Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Chinese mitten crabs, comb jellies, Pacific seastars, and harmful algae can all become invasive after reaching waters outside their natural range. Without the predators and food webs that normally control them, their populations may grow rapidly.

Ships help move these organisms through ballast water. A cargo ship takes on water for stability after unloading, carries it to another port, then releases microscopic organisms, larvae, and sediment into a completely new ecosystem.

#InvasiveSpecies #BallastWater #CargoShips #MarineBiology #CasualNavigation