Ecosystem under pressure: Ballast water discharge into Galveston Bay, Texas (USA) from 2005 to 2010

► We examine characteristics of discharged ballast water into Galveston Bay. ► Forty percent of the vessels entering Galveston Bay discharge ballast water. ► Source and frequency of ballast water discharge will help to assess invasion risk. ► We predict an increased invasion risk from coastwise versus overseas ballast water.