Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) - Uncertain Risk

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Risk Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments.

The history of invasiveness is uncertain. There were no records of introductions of Acipenser oxyrinchus. The climate match was high. However, those areas that constitute the highest match are part of the species’ native range. The majority of the rivers draining to the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts either currently or in the past supported native populations of A. oxyrinchus. Certainty of assessment is medium. The areas of high climate match were to the east of the Mississippi River. Most of this area may be part of the historical native range of A. oxyrinchus and any expansion into these areas may be part of a population recovery. However, there are high matches in the Great Lakes basin, which is outside of the current or historical native range of A. oxyrinchus. The overall risk assessment is Uncertain.