B.18.4. INCORPORATING CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMATION 
Given the expected impacts of climate change in North Dakota, state staff should 
consider climate change predictions in its Plan objectives, actions, and strategies to increase the 
effectiveness of prevention and management efforts. For example, state staff could specifically 
include predicted conditions resulting from climate change when determining ANS invasive 
potential. 
B.18.4.1. Leadership and Coordination 
Objective 1 addresses coordination about ANS issues. Climate change should be a 
consideration in communication on encroaching species and potential vectors and on adapting 
management practices to accommodate changing conditions. 
B.18.4.2. Prevention 
A primary objective of the Management Plan is to prevent ANS. Associated actions call 
for creating a list of potential problem ANS. Additionally, Strategy 2A2 calls for conducting 
risk analyses for each potential ANS introduction pathway. In determining potential ANS, 
research should include species’ ability to survive in the expected conditions resulting from 
climate change in order to obtain a more complete assessment of invasive potential. 
Assessments should include responses to projected effects such as increased flooding, decreased 
stream flows, and increased water temperatures. For example, ANS introductions from the 
aquarium trade are a potential problem North Dakota; thus, assessments could address the 
aquarium fish species that are expected to thrive under the predicted temperature increases for 
North Dakota’s waters. 
B. 18.4.3. Early Detection/Rapid Response, Control, and Management 
Strategy 3A2 recommends conducting annual monitoring of high risk waters as a part of 
implementing a monitoring and early detection program. Considering climate change in these 
assessments may help state staff determine which waters are most vulnerable to species 
invasions. 
B.18.4.4. Research 
Objective 5 calls for controlling and eradicating pioneering and established ANS. State 
staff should conduct research to determine how different management strategies could be 
impacted by temperature, precipitation, and water level changes, and state staff should consider 
climate change impacts on control and management methods in developing management plans. 
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