Exotic Species Threaten the Chesapeake too

When we think about the problem of exotic species, those non-native invaders that when transplanted to a new environment proliferate without natural limitations, we usually think about Florida, and many of the exotic pets that have taken up homes in swamps and everglades. Now, Chesapeake bay may be facing a similar problem that involves a whelk which is native to the Sea of Japan. The Whelk is noted for it's large mouth, and cheerfully consumes native oysters whole and then spits out the unmarked shell. This is in contrast to other whelks, or drills that leave signature holes or marks on their prey.
Because of it's ominous potential to threaten the shellfish business of Chesapeake bay, the Veined Rapa Whelk is now a subject of research and concern at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, ( VIMS).
The goal of the research is to understand how the shellfish interacts with the local inhabitants of the bay. Obviously, when more is know about the behavior of this destructive species, more will be known about how to come up with a plan to control it's reproduction and spread.
It is thought that the Rapa arrived in the Chesapeake in the ballast water of passing ships. Because of it's ability to hitch a ride, it has the potential to spread and threaten the shellfish industry of the entire east coast.
As of now, the exotic whelk is thought to thrive in a wide range of temperature and salinity, making it's control difficult, and hampering any efforts to predict it's spread.