Tsunami invasion

The titanic tidal wave that rushed across the Pacific following Japan’s March 2011 quake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown disaster transported marine species across the entire Pacific to North American shores where they had never been seen.

The modern proliferation of plastic allowed creatures such as worms, crustaceans, hydroids and other species to hitch a ride on the floating debris and survive a harsh voyage that would have otherwise killed them.

Researchers say they have detected 289 living species on tsunami debris originating from Japan. They suspect far more might have escaped their notice, including some invasive species that could possibly alter the existing ecosystems.