Invasive Species (Chris Marten)

Title: Invasive Species

Principle(s) Investigated: Students will learn to identify an invasive species, the impacts it has or can have on an ecosystem, and measures that can be taken to deal with invasive species.

Standards:

LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience

• A complex set of interactions within an ecosystem can keep its numbers and types of organisms relatively constant over long periods of time under stable conditions. If a modest biological or physical disturbance to an ecosystem occurs, it may return to its more or less original status (i.e., the ecosystem is resilient), as opposed to becoming a very different ecosystem. Extreme fluctuations in conditions or the size of any population, however, can challenge the functioning of ecosystems in terms of resources and habitat availability.

LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

• Biodiversity is increased by the formation of new species (speciation) and decreased by the loss of species (extinction). (secondary)
• Humans depend on the living world for the resources and other benefits provided by biodiversity. But human activity is also having adverse impacts on biodiversity through overpopulation, overexploitation, habitat destruction, pollution, introduction of invasive species, and climate change. Thus sustaining biodiversity so that ecosystem functioning and productivity are maintained is essential to supporting and enhancing life on Earth. Sustaining biodiversity also aids humanity by preserving landscapes of recreational or inspirational value. (secondary) (Note: This Disciplinary Core Idea is also addressed by HS-LS4-6.)

ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions

• When evaluating solutions it is important to take into account a range of constraints including cost, safety, reliability and aesthetics and to consider social, cultural and environmental impacts. (secondary)

Student prior knowledge: Ecosystems have limits to the numbers of organisms and populations it can support. A complex set of interactions within an ecosystem can keep its numbers and types of organisms relatively constant over long periods of time under stable conditions.

Procedure: Students should watch the Simpsons video below and then be asked to state what they observed about invasive species (i.e. what impact did the species have on the environment, what was the reaction to this species, how was the species introduced.) In the quick-write students should write another invasive species that they know of, afterward call on some students to further explain the impact of the species that they wrote.

Quickwrite

Next assign groups to research specific invasive species and fill out the information they find on the second tab of the quick write. After a while, ask students to tell you why they think it is important to learn this. Highlight that most invasive species are introduced by everyday people, sometimes just because they wanted a pet, and having this knowledge can significantly help prevent damage to the environment.

National Invasive Species Information Center

Global Invasive Species Database

Explanation: Showing the video is to grab the attention of the students with something fun and interesting. Afterward you have them participate in the quick-write to assess their previous knowledge of the subject. Reviewing the quick-write is the time for you to reinforce concepts about what an invasive species is and what effects it has. Once the information has been significantly shared with the classroom, the group project is something to help students gain further understand by working with their peers and researching a specific topic.

Questions & Answers: Answers vary based on species.

1. How was the species introduced?
2. What impact has the species had on the environment?
3. What is being done to deal with the species?

Applications to Everyday Life: Learning about the impact of invasive species helps people understand the large effect their actions can have on their surroundings. There are many invasive species causing significant damage to ecosystems in the United States due to people releasing a pet "back into the wild" when they can no longer take care of it. This concept extends beyond just invasive species and applies to many of the everyday behaviors that have a much more significant impact on the world than most people realize; including pollution, littering, urban advancement on wildlife territory, and over fishing.

This information can also be applied to the importance of customs in economics. Some invasive species can be introduced through the transportation of foods. The rules for what can and can't be moved between countries may seem arbitrary and unnecessary, but it is important to learn about so to better reduce the impact tourism and the importing and exporting of foods and goods have on countries.

Lastly, having to think about the multiple aspects involved in solving a problem like invasive species is a skill that can apply to many different fields. When finding solutions it is important to think of the long term effects, introducing a new species might get rid of your current problem but then soon cause a new one. Applying this to alternative energy sources, nuclear energy may be much clearer in the short term, but creates a waste that is even more hazardous than carbon monoxide.

Photographs:

Zebra Mussels

Cane Toad

Goldfish

Burmese Python

Bullfrog

Starling

Videos: