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**Report of the Pathways Task Team**

**I. Introduction**

The Pathways Task Team was established at the ISAC meeting at Chico Hot
Springs, Montana in June 2002. This team was expected to work in close
coordination with the Screening Task Team, which was formed at the same
time. The Pathways Task Team's primary goal was to reduce the risk of
unintentional introductions by examining pathways. It will assist in the
delivery of action items 16, 17, and 20 in the National Invasive Species
Management Plan related to unintentional introductions and prevention.
Its jurisdiction included both introductions from outside the United
States and movement of species between ecosystems within the United
States. Intentional imports of plants and animals appear to be among the
most likely pathways for introduction of associated but unintended
organisms, including insects, other invertebrates, aquatic animals,
terrestrial vertebrates, disease pathogens, and plant seeds and
propagules. Therefore, the Pathways Task Team coordinated, with the
Screening Task Team, to address these overlapping concerns. The
necessary coordination was to be provided through an overarching
Subcommittee on Prevention.

The Pathways Task Team adopted its Terms of Reference in September 2002
and began work on identifying and determining the significance of
pathways of introduction***. (See Appendix 1: Terms of Reference and
Membership).***

**II. The Work of the Task Team**

In practice, the Pathways Task Team focused on a portion of Plan Action
Item 20: Developing a system for evaluating the significance of invasive
species pathways. We believe that the system we developed can be used to
identify "significant" pathways and to assign them to a broad
five-tiered ranking category (ranging between "high, medium, or low"
risk). But, we doubt sufficient data are available to make any further
fine-grain distinctions.

The team carried out Plan Action Item 16 by asking the agencies to
report to the ISAC meeting at its November 2002 meeting on their
on-going activities addressing specific pathways listed in the Plan. We
discussed briefly but took no action on Plan Action Item 17: Develop a
process for identifying high priority invasive species that are likely
to be introduced unintentionally. Some agencies are already attempting
this. The Task Team has not had sufficient time or resources to attempt
the second task under Plan Action Item 20: Analyze tools, methods and
monitoring systems and suggest specific approaches to managing various
pathways.

The Task Team recognized that, depending on circumstances, it might be
valuable to portray pathways either broadly or narrowly. For example, a
ship entering U.S. waters is clearly a complex introductory pathway that
can transmit a wide variety of organisms. Starting at the top of the
ship, examples might include gypsy moth egg cases attached to the
superstructure; rats and other vertebrate stowaways in the hold; many
types of invertebrates and plant seeds in steel shipping containers,
crates, and cargo; arthropods (plant pests and vectors of animal and
human diseases) and plants in crew quarters and crew food; human disease
pathogens in the crew members themselves; aquatic animals (invertebrates
and small vertebrates) and plants in ballast water and other tanks; and
tunicates and other fouling organisms on hulls, anchor chains, etc. For
some purposes, it might be best to view the ship as a whole. This
perspective might reveal pathways which are currently unregulated or
which "fall through the cracks". This perspective might also be helpful
when educating the public and policy-makers about the range of pathways
and the need to address all significant or important pathways.

However, the jurisdictions of different agencies (and Congressional
committees) rarely include all components of such a broad pathway. In
this example the Coast Guard and NOAA have jurisdiction over aquatic
organisms in ballast water while USDA APHIS is responsible for potential
plant pests or animal diseases that might be found in containers or crew
food. Furthermore, in most cases, international trade rules require
countries to define pathways rather narrowly when they prepare risk
assessments to demonstrate the need for regulation. A third perspective
is that, sometimes, it might be more appropriate to view the pathways
geographically (e.g., evaluate the risk from ships traveling along the
coast as different from that associated with intercontinental shipping).

**III. Development of the List of Pathways**

The Team began by developing a complete schematic of pathways and
associated organisms. The resulting outline and its graphic presentation
are attached at ***Appendix 2: Pathway Outline and Schematic.*** The
outline and graphics were presented to the ISAC at its February 2003
meeting and subsequently adopted by NISC.

Because intentional importation of animals or plants represents such an
important pathway for the introduction of associated or hitchhiking
organisms, we included such intentional importations in the cluster of
"live organisms" pathways. Furthermore, we believed that our analysis
might prove useful to those working on screening systems for intentional
introductions. However, we recognized that development of screening
mechanisms for the intentionally imported plants and animals is the
responsibility of the Screening Task Team -- as distinct from the
Pathways Task Team. We look for continued collaboration between groups
focused on these two facets of prevention as work proceeds.

**IV. Developing Ranking Criteria**

While we began discussing ranking criteria in our earliest meetings,
this complex task required several months' effort. The final ranking
criteriais contained in ***Appendix 3: Significance Criteria
Questionnaire.***

We present, here, the most important considerations and conclusions of
our deliberations which are further elucidated ***in Appendix 4:
Chronology of Pathways Task Team Work (Developing Criteria)***

The Team wishes to emphasize two important factors in the development of
ranking criteria. First, we agreed that efforts to evaluate the
significance of pathways should be open and participatory, and involve
both experts and stakeholders. Such assessments would benefit from
having a broader spectrum examination of a pathway with the finished
product being more credible. A more detailed discussion of the issues
that challenged us, and the evolution of our joint conceptual
perspectives are also contained in ***Appendix 4.***

Second, we agreed that reporting levels of uncertainty, explicit and
separate from the ranking criteria, has at least two values: it
increases the credibility of the assessment; and, identifies areas where
research is needed (i.e., a pathway is thought to be high risk but for
which significant uncertainties remain).

**V. Principles for Ranking Risk**

Invasive Species risk assessments should reflect the reality of U.S.
commerce and ecosystems. In that U.S. agencies' regulatory decisions
apply to a broad range of receiving habitats (that range from a large
continent, island environments, et al) risk assessments cannot singly
focus on the conditions at the expected site of first arrival. As listed
below, the Pathways Team's operating principles were that risk
assessments should:

\(1\) be transparent, open to public review;

\(2\) be peer reviewed and the consensus of independent experts;

\(3\) be repeatable (i.e., different people get same results) and as
such, as quantitative as possible;

\(4\) assure that any assessment tool deals independently with the
different steps in the invasion process including transport,
establishment, spread, and impact;

\(5\) assure that all assessment tools recognize that species and
ecosystems interact (i.e., the nature of the ecosystem affects success;
species characteristics alone are inadequate to predict);

\(6\) recognize that the circumstances of the potential invasion can
give varying importance to the species or ecosystem traits (However, one
can evaluate the risk associated with broad taxonomic groups or
ecosystem types);

\(7\) capture the uncertainty and quality of data; and, when they rely
on expert opinion, be clear about basis of that reliance; and

\(8\) must be realistic relative to available resources.

The Team also noted it is important to prioritize preparation of risk
assessments since pathways usually remain open until the risk assessment
is concluded. *Some pathways present obvious risks.* In these cases,
responsible agencies should not delay preparing risk assessments until
the NISC/ISAC process of evaluating pathways is completed.

**VI. Probability Criteria**

Our Task Team focused on grouping criteria depending on whether they
influenced the probability of introduction or the consequences of the
introduction. We incorporated explicit analysis of the degree of
uncertainty in the data used by the assessor.

The criteria to be used for estimating the probability of a pathway
providing an avenue for dispersal of an invasive species into a region
should include consideration of at least the following:

\(1\) Pathway magnitude (numbers of species, inoculation strength and
frequency, diversity of species that are carried via this pathway. As a
likely easier alternative to direct measurement of magnitude, one might
be able to develop indices of magnitude that could be derived from data
on the volume of incoming material that serves as pathway

\(2\) Survivability or viability of organisms during transit. Do they
arrive at the receiving environment alive and healthy if there have been
no mitigation or management efforts?

