Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) - Uncertain Risk

Ictiobus cyprinellus, Bigmouth Buffalo, is a fish that is native to the Hudson Bay, lower Great Lakes, and Mississippi River basins. I. cyprinellus is a large demersal fish that inhabits rivers, lakes, bayous, and marshes. Spawning occurs in shallow streams and marshes. I. cyprinellus is native to much of the contiguous United States and has been introduced to various U.S. States intentionally for both recreational and sustenance harvest. Impacts from those introductions have not yet been documented, although it is hypothesized that competition may exist between I. cyprinellus and native filter feeders. The History of Invasiveness for I. cyprinellus is classified as Data Deficient due to the lack of clear, convincing, and reliable characterizations of impacts. The climate matching analysis for the contiguous United States indicates establishment concern for this species outside its native range. The climate match was highest in the Midwest, Southeast Atlantic, and Southwest both within and outside the native range of the species. The Certainty of Assessment for this ERSS is classified as Low due to the lack of information regarding documented impacts from introductions. The Overall Risk Assessment Category for Ictiobus cyprinellus in the contiguous United States is Uncertain.