FOREWORD 
Invasive species are a major issue ecologically and economically. Invasive species 
threaten native species, sometimes to the point of extinction. The economic damages and losses 
attributed to invasive species in the United States are sizable. In response to these issues, the 
federal government coordinates research and other activities concerning invasive species through 
the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) and the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force 
(ANSTF). NISC has written and revised a national management plan that describes strategies for 
prevention, early detection/rapid response, control, management, coordination, education, and 
research for federal agencies. The ANSTF has developed guidance for regions and states to 
develop their own management plan and the Task Force reviews and approves these to distribute 
additional funding. It is these activities that address management actions on the ground that need 
to incorporate climate change considerations. This report is a first step in addressing this need. 
Concerns about possible climate change effects are increasingly prevalent. The U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency’s Global Change Research Program (GCRP) in the Office of 
Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, examines climate 
change effects on aquatic ecosystems, water quality, human health, and air quality. The results of 
assessments completed by the GCRP are intended to increase society’s understanding of such 
climate change effects and contribute to decision making that improves responses to 
environmental challenges. 
This report deals with the interaction of climate change and aquatic invasive species 
(AIS) and consequent effects on aquatic ecosystems. AIS are a concern to a variety of EPA 
programs, interagency efforts (e.g. ANSTF), state agencies, and other resource managers. This 
report evaluates the combined effects of climate change and AIS on aquatic ecosystem structure 
and function and suggests potential paths forward that will increase our understanding of these 
effects and improve AIS management. 
Dr. Michael Slimak 
Associate Director of Ecology 
National Center for Environmental Assessment 
U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development 
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