Exotic species spreading through world’s seas

Exotic species have invaded more than 80 percent of the oceans and coasts on Earth, causing problems that can ultimately cost billions of dollars to handle — and these species may spread even further as climate changes worldwide, scientists find.

Invasive species are infamous for wreaking havoc on land — kudzu vines have covered large swaths of the U.S. Southeast; zebra mussels have invaded U.S. waterways; and rabbits and cane toads have bred to huge numbers in Australia.

Now scientists find that 84 percent of all marine regions harbor invasive species as well, said marine ecologist Susan Williams, director of the University of California's Bodega Marine Laboratory. More than half of these are harmful against the invaded territories, she added.

"There are more than 500 non-native species established in U.S. tidal waters," Williams said.. Worryingly, even remote Antarctica is afflicted.

"Antarctica is important to us not just because of penguins and melting ice, but because it is a very special place for organisms — 50 percent of the species there live in Antarctica and no place else, so it's a very special place for biodiversity."

Read more: OurAmazingPlanet

Pollution by Invasive Species @ Water Encyclopedia