Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Pseudodiaptomus inopinus (a 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.

Pseudodiaptomus inopinus, the Asian Calanoid Copepod, is a species native to Japan, Korea, and China. It has been introduced to the Pacific Northwest U.S. via ballast water from shipping vessels originating in Asia. It has become the dominant zooplankton species in some Pacific Northwest rivers, but it is not clear if it has outcompeted native species. P. inopinus has a medium climate match with the contiguous U.S. Further information is needed to determine what impacts this species is having where introduced, so the certainty of this assessment is low. The overall risk assessment category is also therefore uncertain.