Scientists have announced the discovery of the initial invasive barnacle species in the waters of Nunavut, attributing this finding to rising water temperatures.
Their research, recently published in the journal Global Change Biology, highlights how the Arctic’s traditionally cold waters have historically deterred the migration of invasive species. However, with the Arctic warming at an accelerated rate compared to other regions, shipping routes are expanding, diminishing the region’s natural defenses against invasive species.
According to reports, shipping activity in certain parts of Arctic Canada has surged by more than 250% since 1990, facilitating the transportation of non-native species to the area. The bay barnacle (Amphibalanus improvisus), already existing in European and Pacific waters, has been identified in ten distinct locations across the Canadian Arctic.
Betty Boyse, a molecular biologist from the British Antarctic Survey and a study co-author, conducted the research while aboard cruise ships.
The majority of barnacles detected in the study were found near Pond Inlet, a key entry point to the Northwest Passage.
Instead of visually spotting the barnacles, researchers detected them through environmental DNA obtained from the water samples collected during their cruises.
Explaining the methodology, Boyse mentioned that barnacles are filter feeders that attach to surfaces and feed through water flow, making boats an attractive surface for attachment due to the additional food supply as boats move.
The Arctic region is increasingly susceptible to environmental threats, with the bay barnacle’s presence serving as an initial warning rather than a catastrophic ecosystem threat, as stated by Boyse.
In response to the study, Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada acknowledged the findings, emphasizing the importance of corroborating the environmental DNA data with visual confirmation to ascertain the presence of live organisms.
DFO utilizes a combination of environmental DNA techniques, scientific studies, and community-based monitoring programs with Indigenous communities to monitor aquatic invasive species in the Arctic.
Shelley Elverum, a co-founder of Ikaarvik, a Pond Inlet-based non-profit involved in the research, stressed the significance of collaborating with Inuit communities and respecting their research priorities.
DFO mentioned the detection of other non-native aquatic species in the Canadian Arctic, noting that confirmation of their introduction mechanisms and regulation status under the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations is still pending.
An earlier study in 2015 identified bay barnacles near Churchill, Manitoba, attributing their presence to hull fouling.
