Risk Assessment Model System for Aquatic Animal Introduction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Invasive species (IS) disrupt ecosystems and economies, necessitating robust risk assessment protocols.
• Current IS risk assessment methods are often qualitative or semi-quantitative, with a lack of systems for aquatic animals.
• Existing assessment systems primarily focus on terrestrial animals, leaving a gap in aquatic species evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a quantitative risk assessment model for aquatic invasive species (IS).
• To address the limitations of existing qualitative/semi-quantitative methods and the scarcity of aquatic animal assessment tools.
• To support informed decision-making for the introduction and management of aquatic species.

Main Methods:

• Development of an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model comprising four primary, twelve secondary, and sixty tertiary indexes.
• Application of the AHP model for quantitative risk assessment of five distinct aquatic animal species introduced in China.
• Comparative risk assessment based on biological characteristics and introduction purposes.

Main Results:

• The AHP model effectively conducted quantitative risk assessments for introduced aquatic animals.
• Pterygoplichthys pardalis was assessed as high risk.
• Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Crassostrea gigas, and Trachemys scripta elegans were medium risk; Ambystoma mexicanum was low risk.

Conclusions:

• The developed AHP model is effective for quantitative risk assessment of aquatic invasive species.
• The model provides crucial support for the introduction and sustainable management of aquatic animals.
• The AHP model offers a scientific basis for risk management decisions regarding species introductions.