\(3\) Likelihood of pathway to transmit invasive species that are
difficult to detect or manage during transit/in the pathway.

\(4\) Environmental comparability of origin and destination habitats.
How well it can the invading species survive once it arrives in new
environment?

\(5\) Ease of spread (via artificial or natural means) once present.
Does it have high reproductive rates? Is it highly mobile? Are there
other factors that would facilitate its rapid spread?

\(6\) Difficulty of control if the species becomes established. Are the
kinds of organisms transmitted via this pathway particularly difficult
to control once they become established? Level of difficulty of control
might vary by type of receiving system --- e.g., open ocean --- as much
as or more than type of organism.

**VII. Consequence Criterion**

The criteria that might be used to evaluate the potential consequences
of an invasion of an organism via this pathway must be the level of
damage the organism might cause.

As indicated previously, for the risk evaluation itself, the Task Team
developed a questionnaire contained ***in Appendix 3: Significance
Criteria Questionnaire***.

**VIII. Additional Considerations**

In contemplating actions to minimize the potential for introduction of
invasive species, we recommend the following additional considerations
(see comments section of Appendix 4: Significance Criteria
Questionnaire):

1\. Cost Effectiveness: With limited resources, costs of actions should
be weighed against benefits.

2\. Actions should be proactive and take advantage of opportunities.

3\. Special attention should be given to significant pathways that are
not regulated.

4\. Pathways should be evaluated periodically since risks associated
with any particular pathway can change over time due to changes in
magnitude (propagule pressure), changes in sending or receiving
ecosystem, and other factors.

5\. Pathway evaluation should be open and participatory, involving
experts and stakeholders. Broad involvement conveys two benefits: more
eyes examining the problem and greater credibility for the finished
product.

**IX: Request for ISAC and Next Stages**

The Pathway 's Task Team, through this submission, is requesting that
ISAC adopt the proposed Significance Criteria Questionnaire, and the
recommended method of joint expert panel evaluation to determine
relative significance of various pathways. Such panel deliberations
would give the essential inter/intra governmental and stakeholder
perspectives essential to safeguard U.S. natural resources, ecosystems,
and commerce. In addition, it is the recommendation of the group that
the aforementioned considerations be forwarded to all ISAC task teams to
serve as a basis for future program development.

Sincerely,

Faith Campbel l Penny Kriesch

ISAC Co-Chair Federal Co-Chair

Pathways Task Team Pathways Task Team

Appendix 1: Task Team Membership & Terms of Reference

Appendix 2: Pathway Outline & Schematic

Appendix 3: Significance Criteria Questionnaire

Appendix 4: Chronology Pathways Task Team Work Developing Criteria

**Appendix 1: Membership and Terms of Reference**

*Co-Chairs**:*** Faith Campbell, ISAC; and Jim Smith (later Penny
Kriesch) of APHIS.

*Expert Consultants*: Richard Orr (APHIS), Greg DeNitto (FS) David Lodge
(ISAC)

*Members from ISAC**:*** Craig Regelbrugge, Marshall Meyers , Marilyn
Leland, Diane Cooper, Joseph Corn, Sarah Reichard, Allegra Cangelosi,
David Lodge, Jeff Stone, Linda Sheehan, Jerry Jackson, Duane Shroufe,
Larry Riley, David Walker.

*Representatives from Federal agencies*: Dean Wilkinson (NISC &
Commerce); Sharon Gross, Shawn Alam,and Don MacLean (Fish and Wildlife
Service); Mary Pat McKeown, B. Patnaik, (Coast Guard); Michael K.
Hennessey (USDAAPHIS); Pete Egan, (Department of Defense); John Heisler
( Environmental Protection Agency); Dana Roth ( Department of State);
Darci Vetter (Office of the U.S. Trade Representative); Gerald Bradley
(U.S. Customs), Robert Brock, Fred Kern (Department of Commerce/NOAA);
Mary Ellen Dix, Safia Shamman, Kerry Britton, Greg DeNitto, and Mike
Ielmini (USDA Forest Service).

**Terms of Reference**

**[Purpose]{.underline}:**

The Pathways Task Team will be responsible for identifying and
prioritizing pathways of introduction for all relevant taxonomic groups
and impacts. For specific high priority pathways, the Task Team will be
responsible for identifying and recommending appropriate interdiction
activities. The Pathways Task Team will focus on unintentional
introductions, but will work closely with the Screening Task Team to
coordinate efforts to assess and mitigate unintentional introductions of
disease agents and other organisms that might accompany living plants
and animals introduced intentionally. The task encompasses both
introductions from outside the United States and movement of species
between ecosystems within the United States.

**[Membership]{.underline}:**

Members of the Task Team will include representatives from NOAA, the
Coast Guard, the Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection
Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the Army Corps of Engineers, and
any other Council agencies who may wish to participate. Non-Federal
members of the Task Force will include volunteers from ISAC (or their
designated representatives) and others selected by Task Team
participants because of special expertise in either taxonomy or specific
pathways of introduction.

**[Goals]{.underline}**:

The Pathways Task Team's primary goal will be to reduce the risk of
unintentional introductions by examining pathways. It will assist in the
delivery of action items 16, 17, and 20 in the National Invasive Species
Management Plan related to unintentional introductions and prevention:

Plan Action Item 16. The Pathways Task Team will inventory on-going
agency activities addressing specific pathways, including those listed
in action item 16 a‑c.

Plan Action Item 17. By January 2002, the Council will implement a
process for identifying high priority invasive species that are likely
to be introduced unintentionally and for which effective mitigation
tools are needed.

Plan Action Item 20. By January 2003, the Council will implement a
system for evaluating invasive species pathways and will issue a report
identifying, describing in reasonable detail, and ranking those pathways
that it believes are the most significant. The report will discuss the
most useful tools, methods and monitoring systems for identifying
pathways, including emerging or changing pathways, and for intervening
in and stopping introductions most efficiently.

**[Factors Underlying the Task Team's Terms of Reference]{.underline}**

-   In discussing and developing our Terms of Reference, Team members
    agreed to the following:

-   The team will pay attention to all relevant taxonomic groups.

-   The team will review economic and non-economic impacts.

-   Our jurisdiction is limited to human-assisted movement of organisms
    to new ecosystems -- but this includes efforts to curtail their
    subsequent spread by natural means from initial infestation sites.

-   The team decided initially to rank pathway risks by assigning them
    to high, medium, and low categories. We added a fourth category,
    "suspects", for those situations in which we believe a pathway is
    active, but lack sufficient information to assign it to a risk
    category. \[This concept evolved into the treatment of uncertainty
    in the questionnaire.\]

-   The team must develop criteria/models for analyzing risk levels.

-   The team will look at viability of species transported in the
    pathway, likelihood of establishment and consequence of
    establishment.

-   Each agency works differently and has a perspective/mission that
    varies from strictly invasive species.

-   We expect a broad range of taxa and pathways for what?. I think we
    meant: we expect that pathway regulation / prevention efforts will
    need to address a broad range (by implication, broader than is
    currently being addressed)

**Appendix 2: Pathway Outline and Schematics**

This document is the Pathways Task Team\'s effort to list and group the
pathways of introduction for invasive species. This effort was
undertaken as part of the team\'s efforts to complete pathways related
actions in the Invasive Species Management Plan. Ultimately, this list
will be used when the team starts to try and rank the pathways into
high, medium and low categories for the purposes of further work on
selected pathways.

