Invasive Species and Degraded Conditions
Invasive Species
- a species that is:
- non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and
- whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
Degraded
- reduced in quality; inferior.
Nature's Bullys
Bullying is not just a problem in school's; it’s also a problem in nature! Invasive species are plants and animals that are brought to a new habitat and bully the native species to the point where many can’t survive. They are usually hardier, more demanding and reproduce much faster. Since they are new to a habitat, they don’t have any natural predators. That means there aren’t any species to stop them from taking over an area.
One example is the Zebra Mussel. Zebra mussels were brought over in ballast water (water carried by ships to help them stay balanced while at sea). They also attach to the outsides of boats or get carried around by floating vegetation.
Why are they a problem? Zebra mussels are one of the most aggressive freshwater invaders because their population numbers grow so quickly. Massive populations of zebra mussels filtering water can severely impact native plankton, which reduces food for fish. These plankton-eating fish then have to find a new source of food or move to a new lake in order to survive. Unfortunately, that isn’t an option for many species. Zebra mussels also leave very little for native mussels to filter, causing them to starve as well.
Native Mussels
In Maryland, 14 of the state’s 16 mussel species are rare, threatened, or endangered. Even common species, like Eastern elliptio, have declined in their range and abundance. Mussels have experienced a high rate of imperilment because they are very sensitive to habitat and landscape alterations.
Phragmites Australis
Another example of nature's bullies is Phragmites (frag-mit-ees).
Phragmites is a non-native, invasive plant that grows in wetlands and along roadsides and shorelines throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
It is commonly found in fresh and brackish wetlands and along river banks and shorelines. It forms large, dense stands that crowd out other plants making it almost impossible for the native plants to grow.
They were introduced to the United States in the 19th century when ships from Eurasia inadvertently carried phragmites seeds in their ballast. Although there is a type of phragmites that is native to the U.S., it is very rare.
Unlike many native wetland plants, phragmites is not a valuable food source for waterfowl.
Energy Vampires
Slay Energy Vampires and Save
What is an energy vampire? An energy vampire is a device that continues to use energy and drain power, even when it is turned off. They lurk in your home, taking the form of phone chargers and cable boxes, computer cords and coffee pots. These phantom energy suckers can account for as much as 20% of your monthly electricity bill. What is the quickest way to slay an energy vampire? As simple as it sounds, all you need to do is identify the culprits and unplug them.
Questions to Ponder
What type of harm does an invasive species do?
How could the presence of an invasive species be a degraded condition?
Scientific Observation
Driving Question:
- To what extent are invasive species found on the CRMS campus?
Activity
- Collect data on numbers of the different kinds of invasive species that are present at the CRMS campus.
