Key research themes
1. How does combining ballast water exchange (BWE) with ballast water treatment (BWT) improve prevention of species introductions to freshwater ecosystems?
This theme investigates the efficacy of integrating the established ballast water exchange method, which relies on osmoregulatory stress by replacing freshwater ballast with oceanic water, with emerging ballast water treatment systems that use filtration and disinfection. The combined approach aims to address the dual invasion process by reducing propagule pressure (via BWT) and environmental tolerance of invasive species (via BWE), especially in sensitive freshwater environments where BWT alone may face challenges due to water quality. Understanding this synergy is crucial for refining regulatory standards and operational practices to minimize biological invasions effectively.
2. What are the comparative efficacies and operational characteristics of different ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) employing ultraviolet radiation and chemical disinfectants for controlling phytoplankton and microbial regrowth?
This research theme focuses on evaluating and comparing existing ballast water treatment technologies based on UV radiation and chemical disinfectants like electrochlorination and chlorine dioxide. It emphasizes the assessment of short-term efficacy and the critical issue of phytoplankton regrowth potential, which can undermine treatment success and pose risks of invasive species establishment. Understanding the performance variability among treatment systems and how dosage affects organism viability provides actionable insights for technology selection, regulatory compliance, and future design improvements.
3. How effective is ballast water exchange (BWE) in reducing invasion risks associated with intracoastal and Arctic shipping routes, considering biological community changes detected through high throughput sequencing and environmental factors like salinity and temperature?
This theme evaluates the ecological efficacy of BWE practices in mitigating the introduction of non-indigenous species specifically along intracoastal routes and in the context of the Arctic, where climate change and shipping growth could influence invasion dynamics. Leveraging high throughput sequencing (HTS) and ecophysiological modeling, the research addresses both the compositional shifts in ballast biota after BWE and the suitability of recipient environments for introduced species. Findings here have implications for regional policy, ballast water management protocols, and biodiversity conservation under changing climatic conditions.