The many pathways identified by the members of Pathways Team fell into
three categories which are described below. They can also be viewed
graphically in four accompanying diagrams (see **Diagram 1** for a
graphic version of the information below). These categories are:

> **1) Transportation Related Pathways.** This category includes all the
> various pathways related to the transportation of people and goods and
> the vehicles themselves. This category includes military travel.
> Subcategories within this category include: modes of transportation,
> items used in the shipping process, travel/tourism/ relocation, and
> mail/internet/overnight shipping companies. Refer to the outline below
> or **Diagram 2** for more information.
>
> **2) \"Living\" Industry Pathways.** This category includes all the
> various pathways associated with living plants and animals or their
> by-products. Subcategories within this broad category include: food
> pathways (market ready - for immediate consumption), nonfood animal
> pathways (transporting animals for other reasons), and the plant trade
> (aquatic and terrestrial). Refer to the outline below or **Diagram 3**
> for more information.
>
> **3) Miscellaneous Pathways.** This category includes various pathways
> that did not fit under the other two categories. Subcategories include
> other aquatic pathways, ecosystem disturbance, other non-living animal
> and plant related pathways and natural spread of established
> populations of invasive species. Refer to the outline below or
> **Diagram 4** for more information.

*Note: For the \"Organisms Transported\" entry in the outline below the
organisms have been listed with letter codes to avoid repeating the
organisms transported over and over and wasting space. The list of codes
can be found at the end of the document. The "organisms transported" are
also not incorporated into the web diagrams.*

*The Pathways Team also recognizes that the "Organisms Transported"
section of this outline is still a work in progress and needs some
polishing. Some organisms have probably been missed and some of the
organism categories can probably be lumped together. Time has not yet
allowed for this to occur.*

**Pathways Outline\
**

I.  **Transportation-Related Pathways** - incl. military travel -
    ***\[see diagram 2\]***

    A.  **Modes of Transportation** (i.e. things doing the transporting)

        1.  **Air Transportation**

            a.  Examples - Planes, helicopters, etc. (e.g. stowaways in
                wheel wells, cargo holds, and anywhere else)

                1.  Organisms Transported - v (snakes and others), in,
                    inv, ps, pdp - please see list at end of this
                    document for abbreviations.

        2.  **Water/Aquatic Transportation** - including all methods of
            moving through the water.

            a.  Examples - all types of ships (incl. cruise ships),
                recreational boats and other craft, barges,
                semisubmersible drydocks, oil derricks - can be
                freshwater or marine or both; can be large or small;
                includes industrial, tourism, recreational, law
                enforcement, and military crafts.

            b.  Subpathways

                1.  **Ballast Water and Sediments** and other things
                    that hold water - sea chests, engines, etc.

                    a.  Organisms Transported - ai, ap, mbv, di, ph

                2.  **Hull/Surface Fouling**

                    a.  Organisms Transported - hfo, other aquatic
                        organisms when talking about slow moving
                        platforms

                3.  **Stowaways in holds**, cabins, etc.

                    a.  Organisms Transported - v, inv, ps, pdp

                4.  **Superstructures/structures above the water line**

                    a.  Organisms Transported - inv (gypsy moths),
                        others?

                5.  **Dredge Spoil Material**

                    a.  Organisms Transported - ai, av, ap, adp, pdp

        3.  **Land/Terrestrial Transportation** - including all methods
            of moving across the ground.

            a.  Subpathways -

                1.  Cars, trucks, buses, ATVs, etc.

                2.  Construction equipment and firefighting equipment

                3.  Trains, subways, metros, monorails

                4.  Hikers, Horses, Pets

            b.  Organisms Transported - ps, gm, si, in, v, adp, pdp

    B.  **Items Used In Shipping Process**

        1.  **Containers** - both exterior and interior

            a.  Organisms Transported - ps, gm, si, in, v, dp,

        2.  **Packing Materials**

            a.  Subpathways

                1.  **Wood packing materials** - wood pallets, wood
                    crates,

                    a.  Organisms Transported - ps, in, pdp, si

                2.  **Seaweed**

                    a.  Organisms Transported - ai, av, adp, pdp

                3.  **Other plant materials**

                    a.  Organisms Transported - ps, psp, in, si, v, adp

                4.  **Sand/earth** - sometimes used in archaeological
                    shipments

                    a.  Organisms Transported - in, inv, ps

    C.  **Tourism/Travel/Relocation**

        1.  Examples - travel for recreation, business or for relocation

        2.  Subpathways -

            a.  **Traveler's themselves** (incl. humans as vectors for
                disease)

            b.  **On baggage and gear** - "carry on" and checked items

            c.  **Transported Pets/Plants and Animals Transported for
                Entertainment** -- this includes pets already owned that
                are transported when one moves or travels, and animals
                transported for horse shows, sporting events, circuses,
                rodeos, plant or garden shows, etc.

            d.  **Travel Consumables** (food on cruise ships, etc.)

        3.  Organisms Transported - ps, insect, sim inverts, dp

    D.  **Mail/Internet/Overnight Shipping Companies**

        1.  Organisms Transported - ps, pdp, in, si, ai, av

II. **Living Industry Pathways** - ***\[see diagram 3\]***

    A.  **Food Pathways**

        1.  **Live Seafood** (market ready - imported into and/or
            throughout the U.S. for immediate consumption)

            a.  Subpathways

                1.  Food organism "in trade" - intentionally released
                    (authorized or unauthorized) or escaped

                2.  Hitchhikers[^1]

                    a.  On or in live seafood (incl. parasites and
                        pathogens)

                    b.  In water, food, packing material, substrate
                        (live rock?)

            b.  Organisms Transported - ai, ap, av, di, ph, adp, pdp, la

        2.  **Other Live Food Animals** (imported alive into and/or
            throughout the U.S.)

            a.  Examples - Livestock, game birds

            b.  Subpathways -

                1.  Food organism "in trade" - intentionally released
                    (authorized or unauthorized) or escaped

                2.  Hitchhikers

                    a.  On or in live animals (incl. parasites and
                        pathogens)

                    b.  In water, food, growing medium, nesting or
                        bedding

            c.  Organisms Transported - adp, in, mbv, tv, v

        3.  **Plants and Plant Parts as Food** (imported into and/or
            throughout the U.S.)

            a.  Examples - fruits, vegetables, nuts, roots, seeds,
                edible flowers, etc.

            b.  Subpathways -

                1.  Plant "in trade" - intentionally released
                    (authorized or unauthorized) or escaped

                2.  Hitchhikers

                    a.  On or in food organism (incl. parasites and
                        pathogens)

                    b.  In water, food, growing medium, nesting or
                        bedding

            c.  Organisms Transported - ps, pdp, in, inv, v (frogs on
                plants, etc.)

