Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Mesocyclops pehpeiensis (a cyclopoid copepod, no common name) - 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.

Mesocyclops pehpeiensis is a cyclopoid copepod native to much of Asia. Introductions have been documented in Europe and North America, including in the U.S. states of Louisiana and Mississippi, and in Washington, D.C. Multiple authors have expressed concern about potential impacts of introduction of this large predatory copepod, but impacts have yet to be documented. Climate match to the contiguous U.S. is high overall, with the south-central U.S., the Great Lakes, and southern California highlighted as particularly suitable climates for M. pehpeiensis. Because of the lack of documented impacts of introduction, the overall risk assessment category for M. pehpeiensis is Uncertain.