A new marine invasive species, the Titan Acorn Barnacle Megabalanus coccopoma, has recently appeared in coastal Georgia growing on intertidal zone hard substrates. The barnacle was probably introduced to our area by growing on the hulls of poorly maintained ships. At the North Beach jetty on Tybee Island, individuals as large as two inches tall have been growing in the lower intertidal zone.

With the support of a Coastal Incentive Grant from Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division, the science center partnered with the City of Tybee Island, Coastal Environmental Analysis and the University of Georgia-Marine Extension Service to conduct research on the biology and ecology of the barnacle. Research investigations included the distribution of the species, salinity tolerance, growth rate measurements, and settlement periodicity.

Click on the links below for information on the barnacles, our research, and how you can avoid introducing aquatic invaders to our coast.