Utilization of Aquatic Invasive Species Risk Assessment Techniques for Michigan's Waters

Aquatic ecosystems throughout the state of Michigan and Great Lakes basin are under assault from already established aquatic invasive species (AIS) and are threatened by those which have not yet invaded.  Various AIS risk assessment techniques have been developed to evaluate the invasiveness as well as economic and ecological impacts of potential invaders should they be introduced into the Great Lakes region.  Despite these developments, process gaps and needs still remain, particularly in incorporating these risk assessment techniques in natural resource management decisions and regulatory frameworks.  In an attempt to fill these voids, the 2012 Janice Lee Fenske Excellence in Fisheries Management Fellowship project examined various AIS risk assessment techniques to determine their potential use by natural resource managers in the state of Michigan.  Risk assessment procedures were assessed based on how much energy and resources they required, the amount of time needed for research and analysis, and what can be learned from their results.  A review of these techniques will provide managers with a science-based methodology to support preventative, control, and legislative efforts against the spread of AIS.