Assessing the Effects of Climate Change on Aquatic Invasive Species
Rahel, F. J., & Olden, J. D. (2008). Assessing the effects of climate change on aquatic invasive species. Conservation biology, 22(3), 521-533. PDF.
Summary
Climate change is impacting abiotic characteristics of aquatic systems in five main ways: 1) warming waters and altering thermal regimes, 2) reducing ice cover in lakes, 3) altering streamflow, 4) increasing salinity, and 5) increasing water-development activities such as canal and reservoir construction. Each of these changes, in turn, can create new pathways for species to be introduced, allow species that were previously cold water limited to take hold, or convey a competitive advantage to warm water adapted invasives. For example, reduced ice cover could allow for more light and oxygen to promote previously limited plant growth or predator activity, and increased flooding events could permit more escapes from aquaculture and tropical fish farms. The authors note that these changes may also lead to other impacts such as native species becoming ‘invasive’ in new habitats, non-native species not doing as well from changes, and societal demands for water resources in an age of climate change hampering the efforts to mitigate negative impacts of species. By categorizing impacts by abiotic variables, the authors provide a framework for thinking about how climate change will influence the establishment and impact of invasive species.
Take home points
Climate change will interact with aquatic invasive species by:
Exacerbating existing aquatic invasive species impacts (more predation on natives, greater competitive advantages)
Allowing invasive species to expand their ranges into previously uninvaded areas
Providing new pathways for invasive species introduction
Requiring altered control strategies
Management
“With warmer temperatures, managers may need to modify control strategies for established non-native species or develop new strategies for species that were not problematic historically” including:
Warmer water temperatures extend the growing season for many aquatic plants. Control and prevention efforts should consider that plants will likely grow earlier in the year and continue growing later into the fall.
Barriers should be considered to reduce expansion of warm water invasive species into previously cooler waters.
Managers should be aware that new, more southern species may now be able to survive in their region.
Keywords
Novel Introduction Pathways; Range Expansion; Competitiveness; Review; Aquatic Habitat; Risk Assessment