How and why are non-native species ranges shifting in the pacific? The role of climate limitation and change in hawaii and the mariana islandsproject dates: 1 1 2025 through 12 31 2026AWARD…

How and why are non-native species ranges shifting in the pacific? The role of climate limitation and change in hawaii and the mariana islandsproject dates: 1 1 2025 through 12 31 2026AWARD purpose:communities across the pacific are threatened by invasive species which have severely impacted pacific islands biodiversity and ecosystem services. The pacific islands are also invasive species hotspots, with significantly more non-native species than similarly-sized land areas worldwide, and the number of invaders is increasing. Island biosecurity efforts which focus on how to successfully prevent the introduction of invasive species are seen as the most cost-effective solution for reducing impacts, yet we currently lack island-based lists of which invasive species on neighboring islands and jurisdictions are most likely to find suitable habitat now and with future climate change. The purpose of this award is to understand the extent to which climate, and the factors that affect climate on islands (e.g., size and elevation) may limit the spread of invasive plant species in hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated pacific islands.activities to be performed include: 1) development of lists of invasive plant species that are abundant in hawaii or elsewhere in the pacific, but not yet present or abundant in the mariana islands and vice-versa, 2) analysis of the extent to which the current climate and potential future climates in the U.S. Pacific may limit spread through the use of climate change scenarios, 3) development of lists of invasive plant species that are most likely to have suitable conditions now and in the future in both hawaii and the mariana islands, and 4) to understand how island climatic diversity may affect spread.deliverables and expected outcomes:the creation of 1) three invasive plant species lists for hawaii and the mariana islands that can be used to develop more refined watch lists, 2) two peer-reviewed publications reports detailing how island climatic diversity affects the spread of invasive plants in the U.S. Pacific region, and 3) two 1-page (both-sides) fact sheets with infographics that summarize key information gained from this project that can be distributed to resource practitioners which will be done through listservs, presentations, and a workshop at a regional conference where information and products will be shared.expected outcomes include 1) a greater understanding of how climate change may impact plant species spread in the U.S. Pacific region, 2) more refined species watch lists which can be used to increase the efficiency of biosecurity efforts across the region, and 3) a greater understanding of the factors that increase the risk of spread of invasive plants in the pacific region and the role of island climatic diversity.intended beneficiary(IES):the intended beneficiaries are resource practitioners, regulators, and decision and policy-makers in hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated pacific islands involved in BIO-secuirty, or resource protection and management. As well, researchers will be able to build on this work to better understand how to mitigate future invasion pathways and impacts to human communities and nature in the pacific from harm caused by invasive plants.