Download Invasive Species

Recent Newspaper Headlines
Stowaway U.S. Corn Rootworm
Eats Its Way Across Europe
Brainstorm
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What is an INVADER?
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What is a SPECIES?
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An invasive species is…
a species that does not naturally
occur in a specific area
 a species that causes or is likely
to cause
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economic harm, or
 environmental harm, or
 harm to human health
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A Serious Problem
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Plants and animals
that have become
established
outside their
natural range as
the result of
human activity
pose a huge threat
to the biodiversity
and health of an
ecosystem.
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Once established, the alien species
can eat the native species or compete
with them for habitat, food, or both.
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Because they lack natural
predators in their new
environment, the invaders
can…
 drive native species to extinction
 damage ecosystems
 cost billions of dollars a year to
eradicate (remove)
How Do Invasive Species
Get Here?
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A majority of the most likely
pathways involve humans.
• “Stowaway” organisms arrive here
inside packing materials.
• Microscopic creatures are dumped
from ships' ballast water tanks.
• Many plants and animals enter the
U.S. as part of the booming trade
in exotic pets or exotic foods.
The Asian Longhorned Beetle
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Many imported goods
are packed on wood
pallets. The wood may
contain insects and
plant diseases harmful
to trees in the U.S.
The Asian Longhorned
Beetle is believed to
have entered the U.S.
in wood pallets from
China.
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The Asian
Longhorned Beetle
has the ability to
destroy most
hardwood tree
species, such as
maple and poplar.
Timber, shade
trees, and maple
syrup production
are all at risk.
Ship Ballast Tanks
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After crossing an ocean and nearing a
U.S. port, ships may release ballast
water that has been carried to keep the
ship at the maximum performance and
safety level. A large ship may release
millions of gallons of water along with
species of plant and animal life not
native to that port.
Invasive Species Released via Ballast Water
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Zebra Mussels can have
great impacts on lake &
ocean ecosystem.
Eat large portions of the
microscopic plants and
animals which form the base
of the food chain.
Over time, Zebra Mussels
feeding behavior can affect a
lake's entire ecological
balance, causing significant
changes in native species
populations.
Zebra Mussel Impact
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Clog water and drain pipes
Cost $5 billion in control
efforts
Displaced native freshwater
mussels and drastically alter
the food web.
Their population continues
to grow and no immediate
end is foreseen.
Release of Exotic Species into the Wild
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Burmese pythons are
popular, and legal, pet
snakes.
Adult snakes – 15 ft. long
Some owners get rid of their
pets by dumping them in the
forest.
"All of the Burmese pythons
that we see in the park are a
product of the international
pet trade," said Skip Snow,
a wildlife biologist at
Everglades National Park.
A 10-foot, 3-inch Burmese python
captured on an access road to
Florida's Everglades National Park
Plants can be Invasive Species
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Kudzu first arrived here in
1876 as part of the
Japanese display garden at
the Centennial Exposition in
Philadelphia, PA.
Owners of a Florida nursery
found that animals liked to
eat kudzu, so in the 1920’s
they advertised and sold
kudzu as a forage crop.
During the 1930’s, kudzu
was recommended to
control erosion.
So what was the problem?
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Kudzu grows almost too well.
During warm summer months, kudzu can
grow 1-2 feet each day!
A kudzu plant, in optimal growing
conditions, can grow 60+ feet per year.
Kudzu rapidly spread and covered trees,
power poles, buildings, etc., destroying
plants, causing electrical outages, and
becoming an enormous nuisance.
In Georgia, the legend says
That you must close your windows
At night to keep it out of the house.
The glass is tinged with green, even so...
From the poem, "Kudzu"
How are Invasive Species Detected?
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Inspectors at U.S. international ports detect
invasive species of plant and animal pests that
might be found in items being brought into the
U.S.
High tech scanning machines are used to detect
illegal items inside luggage and some cargo.
Inspectors also use trained dogs to sniff luggage
to detect food such as fruit, vegetables, meat,
and animal products that might contain pests
harmful to animals and plants in the U.S.
People who fish and notice something unusual
can report it to a park ranger.
Project
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Research one invasive species and become an
expert on it.
Internet resources can be found on my
webpage.
Present your findings as a poster or power point.
Refer to the guidelines you received in class.
Make sure your project contains ALL
required elements.
As always, do your best and most beautiful
work.
Due __________________________
Resources:
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http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g68/newsinvasiv
e.html
Aquatic Nuisance Species in Ballast Water Discharges: Issues and Options
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/ballast_report_attch5.pdf
http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/EXOTICSP/zebra_mussel.htm
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0603_040603_invasives
pecies.html