Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Moina micrura (a cladoceran, no common name) - Uncertain Risk

Moina micrura is a cladoceran that is globally distributed. M. micrura is a cryptogenic species and its complete native range is unknown. It is likely that M. micrura is a species complex and is poorly understood, although there are recent publications trying to resolve this. M. micrura is widely used in aquaculture to feed larval fish. The History of Invasiveness for M. micrura is classified as Data Deficient since there are known nonnative populations but no information on impacts was found. The climate matching analysis for the contiguous United States indicates establishment concern for this species. The highest match was found in the Great Lakes, Midwest, and in scattered locations in the interior West. The Certainty of Assessment for this ERSS is classified as Low due to the lack of information on information on impacts, taxonomic uncertainty, and complex and unclear distribution information. The Overall Risk Assessment Category for Moina micrura in the contiguous United States is Uncertain.

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.