ross mayhew wrote:
> Amongst "invasive" species, so far as i can figure out, Littorina
> littorea is a very interesting case:  So far as i understand it, the
> latest research indicates it was present in sub-Boreal Canada (NFLD,
> N.S.) for at least many hundreds of years  - "prior to 1200": i had a
> great reference but can't find it now!! -  , then around 1860 it took
> off down the New England coast, causing all sorts of havoc in its wake.
>
> My questions are:
>
> 1) What at the "best guesses" as to why this species which had been
> around for quite some time, suddenly expanded its range so quickly??

 From very early on, there was a "three cornered trade"; Ships took
Canadian and New England lumber and timber etc south, traded it for
sugar cane, which they took to the islands and traded for molasses and
rum, sold up north.

My guess would be that it hitched a ride south on the trading ships.

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