    B.  **Non-Food Animal Pathways**

        1.  **Aquaculture** (includes the sites where organisms are
            raised, the raising of the organism, and their movement,
            unless classified as live seafood; if an organism usually
            classified as live seafood is being transported for
            reproduction purposes or other reasons, it falls under
            aquaculture).

            a.  Examples - fish, shellfish, shrimp and other
                invertebrates

            b.  Subpathways -

                1.  Aquacultured organism "in trade" - intentionally
                    released (authorized or unauthorized) or escaped

                2.  Hitchhikers

                    a.  On or in cultured organism (incl. parasites and
                        pathogens)

                    b.  In water, food, growing medium, nesting or
                        bedding

            c.  Organisms Transported - when including larval stages of
                animals, almost any aquatic plant or animal is possible,
                with the exception of marine mammals

        2.  **Pet/Aquarium Trade** - including the organisms and their
            facilities

            a.  Examples - dogs, cats, birds, herptiles, exotic mammals,
                fish, other aquarium stock, invertebrates (tarantulas,
                scorpions, etc.)

            b.  Subpathways -

                1.  Pet organism "in trade" - intentionally released
                    (authorized or unauthorized) or escaped

                2.  Hitchhikers

                    a.  On or with pet organism (incl. parasites and
                        pathogens)

                    b.  In water, food, growing medium, nesting or
                        bedding, aquarium substrates,

            c.  Organisms Transported - almost anything is possible -
                see list at end

        3.  **Bait Industry**

            a.  Examples - anything used as bait for fishing, etc.

            b.  Subpathways -

                1.  Bait organisms "in trade" - intentionally released
                    (authorized or unauthorized) or escaped

                2.  Hitchhikers

                    a.  On or with bait (incl. parasites and pathogens)

                    b.  In water, food, growing medium, nesting or
                        bedding

            c.  Organisms Transported - ai, ap, av, di, ph, adp, pdp, la

        4.  **Non-Pet Animals**

            a.  Examples - importation of animals for non-food livestock
                (hunt clubs, breeding, racing, draft animals), research,
                harvesting fur/wool/hair, entertainment and their sites
                of deliberate introduction (zoos, public aquaria,
                ranches, rodeos, lab facilities, etc.).

            b.  Subpathways -

                1.  Non-pet organism "in trade" - intentionally released
                    (authorized or unauthorized) or escaped

                2.  Hitchhikers

                    a.  On or with non-pet animal (incl. parasites and
                        pathogens)

                    b.  In water, food, growing medium, nesting or
                        bedding

            c.  Organisms Transported - adp, in, mbv, tv, v

            d.  

    C.  **Plant Trade** (aquatic and terrestrial)

        1.  Examples -importation of plants and sites of deliberate
            introductions of plants (botanical gardens, nurseries,
            landscaping facilities, research facilities, public and
            private plantings, and aquariums/water gardening facilities
            when talking about aquatics, etc.)

            a.  **Whole plants** and nurseries/landscaping/garden
                facilities

            b.  **Plant parts**

                1.  **Seeds** and the seed trade

                2.  **Below Ground Plant Parts**

                    a.  Bulbs, culms, roots, tubers, etc.

                3.  **Above Ground Plant Parts**

                    a.  Cuttings, budwood

                4.  **Aquatic Plant Propagules**

        2.  Subpathways -

            a.  Plant organisms "in trade" - intentionally released
                (authorized or unauthorized) or escaped

            b.  Hitchhikers

                1.  On or with plant or plant part (incl. parasites and
                    pathogens)

                2.  In water, growing medium, or packing material

        3.  Organisms Transported - ps, pdp, in, si, v, ai, av, adp

III. **Other Miscellaneous Pathways** *- **\[see diagram 4\]***

     A.  **Other Aquatic Pathways**

         1.  Subpathways

             a.  **Interconnected Waterways**

                 1.  Examples - Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal

             b.  **Interbasin Transfers**

                 1.  Examples - California Aqueduct, All American Canal

         2.  Organisms Transported - ai, av, ap, adp, pdp

     B.  **Other Animal and Plant Related Pathways**

         1.  **Minimally Processed Animal Products**

             a.  Examples - hides, trophies, feathers

             b.  Organisms Transported - adp, in, inv

         2.  **Minimally Processed Plant Products**

             a.  Examples - logs, firewood, chips, mulch, straw,
                 baskets, sod, etc.

             b.  Organisms Transported - in, inv, ps, pdp,si, v

         3.  **Meat Processing Waste**

             a.  Organisms Transported - adp

     C.  **Ecosystem Disturbance**

         1.  **Short-term disturbances that facilitate introduction**

             a.  Examples - habitat creation, restoration, enhancement;
                 forestry

             b.  Organisms Transported - ps, pdp, in, inv, v

         2.  **Long-term disturbances** **that facilitate introduction**

             a.  Examples -

                 1.  Highway rights-of way, Railroad rights of way,
                     Utility Rights of way

                 2.  Land clearing, development, damming, stream
                     channelization, logging

             b.  Organisms Transported - ps, pdp, in, inv, v

     D.  **Natural Spread of Established Populations of Invasive
         Species**

         1.  Examples include natural migration, movement and spread of
             established populations, ocean currents, wind patterns,
             unusual weather events, spread by migratory waterfowl, etc.

         2.  Organisms transported - this category includes all
             established invasive species

             **[Key to Organisms Transported]{.underline}**

             **ai** = aquatic invertebrates (and larval stages)

             **adp** = animal disease pathogens and parasites

             **ap** = aquatic plants

             **av** = aquatic vertebrates (and larval stages)

             **di** = dinoflagellates

             **dp** = disease pathogens

             **gm** = gypsy moth

             **hfo** = hull fouling organisms

             **in** = insects and similar invertebrates

             **inv** = other invertebrates (not insects)

             **mbv** = microbes, bacteria, and viruses

             **pdp** = plant disease pathogens

             **ph** = phytoplankton

             **ps** = plants and seeds

             **si** = snails and other invertebrates

             **tv** = terrestrial invertebrates (insects and other
             arthropods)

**v** = vertebrates

**Diagram 1**

> **Categorization**
>
> **of**
>
> **Pathways**

+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| **Transportation**  | **"Living Industries"** | **Miscellaneous**    |
|                     |                         |                      |
| **Related           |                         | **Pathways**         |
| Pathways**          |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
|                     |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
|                     |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| This category       | This category includes  | This category        |
| includes all the    | all the various         | includes various     |
| various pathways    | pathways associated     | pathways that did    |
| related to the      | with living resources   | not fit into the     |
| transportation of   | and/or their            | other two            |
| people and goods.   | by-products.            | categories.          |
| Subcategories       | Subcategories include:  | Subcategories        |
| include:            |                         | include:             |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
|                     |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| 1\) Modes of        | 1\) Food Pathways       | 1\) Aquatic Pathways |
| Transportation      |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| 2\) Items Used in   | 2\) Non-Food Pathways   | 2\) Ecosystem        |
| Shipping            |                         | Disturbance (both    |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| 3\)                 | 3\) The Plant Trade     | long and short term) |
| Travel              |                         |                      |
| /Tourism/Relocation |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| 4\)                 | 4\) Other "Living"      |                      |
| Mai                 | Industry                |                      |
| l/Internet/Shipping |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| Companies           | Pathways                |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
|                     |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
|                     |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
|                     |                         |                      |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| See Diagram Two and | See Diagram Three and   | See Diagram Four and |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| Accompanying        | Accompanying Outline    | Accompanying Outline |
| Outline for more    | for more                | for more             |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+
| details             | details                 | details              |
+---------------------+-------------------------+----------------------+

**Diagram 2**

**Transportation Related**

**Pathways**

(incl. military travel)

  -------------------- --------------------- -------------------- ---------------------
  **Modes of**         **Items Used In**     **Mail/Internet/**   **Travel/Tourism/**

  **Transportation**   **Shipping Process**  **Overnight          **Relocation**
                                             Shipping**           

  (Things doing the                          **Companies**        
  transporting)                                                   
  -------------------- --------------------- -------------------- ---------------------

