Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Ohio Shrimp (Macrobrachium ohione) - Uncertain Risk

Macrobrachium ohione, Ohio Shrimp, is a freshwater crustacean that is native to the Mississippi River system from Ohio and southern Illinois to Louisiana and the Gulf coast from Alabama to Texas, west to Oklahoma, as well as the Atlantic coast from Virginia to northern Florida.  M. ohione is primarily found in freshwater streams and rivers with low velocity as well as the borders of main channels and open side channels. However, larvae and juvenile M. ohione require saltwater to survive and will only migrate upstream to freshwater to feed and grow before going back downstream to reproduce in estuaries. In the southern U.S. States where they commonly occur, they are used as fishing bait and have been fished for human consumption. No established populations of M. ohione have been found outside of its native range and there were no individuals found in live trade. Therefore, the History of Invasiveness is classified as No Known Nonnative Population. The climate matching analysis indicates establishment concern for this species outside its native range. High climate matches were found in much of the eastern half of the country, including the native range of the species. M. ohione requires salinity to reproduce, therefore, the climate match analysis only refers to where the species could survive and not necessarily where it could reproduce. The Certainty of Assessment for this ERSS is classified as Low because although information is available on the biology, ecology, and distribution of M. ohione, the information available to evaluate the history of invasiveness is lacking. The Overall Risk Assessment Category for Macrobrachium ohione in the contiguous United States is Uncertain.