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Instructor Guide, to be referenced by the instructor during group presentations and class discussion. The boxes in white show the information that student groups are given
(each group receives one national park and one invasive species to manage). The boxes in grey list activity requirements and provide example answers (note: these answers are
not comprehensive, but are provided here as a helpful resource). Answers are based on information from: invasivespeciesdatabase.org; invasivespeciesinfo.gov; nature.org.
National
Park
Description of
Park
Potential Invasive
Species (2 per park;
1 per student group)
Potential Ecological
Impacts
Possible Mode of
Invasion
Policy to
Reduce the
Risk of
Invasion
Policy to Reduce the
Impact of Invasion
Potential
Drawbacks/Limitations
of Policy
Azúl Rock
National
Park
This park
contains
numerous
tropical islands
with large coral
reefs, and is
home to a
variety of
tropical aquatic
species.
Situated among
snowcapped
mountains, this
park contains
numerous lakes
and is blanketed
by an extensive
temperate
deciduous
forest. This park
also boasts a
nursery that is
world renowned
for its variety of
plants.
This park
contains
numerous
islands with
towering cliffs.
Cold water
allows for
extensive kelp
forests, and the
isolated cliff
islands provide
excellent
habitat for
breeding arctic
birds and seals.
Yellowfin Goby
(Acanthogobius
flavimanus)
Competes with native
species for food;
negatively impacts
tidewater goby.
Introduced as eggs
on fouling
organisms growing
on ship hulls.
Outcompetes native
species for light and
food sources; produces
a noxious chemical to
predators.
Loss of native plants
due to herbivory;
competition with
native gastropods.
Introduced by
aquarium owners
into storm sewers.
Destroy Y-shaped A.
flavimanus nests;
introduce the striped
bass as a natural
predator.
Introduce aquatic slugs
as a predator species.
Destroying A. flavimanus nests may
alter the ecosystem; introduction of
the striped bass could alter the food
chain.
Ornamental Seaweed
(Caulerpa taxifolia)
Mandate that all
ship hulls be
inspected for A.
flavomanus
eggs.
Increase public
awareness of
the dangers of
C. taxifolia.
Transported in
shipping containers
of horticultural
products,
equipment, and
soil.
Spread caused by
movement of
infested trees, logs
and nursery stock.
Inspect all
nursery stock
coming into the
park for A.
fulica.
Introduce the rosy
wolfsnail as a means of
biological control; apply
pesticides.
Introduction of the rosy wolfsnail
could have unexpected ecological
consequences; pesticides could
harm organisms other than A. fulica.
Ban campers
from bringing
their own
firewood for use
at campsites.
Introduce an insectpathogenic fungi; apply
insecticides.
Insect-pathogenic fungi could harm
native insects; insecticides could
harm other species in the
ecosystem.
Dispersed by
stowing in sea
freights, road
vehicles, and other
means of
transportation.
Carried beyond its
native range by
strong ocean
currents caused by
climate change;
transported in
ballast water.
Build inspection
checkpoints on
every road that
enters the park.
Reduce population with
fumigation, poisoning,
repellents, and trapping.
Fumigation, poisoning, and
repellents may harm native species.
Conduct regular
assessments of
marine
ecosystems in
the park;
inspect water of
ships entering
the park.
Promote C. rodgersii as
an eco-cuisine;
introduce a large
population of rock
lobsters.
Introducing rock lobsters may alter
the food chain.
Crystal
Lakes
National
Park
Milden
National
Park
Giant African Land
Snail (Achatina fulica)
Emerald Ash Borer
(Agrilus planipennis)
Eliminates emerald ash
trees in nonnative
ranges of Agrilus
planipennis; alters
species composition
and diversity.
House Mouse (Mus
musculus)
Predation of seabird
eggs and chicks;
consumption of entire
seed crops.
Long-Spine Sea Urchin
(Centrostephanus
rodgersii)
Reduces biodiversity;
reduces primary
productivity due to
herbivory on kelp.
Introducing aquatic slugs may lead
to unforeseen ecological
consequences.
Instructor Guide, continued from previous page.
National
Park
Description of
Park
Potential Invasive
Species (2 per park;
1 per student group)
Potential Ecological
Impacts
Possible Mode of
Invasion
Policy to
Reduce the
Risk of
Invasion
Policy to Reduce the
Impact of Invasion
Potential
Drawbacks/Limitations
of Policy
River Otter
National
Park
Located at the
heart of the
tropical
rainforest,
numerous rivers
traverse this
park and are
home to its
namesake, the
river otter. The
rainforest
provides habitat
for a variety of
flora and fauna.
Situated in the
midst of a
sprawling
desert, this park
is composed of
desert grassland
and subtropical
desert. In
addition, two
rivers attract a
variety of
organisms
seldom found in
such arid
climates.
Common Waterweed
(Elodea canadensis)
Outcompetes native
aquatic plants for
sunlight and space;
obstructs water flow.
Dispersed as
fragments attached
to anchor chains
and fenders.
Introduce grass carp, an
herbivorous fish; use
chemical control.
Introduction of grass carp may have
negative ecological consequences;
chemical control may harm native
species.
Asian House Gecko
(Hemidactylus
frenatus)
Outcompetes native
species for food; has
been known to attack
native geckos.
Spread by being
stowed in boats
and shipping
containers.
Require all
boats entering
the park to
clean anchor
chains and
fenders.
Install
checkpoints for
all ships
entering the
park to inspect
for H. frenatus.
Use chemical
euthanasia.
If improperly disposed of, the
carcass of a chemically euthanized
animal could lead to secondary
poisonings of surrounding wildlife.
Buffelgrass
(Pennisetum ciliare)
Increases the risk and
spread of wildfire;
outcompetes native
species.
Introduced for
erosion control and
as a pasture grass;
seeds can attach to
pedestrian
clothing.
Mechanically remove
the plant; apply
herbicides.
Herbicides may cause harm to native
species.
Red Imported Fire Ant
(Solenopsis invicta)
Populations grow
rapidly; predation on
eggs and young of bird
and reptile species as
well as small mammals.
Transported via
nursery stock, road
vehicles, and
honeybee colonies.
Outlaw
purposeful
introduction of
P. ciliare;
mandate that all
visitors entering
the park have
hiking gear
inspected for
seeds.
Mandate that all
vehicles
entering the
park be
inspected for S.
invicta.
Introduce parasitic
phorid flies as a means
of biological control.
Phorid flies could also parasitize
native species.
Saraena
National
Park