  --------------------------------------- -------------------------------
  Containers                              Packing

  (interiors and                          Materials

  exteriors)                              
  --------------------------------------- -------------------------------

  -------------------- ------------- ---------------- -------------------
  **Wood Packing**     **Seaweed**   **Other**        **Sand/**

  **Materials**                      **Plant**        **Earth**

                                     **Materials**    (Archaeological

                                                      
  -------------------- ------------- ---------------- -------------------

  -------------------- -------------------- ---------------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------------- -----------------
  **Air**              **Water/Aquatic**    **Land/Terrestrial**   **Travelers**    **Baggage/**   **Pets/**         **Travel**

  **Transportation**   **Transportation**   **Transportation**     **Themselves**   **Gear**       **Plants and**    **Consumables**

  (Planes, Helicopters (freshwater and      (including all methods (incl. human as  (carry on      **Animals**       (food on cruise
                       marine,              of                                                                       

  Etc.)                Including all types  Moving across the      Vectors for      and Checked)   **Transported**   Cruise ships,
                       of                   ground)                disease)                                          etc)

                       Aquatic vehicles and                                                        **For             
                                                                                                   Entertainment**   

                       Movable structures).                                                        (pet and horse    
                                                                                                   shows,            

                                                                                                   Sporting events,  
                                                                                                   circuses,         

                                                                                                   Rodeos, plant or  
                                                                                                   garden shows,     
                                                                                                   etc.)             
  -------------------- -------------------- ---------------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------------- -----------------

  ----------- ----------------------- ------------ --------------- ------------------- ------------
  **Wheel**   **Cargo**                                                                

  **Wells**   **Holds**               **Cars**     **Trains**      **Construction/**   **Hikers**

                                      **Buses**    **Subways**     **Firefighting**    **Horses**

  **Main**    **Cabins**              **Trucks**   **Metros**      **Vehicles**        **Pets**

  **Other**   **Locations**           **ATVs**     **Monorails**                       

                                                                                       
  ----------- ----------------------- ------------ --------------- ------------------- ------------

  ------------- ------------- --------------- --------------------------- --------------
  **Ballast**   **Hull/**     **Stowaways**   **Superstructures/**        **Dredge**

  **Water**     **Surface**   **In Holds**    **Structures**              **Spoil**

  (And other    **Fouling**                   **Above**                   **Material**

  Things that                                 **Water Line**              

  Hold water)                                 (ex. Oil rigs, dredge       
                                              platforms, etc.)            
  ------------- ------------- --------------- --------------------------- --------------

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| # Diagram 3                                                           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

## Living Industry Pathways

+-------------------+-----------------------------------+-------------+
| > **Plant Trade** | **Non-Food**                      | **Food      |
|                   |                                   | Pathways**  |
+-------------------+-----------------------------------+-------------+
| (Aquatic and      | **Animal Pathways**               |             |
| Terrestrial       |                                   |             |
+-------------------+-----------------------------------+-------------+
|                   | (transporting animals for reasons | (tra        |
|                   | other than consumption, excluding | nsportation |
|                   | entertainment which is covered in | of animals  |
|                   | the diagram for transportation    |             |
|                   | pathways)                         | for         |
|                   |                                   | immediate   |
|                   |                                   | c           |
|                   |                                   | onsumption) |
+-------------------+-----------------------------------+-------------+

  ----------- ------------ ----------------- ------------------ ---------- -------------- -------------- ------------- ---------
                                                                                          **Live**       **Other**     **Plant
                                                                                                                       &**

  **Plant**   **Whole**    **Aquaculture**   **Pet/Aquarium**   **Bait**   **Non-Pet**    **Seafood**    **Live**      **Plant
                                                                                                                       Parts**

  **Parts**   **Plants**   (incl. organisms  **Trade**                     **Animals**    (market ready- **Food**      **As
                                                                                                                       Food**

                           classified as     (plants covered               (animals for   to be consumed **Animals**   
                                                                           research,                                   
                                                                           zoos,                                       

                           seafood when      under plant trade)            public         immediately)                 
                                                                           aquaria, fur                                
                                                                           harvest,                                    

                           shipped for                                     livestock for                               
                                                                           non-food                                    
                                                                           purposes                                    

                           other purposes                                  Such as hunt                                
                                                                           clubs, racing,                              

                                                                           breading,                                   
                                                                           draft animals)                              
  ----------- ------------ ----------------- ------------------ ---------- -------------- -------------- ------------- ---------

  ------------------- --------------------- -------------- ----------------
  **Above Ground**    **Below Ground**      **Seeds And**  **Aquatic**

  **Plant Parts**     **Plant Parts**       **the Seed**   **Propagules**

  (Cuttings,          (bulbs, roots         **Trade**      

  Budwood,            Culms, tubers, etc.)                 

  Etc.)                                                    
  ------------------- --------------------- -------------- ----------------

> **Subpathways** -- Each of the categories above has three subpathways:

