The effect of invasive or non-native species amplified by changing temperature regimes
Across taxa and habitats, warmer temperatures will facilitate invasion of new species and increase abundance of current invasive species. Invasive species may outcompete native species or harm individuals as pests or pathogens.
Several Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Concern (RSGCN) - including Summer Sucker (Catostomus utawana), Dwarf Wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon), Brook Floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), Ipswich Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis princeps), Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), Big Sandy Crayfish (Cambarus callainus) - are vulnerable to the combined effects of invasive species and warming temperatures. Rising temperatures facilitate invasions by enabling earlier plant emergence, longer growing seasons for pests, more frequent disturbance events, and shifts in species’ ranges. The Northeast is projected to be a hotspot for future invasions, with hundreds of non-native plants expected to expand into the region, many with severe biodiversity impacts.
Invasive species often exert stronger ecological effects than other global environmental changes (GECs), and climate change amplifies their impacts by creating new opportunities for establishment and spread. This poses a particular threat to rare or range-restricted RSGCN whose habitats and populations are already limited.
Management Solutions.
Solutions suggested by Beaury et al. (2020) with corresponding approaches from the Terrestrial Wildlife Menu and the Tribal Adaptation Menu. We link these context-specific solutions to other management resources to demonstrate how the broader approaches and strategies from these resources can be adapted to species and threat-specific context.
Prevention
The most effective way to avoid negative impacts from invasive species is to prevent invasions (Bradley et al., 2023; Keller et al., 2007). Managers can curtail the spread of nonnative invasives on several scales. Local policies could restrict ornamental plant sales, so that plants that are known or likely invaders cannot be sold. Or, developing restrictions on the types of bait used by anglers can prevent the spread of invasive crayfish into new waterways. Critically, cross-boundary policies and collaboration are important as non-native invasives spread across political boundaries (Bradley et al., 2023; Rockwell-Postel et al., 2020).
Preventing the spread of non-native invasives can be accomplished not only by restricting negative behaviors but also by fostering positive behaviors. Managers can encourage people to plant native plants rather than non-natives, or create stations to encourage boaters to clean and dry their boats to prevent the spread of mussels (Bradley et al., 2023). Future-oriented planning activities, scenario planning, or horizon scanning could also help managers plan for potential invaders. Prevention can also happen within the context of climate interventions such as ensuring materials like gravel used in restoration are weed-free, making sure carbon capture tree planting initiatives are using appropriate trees, or that plants grown for biofuel are not invasive (Bradley et al., 2023; Rockwell-Postel et al., 2020).
References
Adapted from
Staudinger, M.D., A.V. Karmalkar, K. Terwilliger, K. Burgio, A. Lubeck, H. Higgins, T. Rice, T.L. Morelli, A. D'Amato. 2024. A regional synthesis of climate data to inform the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plans in the Northeast U.S. DOI Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Cooperator Report. 406 p. https://doi.org/10.21429/t352-9q86