Improving International Trade Regulation by Considering Intraspecific Variation for Invasion Risk Assessment of Commercially Traded Species: TheBombus terrestrisCase

• DOI: 10.1111/conl.12215
• Publication Date: 2015-11-19T10:02:42Z
• Authors: Thomas Lecocq; Pierre Rasmont; Alexander Harpke; Oliver Schweiger
• Keywords: Subspecies

International trade of species facilitates the establishment nonnative organisms. Highlighting areas potentially suitable for invasive (risk areas) allows effective importation regulations to prevent spread and potential damage caused by such species. Species distribution models (SDMs) are commonly used predict risk but they usually disregard intraspecific differentiation corresponding differences in climatic requirements. We Bombus terrestris as an example a traded developed SDMs at species- subspecies-level assess value subspecific information area predictions. show that species-level less efficient than subspecies-based differ considerably between subspecies. Therefore, can depend on subspecies imported particular condition target area. This paves way novel policy-relevant guidelines legislate smart instead complete import interdictions.