The organism "in trade" itself -- whether intentionally released

(authorized or unauthorized) or escaped

Hitchhikers on or in the organism in trade

Hitchhikers in water, food, nesting/bedding, or growing medium

**NOTE:** Hitchhikers can include plants, animals, invertebrates,

> parasites, diseases and pathogens

**Diagram 4**

Other

Miscellaneous

Pathways

> Other Ecosystem

Aquatic Disturbance

Pathways

Interconnected Dredge Long-Term Short-Term

Waterways Spoil

Interbasin

Transfers

**Appendix 3: Significance Criteria Questionnaire**

+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Draft Questionnaire for Determining |                                |
| the Priority of an Invasive Species |                                |
| Pathway (9/30/03 version)           |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| [Background]{.underline}: The       |                                |
| Invasive Species Council's Pathways |                                |
| Task Team was asked to implement    |                                |
| the pathway related actions of the  |                                |
| National Invasive Species           |                                |
| Management Plan. Action 20 of the   |                                |
| plan is to "implement a system for  |                                |
| evaluating invasive species         |                                |
| pathways." Having determined that   |                                |
| the data may not exist to rank      |                                |
| pathways (i.e. any means that       |                                |
| allows entry or spread of an        |                                |
| invasive species) in a              |                                |
| scientifically defensible manner,   |                                |
| the Team designed a subjective      |                                |
| approach. This questionnaire is     |                                |
| designed to guide the user through  |                                |
| a thinking process, using their     |                                |
| expertise and best professional     |                                |
| judgment, to determine the priority |                                |
| of various identified pathways.     |                                |
| Throughout the development process  |                                |
| for this questionnaire, the team    |                                |
| used the same definitions that the  |                                |
| Invasive Species Council uses from  |                                |
| Executive Order 13112 (February 3,  |                                |
| 1999). For more information on the  |                                |
| National Invasive Species Council,  |                                |
| the Management Plan or Executive    |                                |
| Order 13112, please visit the       |                                |
| Council's web site                  |                                |
| (www.invasivespecies.gov).          |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| [Instructions for Assessing         |                                |
| Pathways:]{.underline}              |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Step A) Provide your contact        |                                |
| information.                        |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Step B) Fill in information on what |                                |
| pathway you are assessing and what  |                                |
| type of organisms you are assessing |                                |
| within the pathway.                 |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Step C) Review the ranking system.  |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Step D) Answer each question,       |                                |
| giving it a rank of 1 through 5, or |                                |
| "uncertain." For each question,     |                                |
| circle only a number OR             |                                |
| "uncertain." Do not circle both.    |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Step E) Determine your score for    |                                |
| the pathway assessed and determine  |                                |
| the pathway's priority.             |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Step F) Add up the number of blanks |                                |
| for which "uncertain" was marked.   |                                |
| This is an indication of the        |                                |
| pathway priority's uncertainty      |                                |
| factor.                             |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Step G) Answer the "Regulation      |                                |
| Modifier" question. This may        |                                |
| indicate a pathway whose ranking    |                                |
| needs further consideration.        |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Steps A: Contact Information        |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Name:                               |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_            |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| Date:                               |                                |
| \_                                  |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Association:                        |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_  |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| Specialty/Expertise:                |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_        |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Address:                            |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_  |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| Phone Number:                       |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_        |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| E-mail:                             |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\                       |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Step B: Pathway and Organisms       |                                |
| Assessed                            |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Pathway Assessed:                   |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                    |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Organisms/Hitchhikers being         |                                |
| considered for this pathway (to be  |                                |
| more specific or to add a group not |                                |
| covered here, please use the blank  |                                |
| below):                             |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| \_\_\_\_ All "hitchhiking"          | \_\_\_\_ Plant pathogens (e.g. |
| organisms                           | sudden oak death, etc.)        |
|                                     |                                |
| \_\_\_\_ All aquatic organisms      | \_\_\_\_ Phytoplankton (e.g.   |
|                                     | Amphidinium, dinoflagellates,  |
| \_\_\_\_ Fouling organisms (e.g.    | etc.)                          |
| organisms that attach to boats,     |                                |
| pilings, platforms, etc.)           | \_\_\_\_ Vertebrates (e.g.     |
|                                     | snakeheads, gavials, rats,     |
| \_\_\_\_ Arthropods (e.g. insects,  | brown tree snakes, etc.)       |
| arachnids, crustaceans, etc.)       |                                |
|                                     | \_\_\_\_ Human & animal        |
| \_\_\_\_ Mollusks (e.g. giant       | parasites (e.g. liver flukes,  |
| African snails, zebra mussels,      | etc.)                          |
| etc.)                               |                                |
|                                     | \_\_\_\_ Human & animal        |
| \_\_\_\_ Plants and plant           | pathogens (e.g. salmonella,    |
| propagules (e.g. water hyacinth,    | west nile virus, foot and      |
| Russian knapweed, etc.)             | mouth disease, SARS, etc.)     |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+
| Other Organisms/                    |                                |
|                                     |                                |
| More Specificity:                   |                                |
| \_                                  |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |                                |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                                |
+-------------------------------------+--------------------------------+

+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| Step C --  |                                            |            |
| Review     |                                            |            |
| Ranking    |                                            |            |
| System     |                                            |            |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| The        |                                            |            |
| following  |                                            |            |
| numbers    |                                            |            |
| and        |                                            |            |
| cor        |                                            |            |
| responding |                                            |            |
| terms are  |                                            |            |
| used to    |                                            |            |
| answer the |                                            |            |
| questions  |                                            |            |
| in the     |                                            |            |
| next step. |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| 5 = Very   |                                            |            |
| Likely; 4  |                                            |            |
| = Somewhat |                                            |            |
| Likely; 3  |                                            |            |
| = Chance   |                                            |            |
| is equally |                                            |            |
| likely or  |                                            |            |
| unlikely;  |                                            |            |
| 2 =        |                                            |            |
| Somewhat   |                                            |            |
| Unlikely;  |                                            |            |
| 1 = Very   |                                            |            |
| Unlikely   |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| Uncertain  |                                            |            |
| = If you   |                                            |            |
| do not     |                                            |            |
| feel that  |                                            |            |
| you have   |                                            |            |
| enough     |                                            |            |
| i          |                                            |            |
| nformation |                                            |            |
| to answer  |                                            |            |
| a          |                                            |            |
| question,  |                                            |            |
| do NOT     |                                            |            |
| just       |                                            |            |
| choose a   |                                            |            |
| "3" as     |                                            |            |
| your       |                                            |            |
| answer.    |                                            |            |
| Instead,   |                                            |            |
| you should |                                            |            |
| circle the |                                            |            |
| word       |                                            |            |
| "u         |                                            |            |
| ncertain." |                                            |            |
| If a       |                                            |            |
| pathway    |                                            |            |
| receives a |                                            |            |
| certain    |                                            |            |
| number of  |                                            |            |
| uncertain  |                                            |            |
| answers,   |                                            |            |
| then the   |                                            |            |
| pathway    |                                            |            |
| may        |                                            |            |
| require    |                                            |            |
| further    |                                            |            |
| con        |                                            |            |
| sideration |                                            |            |
| before a   |                                            |            |
| priority   |                                            |            |
| can be     |                                            |            |
| es         |                                            |            |
| tablished. |                                            |            |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| ##         | ## Step D -- Questions                     | ##         |
|            |                                            |            |
|            | ## Pathway Magnitude                       | ## (circ   |
|            |                                            | le answer) |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| 1\) Does   |                                            | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| the        |                                            | Uncertain  |
| pathway    |                                            |            |
| transport  |                                            |            |
| a high     |                                            |            |
| diversity  |                                            |            |
| of species |                                            |            |
| or does it |                                            |            |
| have the   |                                            |            |
| potential  |                                            |            |
| to do so   |                                            |            |
| in the     |                                            |            |
| future?    |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| *Justi     |                                            |            |
| fication:* |                                            |            |
| *\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_* |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| 2\) Does   |                                            | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| the        |                                            | Uncertain  |
| pathway    |                                            |            |
| transport  |                                            |            |
| large      |                                            |            |
| numbers of |                                            |            |
| [i         |                                            |            |
| ndividuals |                                            |            |
| of one or  |                                            |            |
| more]{.    |                                            |            |
| underline} |                                            |            |
| species or |                                            |            |
| does it    |                                            |            |
| have the   |                                            |            |
| potential  |                                            |            |
| to do so   |                                            |            |
| in the     |                                            |            |
| future?    |                                            |            |
| (i.e. is   |                                            |            |
| it a       |                                            |            |
| "good"     |                                            |            |
| pathway    |                                            |            |
| for one or |                                            |            |
| more       |                                            |            |
| species?)  |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| *Just      |                                            |            |
| ification: |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\  |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_* |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| 3\) Does   |                                            | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| the        |                                            | Uncertain  |
| pathway    |                                            |            |
| have a     |                                            |            |
| high       |                                            |            |
| [fr        |                                            |            |
| equency]{. |                                            |            |
| underline} |                                            |            |
| of         |                                            |            |
| potential  |                                            |            |
| entry/in   |                                            |            |
| troduction |                                            |            |
| or does it |                                            |            |
| have the   |                                            |            |
| potential  |                                            |            |
| to have a  |                                            |            |
| high       |                                            |            |
| frequency  |                                            |            |
| in the     |                                            |            |
| future?    |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| *Justi     |                                            |            |
| fication:* |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_     |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| 4\) Does   |                                            | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| the        |                                            | Uncertain  |
| Pathway    |                                            |            |
| have a     |                                            |            |
| high       |                                            |            |
| [volume]{. |                                            |            |
| underline} |                                            |            |
| of         |                                            |            |
| incoming   |                                            |            |
| material   |                                            |            |
| (pathway   |                                            |            |
| substrate, |                                            |            |
| trade      |                                            |            |
| material,  |                                            |            |
| or cargo)  |                                            |            |
| during     |                                            |            |
| each       |                                            |            |
| occurrence |                                            |            |
| of         |                                            |            |
| potential  |                                            |            |
| entry/in   |                                            |            |
| troduction |                                            |            |
| (i.e. each |                                            |            |
| individual |                                            |            |
| shipment)  |                                            |            |
| or does it |                                            |            |
| have the   |                                            |            |
| potential  |                                            |            |
| to have a  |                                            |            |
| high       |                                            |            |
| volume in  |                                            |            |
| the        |                                            |            |
| future?    |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| *Just      |                                            |            |
| ification: |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\  |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_* |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| #          |                                            |            |
| Survivabil |                                            |            |
| ity During |                                            |            |
|  Transport |                                            |            |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| 5\) Is the |                                            | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| pathway    |                                            | Uncertain  |
| hospitable |                                            |            |
| to         |                                            |            |
| organisms  |                                            |            |
| (i.e. do   |                                            |            |
| the        |                                            |            |
| organisms  |                                            |            |
| remain     |                                            |            |
| healthy in |                                            |            |
| transit or |                                            |            |
| storage    |                                            |            |
| and arrive |                                            |            |
| healthy    |                                            |            |
| and        |                                            |            |
| alive?)    |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| *Just      |                                            |            |
| ification: |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\  |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_* |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+
| 6\) Does   |                                            | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| the        |                                            | Uncertain  |
| pathway    |                                            |            |
| provide    |                                            |            |
| opp        |                                            |            |
| ortunities |                                            |            |
| for/       |                                            |            |
| facilitate |                                            |            |
| spread to  |                                            |            |
| unco       |                                            |            |
| ntaminated |                                            |            |
| shipments  |                                            |            |
| during     |                                            |            |
| transport  |                                            |            |
| or during  |                                            |            |
| storage    |                                            |            |
| before or  |                                            |            |
| after      |                                            |            |
| transport? |                                            |            |
| (e.g. are  |                                            |            |
| shipments  |                                            |            |
| co-mingled |                                            |            |
| and is     |                                            |            |
| cross-con  |                                            |            |
| tamination |                                            |            |
| a          |                                            |            |
| p          |                                            |            |
| ossibility |                                            |            |
| during     |                                            |            |
| tr         |                                            |            |
| ansport?). |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| *Just      |                                            |            |
| ification: |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\  |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\ |                                            |            |
| _\_\_\_\_* |                                            |            |
|            |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_ |                                            |            |
+------------+--------------------------------------------+------------+

