Daniel, Wesley M., Helen R Sofaer, Catherine S Jarnevich, Richard A. Erickson, Brett A DeGregorio, Peder S. Engelstad, Jonathan Freedman, Susan Canavan, E.M. Dean, Michael J. Adams, Charmayne L. Anderson, Mindy Barnett, Marybeth K. Brey, Kyle J. Brumm, Matthew S. Bunting, Emily Caffrey, Laura Cardador, Jacoby Carter, Phillip Cassey, Duane C. Chapman, Natalie Claunch, Timothy D. Counihan, Kristin P. Davis, Anant Deshwal, Andrew K. Douglas, Corey G. Dunn, Chase Ehlo, Katie Everett, Jason M. Gleditsch, Andrew Grosse, Zoey Hendrickson, Steve Hess, Jeff Hill, Nick Holmes, Ana V. Longo, Julie L. Lockwood, Doran Mason, Ashley McDonald, Matt Neilson, Kristen Reaver, Robert Reed, Caleb Roberts, Jane S. Rogosh, Christina Romagosa, James C. Russell, Annie Simpson, Scott A. Smith, Jinelle Sperry, Quenton M. Tuckett, Kurt VerCauteren, Hardin Waddle, Christian Wanamaker, John D. Willson, Elise Williams and Deah Lieurance. In Review. Vertebrates in Trade that Pose High Invasion Risk to the United States. Biological Conservation.
Abstract
The United States and its territories import thousands of live vertebrate species annually as part of legal trade. Although species that escape or are released from captivity have become invasive, the risk posed by imported vertebrates has not been systematically assessed. We conducted a horizon scan that used a data-driven climate match to filter nearly 25,000 species drawn from across the globe of imported fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals for rapid assessment by taxonomic experts. Experts evaluated 840 species and identified 31 (22 reptiles and 9 fishes) as having high risk for establishment, spread, and negative impacts. Of those high-risk species, the majority represent potential ecosystem disruptors and several of the snakes pose a direct danger to human health. High-risk species were often scored with confidence because the focal species or an ecologically similar species had documented establishment and impacts elsewhere in the globe. In contrast, low scores could arise from a lack of information. Our results provide an evaluation of potential invasiveness that can help prioritize watchlists and inform the development of targeted regulations for importation.