HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Defense Date
12-7-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. Marine Biology
First Advisor
Matthew Johnston
Second Advisor
Bernhard Riegl
Third Advisor
Kenneth A. Hayes
Abstract
Forecasting the potential range of invasive species is a critical component for risk assessment, monitoring, and management. However, many of these invasive species are not yet at equilibrium which can be problematic for many modelling approaches. Using the climate matching method, MaxEnt, a series of species distribution models (SDMs) and risk analysis maps were created for select apple snail species in Florida: Pomacea canaliculata, P. diffusa, and P. maculata. Apple snails, freshwater gastropods in the family Ampullariidae, are native to South America and were introduced to the United States via the pet trade approximately 40 years ago. These highly invasive species have already been introduced in ten states and established in at least seven. The models and risk analysis in this study show the majority of Florida was at least moderately suitable for all apple snails modeled, with P. maculata posing the greatest threat.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
NSUWorks Citation
Stephanie A. Reilly. 2017. Forecasting the Spread and Invasive Potential of Apple Snails (Pomacea spp.) in Florida. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (460)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/460.
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons, Other Animal Sciences Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons