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Species Project
Invasive, Endangered, Keystone
Objective:
To research an invasive species, endangered species and a keystone species so that you understand their
characteristics.
Background:
An invasive species is a species that is alien (non-native) to the ecosystem being studied and whose introduction
causes economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Invasive species can be plants, animals, fungi
or microorganisms. Humans have accidentally or deliberately been responsible for most invasive species
introductions. Only one in a hundred alien species becomes invasive. As human populations explode, so have
populations of pets and favorite ornamental and crop plants. Feral cats, dogs, goats, pigs and even horses have
caused untold direct damage to native species through predation, habitat destruction, depletion of food sources
and the spread of disease. A significant number of the animal and plant species in the United States are vulnerable
to premature extinction, many as a direct result of invasive species, the second leading cause of extinction (behind
habitat destruction.
An endangered species is any species of animal, plant, or other living thing that will become extinct if nothing is
done to stop the cause of its decline. Endangered species are in immediate danger of extinction. Species that are
likely to become endangered in the near future are termed threatened. Other species that are not in immediate
danger but that have small populations and so could move quickly toward extinction are called vulnerable or
candidate species. No matter how small or unfamiliar, each species of living thing has its own special role in
keeping the world of nature in balance. When one species becomes extinct, other species are affected. Just one
plant may be food or shelter to more than 30 species of animals. Without that plant to feed or protect them, those
animals may also die out.
A keystone species is one that is essential to the way the ecosystem functions. Keystone species have large effects
on the ecosystem because many species rely on them. The absence of a keystone species could lead to the collapse
of an ecosystem. This trend of one keystone species' disappearance causing the decline of other species is called
the domino effect. Keystone species maintain a vital balance throughout their ecosystem.
Format
You will work by yourself to create three species posters- an invasive “Wanted Poster”, an endangered “Missing”
poster and a keystone “Campaign Poster”. Every person will have different animals to research. You project will be
ELECTRONIC and in one document- 3 pages in Word, 3 slides in a PPT, 3 pages of Google Docs, etc. The program
you use is up to you but the project should be ONE file.
When creating your posters they need to be stylized correctly to reflect the type of poster- a Campaign Poster
visually is very different from a Wanted Poster. From a distance, based on headers, style and color the posters
should be easily identifiable as wanted, missing and campaign.
Save your file as “Period Your Name” (last and first). Example- 1st Snow, Jon or 2nd White, Walter. You will upload
your file to https://dropitto.me/sturges using the password “enviro”. This will submit your project with a
timestamp. If you make a mistake you are able to upload a new file with a new time stamp.
Worktime
You will have 4 in class days to work on this assignment and then it becomes homework. I recommend spending
one day per poster and then using the fourth day to wrap up any loose ends.
Required Research for Your “Wanted Poster” on an invasive species
 A picture of the criminal
(1 points)
 Organism’s common name and scientific name (properly formatted- Genus species)
(3 points)
 Physical description – size, color, etc.
(3 points)
 Mistaken identities (similar organisms; include pictures if possible)
(1 points)
 Why are they considered invasive?
(4 points)
 What other species has it harmed or potentially will harm? Be specific – where does it fit in the
food web? Is it a predator? Is it a competitor? Is it a danger to people? Include details.
(4 points)
 Where it is currently an invasive species? Provide a name of location and a map
(2 points)
 Where is it’s country of origin/native habitat of the species?
(2 points)
 How did it get to its new habitat? Include historical data, photos, and maps if possible.
Was it accidentally introduced? If so, how? Was it introduced on purpose? If on purpose,
what was the purpose?
(3 points)
 How the criminal spreads from location to location in its new habitat? Include specific
examples: humans, animals, water, etc
(3 points)
 What is being done currently (or historically to try to apprehend, control, or extirpate the
criminal? Are these techniques working? Are they expensive? Explain all in detail
(5 points)
 Creativity, neatness, correct spelling and grammar
(2 points)
33 points
Required Research for Your “Missing Poster” on an endangered species
 A picture of the missing organism
(1 points)
 Organism’s common name and scientific name (properly formatted- Genus species)
(3 points)
 Physical description – size, color, etc.
(3 points)
 Where is it’s current habitat? How does this compare to it’s former range? Provide a name
of location and a map.
(3 points)
 What are the current population numbers? How do they compare to former
Numbers? (provide specific dates/data)
(3 points)
 What are HUMAN induced reasons that are causing them to become endangered? Be specific. (5 points)
 What are natural characteristics that are causing them to become endangered? Be specific (5 points)
 What is being done to protect the species from becoming extinct? Be specific.
(5 points)
 What value does your species provide to humans? If your species was saved what ecological,
economic or social benefits would there be?
(3 points)
 Creativity, neatness, correct spelling and grammar
(2 points)
33 points
Required Research for Your “Campaign Poster” on an keystone species
 A picture of the candidate
 Organism’s common name and scientific name (properly formatted- Genus species)
 Physical description – size, color, etc.
 A slogan as to why you should “vote for them”
 Type of ecosystem/habitat it can be found. Provide a name of location and a map.
 What other organisms interact with your candidate (predators, prey, etc)
 What major role does it play in the ecosystem that makes it a keystone species? Does it
control certain populations? Provide nutrients to the ecosystem?
 What changes occur in the ecosystem when the keystone species is removed? Be specificlist all of the “cause and effect” things that happen
 Construct a food web of your species ecosystem indicating feeding relationships. Color
code the organisms based on their trophic levels (ideally 4 colors to represent
4 trophic levels)
 Creativity, neatness, correct spelling and grammar
(1 points)
(3 points)
(3 points)
(3 points)
(3 points)
(3 points)
(5 points)
(5 points)
(5 points)
(2 points)
33 points