Review of invasiveness screening kit use in the United States of America

Abstract

Risk screening is a rapid, cost-effective means of gaining information on risk for large numbers of nonnative species. Professor Gordon H. Copp used the Australian Weed Risk Assessment as a template for creating the Invasiveness Screening Kit (ISK) family of screening tools, including the Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (FISK and FISK v2) and the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK). These tools are effective and practical with numerous applications worldwide. Here we show the influence of Prof. Copp on U.S. management of nonnative aquatic species. We review applications of ISK tools in the USA, present three case studies of applications to U.S. management, and describe management challenges and decision-making for U.S. applications. The ISK tools have proven to be versatile and transparent across a wide range of climate zones and geography. Published applications contained 337 species × risk assessment area combinations, including 102 marine invertebrates, 6 tunicates, 168 freshwater fishes, 1 brackish fish, 58 marine fishes, 1 amphibian, and 1 bird. The risk assessment areas have ranged from the conterminous USA to regions within states. Basic management decisions supported by these applications include hazard identification, initial risk estimation, and the need for additional assessment. More specific management decisions included commercialization of genetically modified organisms (GMO), national versus subnational risks, dangerous species versus invasive species, established medium-risk species with minimal impacts, risk screens in horizon scanning, and others. These cases involved federal and state agencies and the private sector. Applications in the USA contributed innovations to the field, such as the development of FISK v2 and the first application to a GMO. Professor Copp’s contributions to U.S. management have been extraordinary, influencing decisions by agencies and industry, benefitting natural resource protection, and fostering positive economic impacts.