Effects of Climate Change on Aquatic Invasive Species and Implications for Management and Research (External Review Draft)

Abstract

This draft report reviews available literature on climate change effects on aquatic invasive species (AIS) and examines state level AIS management activities.
Invasive species are one of the leading causes of degraded ecological condition and ecosystem services, and climate change has the potential to interact with this stressor through multiple mechanisms. OW and OPPTS are concerned with aquatic invasive species (AIS) in multiple arenas, including ballast water and NPDES permits, TMDLs and impaired waters, economic consequences, and pesticide usage for control. AIS are also used as biological indicators to measure ecosystem condition.

This draft report assesses the state of the science of climate change effects on AIS and examines state level AIS management activities. Part of the assessment focuses on AIS management plans to determine their capacity to incorporate information on changing environmental conditions generally, and climate change specifically. The report concludes that further scientific research and data collection are needed in order to equip managers with the tools and information necessary to conduct effective AIS management in the context of climatic change.The report is intended for managers and scientists working with AIS to provide them with information on the potential effects of climate change on AIS, strategies for adapting their management to accomodate these environmental changes, and highlight further research needs and gaps.

Impact/Purpose

This draft report assesses the state of the science of climate change effects on AIS and examines state level AIS management activities.

Status

There will be a 30-day public comment period beginning Aug. 2007
External letter review projected Sept. 2007
The final report will be published after addressing public and external review comments.

Citation

U.S. EPA. Effects of Climate Change on Aquatic Invasive Species and Implications for Management and Research (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-07/084.

Date	Description
01- Jun 2006	EPA hosted a workshop, Assessing Gaps and Needs for Invasive Species Management in a Changing Climate, on June 6, 2006 in Washington, DC.
02- Oct 2006	EPA hosted a workshop, New Considerations for Aquatic Invasive Species in a Changing Climate: An Update on Papers for a Special Section in Conservation Biology, on October 2, 2006 in Washington, DC.
04- May 2007	EPA conducts an internal review of the draft report for comments.

Additional Information

Included for public review is the draft document, Effects of Climate Change on Aquatic Invasive Species and Implications for Management and Research (External Review Draft). Comments on this document may be submitted and reviewed using the e-Government Regulations.gov Web site. From the site, select Environmental Protection Agency and the keyword EPA-HQ-ORD-2007-0666 (for the docket ID) to comment on this report.

• EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH (PDF)  (70  pp, 352.5 KB, about PDF)
• Appendix A (PDF)  (76  pp, 434.6 KB, about PDF)
• Appendix B (PDF)  (81  pp, 494.1 KB, about PDF)
• Appendix C (PDF)  (23  pp, 155.3 KB, about PDF)
• Appendix D (PDF)  (7  pp, 112.3 KB, about PDF)
• Appendix E (PDF)  (5  pp, 62.5 KB, about PDF)

Related Link(s)

• EPA'S INVASIVE SPECIES HOME PAGE