Sound
In a recent study published in Sciences Advances, Elly Goetz uncovers the history of an invasive marine species in Long Island Sound. Goetz, a PhD candidate in Earth and Planetary Sciences, and her colleauges used the fossil record of a single-celled organism known as Foraminifera to better understand local environmental history.
Piecing together the puzzle of which pressures led to the current state of Long Island Sound is central to working towards a healthier environment but has been challenging given the complex history. This history includes the dramatic modification of water and nutrient delivery due to the overhunting of beavers for the fur trade in 17th-18th centuries; pollution from heavy metals and sewage with population growth and industrialization in the 19th century; and the spread and growth of invasive and non-desirable species from the 20th century to today.
Goetz and her collaborators developed an innovative approach for identifying when, where, and why invasive species took hold in the Long Island Sound. By analyzing core samples, they could draw connections between the fossil record of one tiny invader, Ammonia confertitesta, a species of foraminifera, and environmental change. This research found that A. confertitesta was introduced soon after the first trade ships arrived from China (where the species originates), but did not take hold and proliferate in the area until the rise of global shipping and massive increase in ballast water exchange in the 1970s. This draws attention to the role of international trade in the circulation of invasive species, and the deep impact of global economic activity on ecological composition and change.
By documenting the species’ establishment over time, the study emphasizes the critical impact of human activities on marine biodiversity and the importance of monitoring and managing ballast water to prevent future incursions by invasive species. Crucially, this work draws attention to the entanglement of human responsibility in ecological change. As emphasized in an accompanying commentary piece, Goetz’s focus on microscopic marine invaders spotlights the oft forgotten ‘small stuff’ that makes up the world around us.
Science Advances:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adv9447
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