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.
O. immunis is a crayfish species native to the Midwestern US. Its range has been expanded into the Northeast and also to western Germany, likely as a side effect of its use as fishing bait. In Germany, researchers have observed the decline of a long-established non-native crayfish species where O. immunis has established, but effects on native species are still undocumented.
O. immunis establishment may have an impact on macrophyte communities; it has been shown to have potential use for macrophyte control. O. immunis can carry crayfish plague, an OIE- reportable disease. Climate match of this species to the contiguous US is high. Overall risk for this species is uncertain.
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Uncertain Risk
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