A qualitative biological risk assessment for vase tunicate Ciona intestinalis in Canadian waters: using expert knowledge

Non-indigenous species (NIS) can pose a significant level of risk, through potential ecological or genetic consequences, to environments to which they are introduced. One way to characterize the overall risk posed by a NIS is to combine the probability and consequences of its establishment in a risk assessment that can be used to inform managers and policy-makers. The vase tunicate Ciona intestinalis is considered to be a cryptogenic species in eastern Canadian waters, but has not yet been reported from Pacific Canada. Because it is unclear what level of risk it poses for Canadian waters, we conducted a biological risk assessment for C. intestinalis and its potential pathogens, parasites, and fellow travellers. An expert survey was conducted to inform the risk assessment. The ecological risk posed by C. intestinalis was considered high (moderate uncertainty) on the Atlantic coast, and moderate (high uncertainty) on the Pacific coast. The genetic risk posed by C. intestinalis was considered moderate on both coasts, with low uncertainty on the Atlantic coast and high uncertainty on the Pacific coast, where hybridization with Ciona savignyi may be possible. Pathogens, parasites, and fellow travellers were considered to be a moderate ecological risk and a low genetic risk (with high uncertainty) for both coasts.