Non-Native Decapods in South America: Risk Assessment and Potential Impacts

Biological invasions pose significant challenges in the Anthropocene, impacting ecosystem biodiversity and functioning. Ecological Niche Modeling is widely used to evaluate potential areas at risk of invasions, aiding prevention invasive-species expansion guiding conservation efforts freshwater ecosystems. The main objectives this study were model ecological niche remaining suitable habitat for occurrence five potentially invasive species decapods South America: Dilocarcinus pagei, Macrobrachium amazonicum, M. jelskii, rosenbergii, Procambarus clarkii. Occurrence data from Global Biodiversity Information Facility complemented with a literature systematic review. Variables models obtained Worldclim EarthEv databases. was performed using Biomod2 sdm package algorithms. Our results indicated area up 11% America. Model evaluations yielded favorable TSS AUC values (>0.7 >0.8). projected America included several hydrographic basins Protected Areas. information generated our can help identifying susceptible decapod invasion support local management decisions.