Risk Assessments for Invasive Plants: A Midwestern U.S. Comparison. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buerger, Amanda; Howe, Katherine; Jacquart, Ellen; Chandler, Monika; Culley, Theresa; Evans, Christopher; Kearns, Kelly; Schutzki, Robert; Riper, Laura Van
• Is Part Of: Invasive plant science and management. Volume 9:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: cutleaf teasel, Dipsacus laciniatus L., -- Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii DC., -- Amur honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder, -- Oriental bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb; Invasive species, -- Midwest, -- risk assessment; Plants, Protection of -- Periodicals; Invasive plants -- Periodicals; 632.5
• DOI: 10.1614/IPSM-D-15-00018.1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1939-7291

Abstract

Abstract: Several states in the Midwestern United States are using risk assessment to determine the invasiveness of introduced plant species, and each assessment process is different. This may lead to differences in results for the same species between states, creating concern about credibility by those using the assessments. In this study, risk assessments for six Midwestern states were compared, examining format, content, and assessment committee membership. Case studies were conducted for four species for which at least five of the six states in the study completed a risk assessment; results were compared in the context of general differences in assessment content and those specific to each species. Furthermore, 14 species for which only four of the six states completed assessments were briefly examined for outcome differences only, and possible reasons for these inconsistencies. Overall, differences in assessments did not result in incompatible conclusions for the species compared, suggesting that unique assessments in each state can provide consistent and credible results. We propose that these Midwestern states share species resources with each other to further improve consistency between the assessments.