strategies. Climate change-related data, criteria, and models could be incorporated into some 
aspects of the Indiana ANS Management Plan. 
B.8.4.1. Leadership and Coordination 
The Management Plan calls for the establishment of consistent methods and priority lists 
among states that trade regularly or that have overlapping watersheds. Climate change should be 
a consideration in communication on encroaching species and potential vectors and on adapting 
management practices to accommodate changing conditions. 
B.8.4.2. Prevention 
Objective II.A. of the Plan discusses priority vectors for AIS. Climate change should be 
a consideration in determining vectors and risks of AIS invasion. Not only will species ranges 
shift as a result of changing conditions, but vectors also may increase AIS dispersal indirectly. 
For example, recreational boating may increase as the climate warms and waterways remain 
open for longer periods. AIS risk assessments should also consider anticipated effects of climate 
change on species’ life cycles and pathways in order to identify new species threats. Finally, 
Indiana’s Management Plan emphasizes the importance of monitoring not only high-priority 
species but also geographic areas at risk. Climate change data should be considered in 
determining both species and locations at high risk of invasion. 
B.8.4.3. Early Detection/Rapid Response, Control, and Management 
Objective III. A. of the Management Plan outlines the use of monitoring programs to 
ensure that invasive species are properly detected, verified, and reported. Because changing 
water levels and temperatures and precipitation patterns affect AIS’s habitat ranges, climate 
change information should be considered in developing monitoring strategies. 
B.8.4.4. Research 
Objective V. A. of the Management Plan describes the need for research on and 
development of control methods for priority species. Control methods, particularly those using 
biocontrol, should incorporate climate change information to ensure continued efficacy as 
environmental conditions change. 
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