Abstract
A milestone in understanding a globally significant mechanism of marine bioinvasions was published 25 years ago. The transformative paper on ballast water provided a baseline of patterns, processes and predictions of marine introductions, underpinned a dramatic increase in research on the topic, and presented a foundational insight for an international approach to vector management. The 25 year anniversary of JT Carlton’s ‘Transoceanic and interoceanic dispersal of coastal marine organisms: the biology of ballast water’ coincides with an International Maritime Organization (IMO) convention for management of ballast water that has not been fully ratified. The emergence of ship biofouling as a vector of management concern worldwide has also prompted renewed efforts to reduce species transfers by ships through new policy initiatives.
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Notes
The paper was published on the second to last day of 1985, making 2011 its 25th anniversary year.
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We are very grateful to Professor Daniel Simberloff for his insight and comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their suggestions that have enhanced the article.
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Davidson, I.C., Simkanin, C. The biology of ballast water 25 years later. Biol Invasions 14, 9–13 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-011-0056-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-011-0056-1