Ecology of Invasive Cargo

Ecology of Invasive Cargo

Our contemporary life is supported by transnational networks of transport. Cargo container ships transport 90% of all our produce across the globe - cheap, fast and available worldwide. However, these anonymous boxes traveling through our seascape distribute more than products. On departure, each ship fills ballast water tanks that keep the boats afloat. On arrival in the next port, the water that has been carried all along is discharged. With the transportation of water, the cargo ships also transport organisms to new habitats. They are the unintentional passengers that end up living in foreign waters as invasive species. The consequences are far from innocent: invasive species affect ecological balance, as they often impact or outcompete native species. Noud Sleumer presents a speculative scenario in which invasive species and native species hybridize into the new future ecology of the Netherlands. Take a dive into the world of massive insects, in order to examine how we can control our relationship with nature and technology.