Shipping Study II. Biological Invasions by Nonindigenous Species in United States Waters: Quantifying the Role of Ballast Water and Sediments, Parts I and II.

This study examines the roles of ballast water and ballast sediments from foreign ports as methods for the transport and release of nonindigenous species in the United States coastal and aquatic ecosystems. It specifically assesses the types of vessels arriving to ports in Chesapeake Bay and the amount of ballast water discharged. It compares the physical and chemical characterization of arriving ballast water and site discharge, as well as the biodiversity of the ballast water and sediments arriving in Chesapeake Bay aboard vessels from world ports. The Chesapeake Bay was chosen as the site to be investigated since prior studies indicated that it was receiving more ballast waters from foreign ports than any other harbor region on the Atlantic coast of the United States.