Plenary Session Abstract

Risks, Uncertainties and Values in Prevention and Management of Nonindigenous Species

David Lodge
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame

For every ecosystem known, the numbers of established non-indigenous species is increasing. Some of these species are intentionally introduced and highly valued by humans. Most others are transported and released accidentally – a number of these cause ecological or economic damage. Such harmful species are referred to as invasive species, and should be the targets of prevention and control efforts. While practical difficulty, given uncertainties in our ability to distinguish valuable and harmful species in advance, is knowing which species to manage with what goals, these difficulties are not insurmountable. Both conceptual and quantitative models of species invasions provide useful guidance for the development of prevention and management strategies, with explicit attention to the uncertainties involved. The process of every species invasion consists of a sequence of steps through which species pass with probabilities affected by the interaction of the species with the environment and the economic drivers of globalization. Focusing on the pathways by which species are introduced is the first step to effective prevention efforts. Existing ecological models can be adapted to forecast the probability of establishment, spread and impact of non-indigenous species that may be released. For example, we are using trait-based statistical models (that accurately hind-cast establishment, spread and impact of Great Lakes fishes) to forecast which Ponto-Caspian fishes pose the highest future risk to the Great Lakes. Coupling these models with other models of dispersal and impact provides a quantitative and transparent foundation for ecological risk analyses of non-indigenous species.

Proud Partners in the Watershed-Wide
Chesapeake Bay Invasive Species Workshop

Conference Home

Last modified October 10, 2012
Accessibility Statement

http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/issues/restoration/non-natives/workshop/abstracts/lodge.html