Globalization affects worldwide competition in many ways, in this case the battle is between shrimp and non-native parasites on the mudflats of Oregon:
Parasite Preying on Shrimp in Oregon, AP: Biologists are concerned about a non-native parasite that's preying on mud shrimp up and down the Oregon Coast's estuaries, potentially playing havoc with sensitive ecosystems. The newcomer — called the Griffen's isopod — has been spotted in Tillamook, Yaquina, Alsea and Siletz bays in Oregon and Willapa Bay in Washington. Mud shrimp are commonly used by humans as fish bait, but they are important prey for birds, fish and other animals. They live in intertidal mudflats, where their large populations filter as much as 80 percent of the water each day.
John Chapman, an invasive-species expert with Oregon State University, is speculating that the parasites arrived on the West Coast in ballast water released by ships. Researchers are estimating that the parasite may have infested as much as 80 percent of breeding adult mud shrimp. … The parasite, which is only about three-quarters of an inch wide, was first spotted in Oregon about 20 years ago, but not fully identified until this past winter. Chapman said Japan is the only other place the parasite has been found, but it's unclear where the organism originated. He said the only way it could have crossed the ocean would have been by "human intervention." Researchers said they don't yet know enough about the parasite to determine whether it can be stopped.
