Ecology Distribution Management Info Impact Info References and Links Contacts

Management Information Higher densities of S. quoianum have been observed in vertical banks compared with sloped banks. Thus restoration efforts should use sloped banks where possible, in order to reduce colonisation rates and erosion impacts (Talley et al., 2001). Recent work by Davidson et al. (2008) on substrate preference of S. quoianum demonstrated that they colonise a wide range of substrata, but have a clear preference for decayed wood. A potential control method could involve outplanting a preferred substrate such as wood and removing it once it had been colonised. By continuing to do this over several seasons it may be possible to reduce S. quoianum populations, thereby reducing their impacts. Further research by Davidson et al. will investigate the success of different management strategies.          Location Specific Management Information California Sphaeroma quoianum burrow densities are greater on vertical banks versus sloping banks. If banks are sloped in restoration projects rather than strictly vertical, erosion effects due to the burrows may be lessened (Ray, 2005).          Management Resources/Links 1. Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)., 2008. Decision support tools-Identifying potentially invasive non-native marine and freshwater species: fish, invertebrates, amphibians.         Summary: The electronic tool kits made available on the Cefas page for free download are Crown Copyright (2007-2008). As such, these are freeware and may be freely distributed provided this notice is retained. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made and users should satisfy themselves as to the applicability of the results in any given circumstance. Toolkits available include 1) FISK- Freshwater Fish Invasiveness Scoring Kit (English and Spanish language version); 2) MFISK- Marine Fish Invasiveness Scoring Kit; 3) MI-ISK- Marine invertebrate Invasiveness Scoring Kit; 4) FI-ISK- Freshwater Invertebrate Invasiveness Scoring Kit and AmphISK- Amphibian Invasiveness Scoring Kit. These tool kits were developed by Cefas, with new VisualBasic and computational programming by Lorenzo Vilizzi, David Cooper, Andy South and Gordon H. Copp, based on VisualBasic code in the original Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) tool kit of P.C. Pheloung, P.A. Williams & S.R. Halloy (1999). The decision support tools are available from: http://cefas.defra.gov.uk/our-science/ecosystems-and-biodiversity/non-native-species/decision-support-tools.aspx [Accessed 13 October 2011] The guidance document is available from http://www.cefas.co.uk/media/118009/fisk_guide_v2.pdf [Accessed 13 January 2009]. 2. Ray, G.L., 2005.Invasive Marine and Estuarine Animals of California. ANSRP Technical Notes Collection (ERDC/TN ANSRP-05-2), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS.         Summary: Report that provides information about introduced estuarine and marine animals wether intentional or inadvertant. 3. Talley, T. S., Crooks, J. A., and Levin, L. A. 2001. Habitat utilization and alteration by the invasive, burrowing isopod, Sphaeroma quoyanum, in California salt marshes, Marine Biology 138, 561-573.         Summary: Paper discussing the alteration of habitat by Sphaeroma quoyanum and possible management strategies.          Results Page: 1