R3 PM Application of Spatially Explicit Techniques in Ecological Risk Assessment
Thursday, 17 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in Ballroom 3

(LAN-1117-842913) Invasive species ecological risk assessment methodology at landscape scales.

Landis, W¹, Colnar, A¹, Kaminski, A¹, Kushima, G¹, Seebach, A¹, ¹ Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States

ABSTRACT- The invasion by a novel species is a phenomenon that is influenced by the characteristics of the invasive and also the characteristics of the receiving landscape. We have now conducted regional scale ecological risk assessments for four invasive species, The risk assessment for the EGC and Sargassum was for the Northwest Washington Coast, the Asian Oyster assessment area was the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland and Virginia, and the Nun Moth assessment region was the terrestrial area within the Mid-Atlantic States. The method was derived from the relative risk model with particular attention to the incorporation of the Hierarchical Patch Dynamics Model (HPDM). The four sets of assessment had common patterns. First, because of the variety of endpoints some can be adversely affected at the same time other endpoints are enhanced. Contaminants can be important disturbances but in the context of altering the landscape patterns. Uncertainty can be clearly documented including the use Monte Carlo techniques. A common difficulty was the lack of suitable habitat data at appropriate scale and grain for the assessment of a particular invasive. Although some of the species are renown invasives, there is still a species specific lack of basic ecological information on the process of invasion. This lack of information includes the effects of toxicants, even for the herbicide or pesticide used for control. However, it does appear that a common approach for the evaluation of risk due to invasion does work for a variety of species and habitats.

Key words: landscape risk assessment, invasive species, Washington, Mid-Atlantic States