+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| # Detection                                             |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 7\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are       | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| difficult to detect before or during transportation or  | Uncertain  |
| does it have the potential to do so in the future?      |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 8\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are       | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| difficult to detect once introduced or does it have the | Uncertain  |
| potential to do so in the future?                       |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| # Environmental Compatibility                           |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 9\) Does the pathway introduce organisms into           | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| hospitable environments?                                | Uncertain  |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 10\) Does the pathway transport or have the potential   | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| to transport organisms that are generalists and can     | Uncertain  |
| survive in many habitats?                               |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| ## Ease of Spread Once Organism Enters New Environment  |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 11\) Does the pathway transport organisms that spread   | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| easily by natural means (e.g. fast reproduction; large  | Uncertain  |
| numbers of young; highly mobile; spread by wind or      |            |
| water, etc.) or does it have the potential to do so in  |            |
| the future?                                             |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 12\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are      | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| easily spread by human activities or does it have the   | Uncertain  |
| potential to do so in the future?                       |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| # Management/Control -- Historic/Known Introductions    |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 13\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are      | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| [already in the U.S.]{.underline} and known to be       | Uncertain  |
| invasive or does the pathway have the potential to      |            |
| transport such organisms in the future?                 |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 14\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are [not | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| yet in the U.S.]{.underline} and known to be invasive   | Uncertain  |
| and or does the pathway have the potential to transport |            |
| such organisms in the future?                           |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+

+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 15\) Does the pathway transport [known]{.underline}     | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| invasive organisms that have proven difficult to        | Uncertain  |
| control or for which control options are not            |            |
| available/unknown or does the pathway have the          |            |
| potential to transport such organisms in the future?    |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 16\) Does the pathway transport [known]{.underline}     | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| invasive organisms for which control options are known, | Uncertain  |
| but for which those control options are very expensive  |            |
| or does the pathway have the potential to transport     |            |
| such organisms in the future?                           |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| ## Management/Control -- Potential/Future Introductions |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 17\) Does the pathway transport organisms [that are     | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| already in the U.S.]{.underline} and have the potential | Uncertain  |
| to be highly invasive (i.e. known to be invasive in     |            |
| similar climates or habitats in other countries) or     |            |
| does the pathway have the potential to transport such   |            |
| organisms in the future?                                |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 18\) Does the pathway transport organisms [that are not | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| yet in the U.S.]{.underline} and have the potential to  | Uncertain  |
| be invasive or does the pathway have the potential to   |            |
| transport such organisms in the future?                 |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 19\) Does the pathway transport [potential]{.underline} | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| invasive organisms that have proven difficult to        | Uncertain  |
| control or for which control options are not            |            |
| available/unknown or does the pathway have the          |            |
| potential to transport such organisms in the future?    |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 20\) Does the pathway transport [potential]{.underline} | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| invasive organisms for which control options are known, | Uncertain  |
| but for which those control options are very expensive  |            |
| or does the pathway have the potential to transport     |            |
| such organisms in the future?                           |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| ## Impacts                                              |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 21\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are      | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| known to cause economic impacts to biologic/primary     | Uncertain  |
| productivity/living industries (e.g. agriculture,       |            |
| fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, ranching, aquatic     |            |
| recreation, ecotourism, birding, etc.) or does the      |            |
| pathway have the potential to transport such organisms  |            |
| in the future?                                          |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 22\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are      | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| known to cause economic impacts to human infrastructure | Uncertain  |
| (e.g. termites, zebra mussels, plants that can lower    |            |
| property values, etc.) or does the pathway have the     |            |
| potential to transport such organisms in the future?    |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+

+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 23\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are      | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| known to cause economic impacts to intra-national and   | Uncertain  |
| international trade (e.g. ballast water, pest           |            |
| infestations that result in export markets refusing our |            |
| products, etc.) or does the pathway have the potential  |            |
| to transport such organisms in the future?              |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 24\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are      | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| known to cause impacts to human health or does the      | Uncertain  |
| pathway have the potential to transport such organisms  |            |
| in the future?                                          |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 25\) Does the pathway transport organisms that are      | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| known to cause impacts to natural resources             | Uncertain  |
| (ecosystems, habitats, native wildlife and plants,      |            |
| etc.) or does the pathway have the potential to         |            |
| transport such organisms in the future?                 |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| 26\) Does the pathway transport invasive organisms that | 5 4 3 2 1  |
| are known to have political or public sensitivity or    | Uncertain  |
| does the pathway have the potential to transport such   |            |
| organisms in the future (e.g. endangered species,       |            |
| "sensational", unusual or unknown organisms, those      |            |
| known to impact pets or endangered species, or those    |            |
| that impact our quality of life)?                       |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| ## Step E, F, & G -- Evaluation                         |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| #### Preliminary Overall Priority                       | ####       |
|                                                         |            |
| To determine a pathway's priority, one must add up the  | **Pathway  |
| total numerical score for the questionnaire and count   | Priority** |
| the number of questions used to determine that score    |            |
| (i.e. the number of questions that one did not answer   | **(circle  |
| with "uncertain"). Dividing the total score by the      | one)**     |
| number of questions answered will give you a number     |            |
| between one and five as follows:                        | **High**   |
|                                                         |            |
| +---------------------------+-----------------------+   | **Hig      |
| | Total Score               | Total Number of       |   | h-Medium** |
| |                           |                       |   |            |
| | For Questionnaire =       | Questions Answered =  |   | **Medium** |
| |                           |                       |   |            |
| | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_  | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_  |   | **Me       |
| +---------------------------+-----------------------+   | dium-Low** |
| | Total Score **/** Total   |                       |   |            |
| | Number of Questions =     |                       |   | **Low**    |
| | \_\_\                     |                       |   |            |
| | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |                       |   |            |
| +---------------------------+-----------------------+   |            |
|                                                         |            |
| #####  Score of 5.0 -- 4.3 = High Priority              |            |
|                                                         |            |
| #####  Score of 4.2 -- 3.5 = Medium-High Priority       |            |
|                                                         |            |
| #####  Score of 3.4 -- 2.6 = Medium Priority            |            |
|                                                         |            |
| #####  Score of 2.5 -- 1.8 = Medium-Low Priority        |            |
|                                                         |            |
| #####  Score of 1.7 - 1.0 = Low Priority                |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+

