"Ecological changes are afoot in the waters off Nova Scotia. Alien species are showing their faces in bays and open coasts, and scientists are noticing profound changes in natural ecological cycles due to these species introductions. One such invader is the lacy crust bryozoan, Membranipora membranacea. Bryozoans are colonial invertebrates, much like corals, that grow as rigid crusts on the surface of kelps in the waters off Nova Scotia. Scientists have observed that this growth causes kelps to become more fragile and prone to breakage by waves. This means that large waves cause decreases in the amount of kelp canopy, which may lead to kelp mortality. Loss of kelps may affect organisms that inhabit kelp beds and depend on kelp as food."

– NS Biologist

"The relatively sudden increase in the invasive European Fire Ant, Myrmica rubra, has left many residents of Halifax unable or afraid to use their outdoor property in the summer. The fear of being stung as the ants attack is enough for some people to never use their yards at all. Personally, I have friends who have children's play equipment sitting useless for several months of the year as they are repeatedly swarmed by attacking ants whenever they disturb the ground near the nests. My own young son has been stung whilst we played at a friend's house and after an initial scream, developed a great whelt, larger than a dollar coin. It does not take many of those painful stings to cause a small child to be covered in sores and be terrified of the outdoors."

– Halifax Resident and Biologist