Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: American Eel (Maine)

This species was identified as moderately vulnerable to climate change because of the following factors:

• Part of life-cycle depends on a very specific feature of the habitat
• Species distribution is highly fragmented because of habitat loss or populations that are very spread out across the landscape
• Temperature increases may prevent species from surviving in some life stages
• Growth or reproduction may be harmed by additional stress from high temperatures
• Dependent on stable hydrology for survival and reproduction (precipitation, stream flows)
• Natural and anthropogenic barriers prevent dispersal or shifts in species' range
• Sensitive to change in the timing of seasons and/or other environmental cues
• Sensitive to pests or disease that are likely to increase
• Habitat may be affected by invasive species that are likely to increase
• Already in decline over most of its range.

The factors below decrease this species' vulnerability to climate change:

• Not restricted to specialized habitat
• Ability to move across the landscape and/or disperse relatively long distances