First Global Model developed to analyse the Routes of Marine Species

Scientists developed the first global model that analyses the routes taken by marine invasive species. They examined the movements of cargo ships across the world to detect the hot spots where these aquatic aliens could thrive.

Marine species wreak havoc in new locations causing the extinction of natives. A well-documented boom has been observed in global shipping over the last 20 years and this has resulted into growing numbers of species moving via ballast tanks.

The ports such as San Francisco and Chesapeake Bay have informed about several exotic new species arriving every year. Economic data indicates that marine invaders can have effects that last for decades.

Therefore, scientists came out with a model that can curb these marine species. They procured detailed logs from nearly three million voyages that happened in 2007 and 2008.