+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| **Uncertainty Factor**                                  | **Unc      |
|                                                         | ertainty** |
| ###### The un                                           |            |
| certainty factor is the number of questions for which t | ##         |
| he term "uncertain" has been circled. Please remember,  | ## Factor  |
| for each question, one should circle only a number OR t |            |
| he term "uncertain." Do not circle both. If the assesso | ####       |
| r feels they lack the information to answer more than h |            |
| alf of the questions resulting in an uncertainty factor | ###        |
|  of 13 or more, then the pathway probably requires furt | # \_\_\_\_ |
| her consideration before a priority can be established. | \_\_\_\_\_ |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| **Regulation Modifier**                                 | 5 4 3 2 1  |
|                                                         | Uncertain  |
| Is the pathway currently NOT regulated for invasive     |            |
| species in any way, or if it is regulated, are there    |            |
| gaps or other weaknesses hampering the efficacy of the  |            |
| regulation?                                             |            |
|                                                         |            |
| *Justification:                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_* |            |
|                                                         |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\           |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ |            |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| Priority Summary                                        |            |
|                                                         |            |
| [Overall Rank of Pathway Is (circle one)]{.underline}:  |            |
| **High High-Medium Medium Medium-Low Low**              |            |
|                                                         |            |
| [Uncertainty Factor]{.underline}: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_      |            |
|                                                         |            |
| A score greater than 13 indicates a pathway for which   |            |
| additional information is needed and whose ranking may  |            |
| require further consideration                           |            |
|                                                         |            |
| [Regulation Modifier]{.underline}: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_     |            |
|                                                         |            |
| A score of 3-5 indicates a pathway that is not          |            |
| well-regulated and whose prioritizing may require       |            |
| further consideration.                                  |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+
| **Notes**                                               |            |
|                                                         |            |
| **(Assumptions, references, reasons why you feel that   |            |
| the priority should be different, etc., such as: (1)    |            |
| Cost Effectiveness: With limited resources, costs of    |            |
| actions should be weighed against benefits; (2) Actions |            |
| should be proactive and take advantage of               |            |
| opportunities; (3) Special attention should be given to |            |
| significant pathways that are not regulated; (4)        |            |
| Pathways should be evaluated periodically since risks   |            |
| associated with any particular pathway can change over  |            |
| time due to changes in magnitude (propagule pressure),  |            |
| changes in sending or receiving ecosystem, and other    |            |
| factors; (5) Pathway evaluation should be open and      |            |
| participatory, involving experts and stakeholders.      |            |
| Broad involvement conveys two benefits: more eyes       |            |
| examining the problem and greater credibility for the   |            |
| finished product).**                                    |            |
+---------------------------------------------------------+------------+

APPENDIX 4: Chronology of Pathways Task Team Development of the Ranking
Criteria

While we had begun discussing ranking criteria in our meetings in Autumn
2002, this complex issue has required more time. Issues that challenged
us included:

\(1\) How should we deal with the difficulty in balancing pathways that
can transport large numbers of organisms against smaller volume pathways
that have a history of introducing individual organisms that threaten
very high levels of damage?

\(2\) Should we consider a pathway\'s history, and if so, how should we
consider it given concerns about biases in past detection efforts and
changes in pathways over time?

\(3\) Should we consider the degree to which organisms using the pathway
are difficult to detect or manage once they have entered the country?
Our concern was that the only opportunity to prevent such organisms'
introduction and spread would be to prevent their initial entry.

\(4\) How should we weigh issues related to the receiving habitat? Many
Team members believed that virtually any organism would find a suitable
habitat somewhere in the diversity of climates and biomes found within
the United States (including island groups such as Hawaii). Furthermore,
agencies need to take a broader view in defining the receiving system
--- for example, evaluate the threat a disease might pose to wildlife as
well as to livestock or poultry.

\(5\) Which unit of measurement can we use to compare across pathways?
While we favored some measurement of "impact," we rejected money (dollar
losses/costs) because (a) many impacts have not been expressed in
monetary terms, and will not be so expressed for some years, and (b) we
don't have access to sufficient information to compile all available
monetary impact data. We recognized that both the federal Office of
Management and Budget and affected industries put their arguments in
dollar terms. If there is no objective means of measuring "impact,"
should we instead focus on other measures, such as:

-   counting the numbers of species delivered (that is, established) via
    the pathway?

-   identifying the range of risks associated with a pathway?

The Team noted that the following additional factors are important in
determining priorities:

-   opportunities to address a pathway.

-   cost of action v. reduction in risk

-   attending to pathways that currently are not regulated \-- focus
    attention on the need for immediate regulation or, if methodology is
    unclear, research on how to close these pathways.

-   Attending to pathways requiring or encouraging cooperative efforts
    by several agencies, which provide opportunities to leverage
    resources.

The Team began its work on developing ranking criteria in February 2003.
Throughout, we have assumed that the pathways are not being managed to
reduce the risk. From the beginning, we placed highest priority on three
factors:

1.  Pathway magnitude (consider the number and diversity of species,
    numbers of individuals belonging to a single species)

2.  Viability of organisms in the pathway

3.  Likelihood of pathway to transmit invasive organisms that are
    difficult to detect or manage once they have been introduced.

Originally, we gave several other criteria a second level ranking
(meaning that we considered them to be mitigating or complicating
factors). These secondary criteria included:

1.  environmental compatibility between points of origin and
    destination.

2.  ease of spread of the organism once it is present (via artificial or
    natural means).

3.  ability to control the introduced organism once it becomes
    established.

4.  complexity of pathway as a whole ‑‑ can it be measured? Assessed?
    Managed?

5.  level of damage caused by organisms vectored via the pathway under
    evaluation.

To measure the "impact" of species introduced via a particular pathway,
we identified three principal categories of impact \-- economic,
environmental, and socio-political; we then subdivided those into
several more specific categories, as follows:

-   human health

-   human "habitat" & infrastructure --- homes, neighborhoods, power
    plants, pier pilings \...

-   productivity of primary production industries
    (agriculture/horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, \...)

-   terrestrial ecosystems

-   freshwater aquatic ecosystems

-   coastal/estuarine/marine ecosystems

[^1]: Note: In all places where the term hitchhiker is used, it includes
    plants, animals, invertebrates, parasites, diseases, and pathogens.