Identifying Invasive Species in Our Community. Identifying Species Currently there are 8.7 million...

Identifying Invasive Species in Our Community

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Identifying Species • Currently there are

8.7 million identified species on Earth

• There are new species that emerge everyday and some yet to be discovered

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• A distinct kind of animal, plant, fungus, or other organism

• Groups of actual or potential interbreeding natural populations which are reproductively separate from other specie groups

What is a species anyways ?

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NEW SPECIES ALERT!• A new amphipod species (shrimp) has

been discovered • Lemarete which translates to “bold

and excellent” is the name of the new species

• This new species is 3mm long and lives in the depths of the ocean to about 4500 meters

• They act in swarms to strip carcasses of dead marine animals such as whales, fish, and seabirds

• This species helps with the decomposition of dead materials and aids in the natural recycling process

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Why is Studying Species Important?• Biologists and Ecologists study

species• Studying species is important for:

– fisherman– hunters – birdwatchers– gardeners

• We study species to help in their preservation and study their ability to adapt and evolve to new environments

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• To define and identify species, they have been categorized in Canada as:– Endangered – Threatened– Protected– Native – Invasive

Labelling and Categorizing Species

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Native Versus Non-Native Species

What do you think the difference between native and non-native species is?

• A native species is a species that naturally originated in its current location

• A non-native species is a species which has been brought to a new place or country by humans. These species may have been introduced accidentally or deliberately from all over the world

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Are Non-Native Species Bad News?• No! In fact, most non-native

species are harmless• Some are even beneficial, such

as sheep• Some non-native species

however, spread rapidly, damage the environment, and harm native species– These are known as invasive

species

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What is an Invasive Species?

• Invasive species are “alien species” whose introduction to the environment does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm – Invasive species are an environmental issue that we deal

with on a daily basis, they cause many negative environmental effects by competing for resources

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How Did The “Aliens” Get Here?

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What Makes A Successful Invasive Species?

Invasive species:• Can grow quickly• Spread rapidly• Are highly adaptable• Can be tougher than native

species

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What Problems Can Invasive Species Cause?

• They can be a predator to native species

• Compete for food against native species

• Spread disease• Damage habitats• Block waterways and cause

flooding

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What Can We Do To Stop The Spread?

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Become A Biosecurity Agent! Report sightings so that invasive species can be removed

Never release unwanted pets

Choose native plant species for gardens and ponds

Dispose of unwanted non-native plants carefully

Check equipment after fishing

Clean boats and drain any ballast water before moving between waterways

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Invasive Species in Southwestern Ontario

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Group Work • Select one of the invasive species in the previous slide • Work with a group of two to four people to answer the

questions on the slides below• Research the answers for the questions using the provided

handouts • Develop your own three inquiry questions that you want to

investigate• Develop a poster board to help increase awareness for

people that might not know about the dangers of invasive species

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Case File #1: Common Buckthorn

• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it an invasive

species?• What problems is it causing?• How can we stop it from

spreading?

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Case File #2: Asian Long-Horned Beetle

• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful invasive

species?• What problems is it causing?• How can we stop it from spreading?

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Case File #3: Zebra Mussels

• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful invasive

species?• What problems is it causing?• How can we stop it from spreading?

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Case File #4: Asian Carp• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful

invasive species?• What problems is it

causing?• How can we stop it from

spreading?

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Case File #5: European Green Crab

• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful

invasive species?• What problems is it causing?• How can we stop it from

spreading?

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Case File #6: Purple Loosestrife• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful

invasive species?• What problems is it

causing?• How can we stop it from

spreading?

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Case File #7: Sea Lamprey• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful

invasive species?• What problems is it causing?• How can we stop it from

spreading?

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Case File #8: Emerald Ash Borer

• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful

invasive species?• What problems is it causing?• How can we stop it from

spreading?

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Case File #9: Didymo• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful

invasive species?• What problems is it

causing?• How can we stop it from

spreading?

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Case File #10: Gypsy Moth • Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful

invasive species?• What problems is it

causing?• How can we stop it from

spreading?

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Case File #11: Round Goby• Where is it from?• How did it get here?• What makes it a successful

invasive species?• What problems is it

causing?• How can we stop it from

spreading?

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How are Invasive Species Monitored and Controlled?

• Biologists and ecologists monitor environments and habitats and notice impacts of invasive species by the damage left behind.

• You could be a citizen scientist and help identifying, count, and control invasive species.

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Become an Environmental Steward

Number of Emerald Ash Borers Present

Number of Trees on site

Number of Damaged/Dying Trees

Number of Healthy Trees

Contamination Rate. Calculate the percentage of tree that are infected.

Ranking of site Infection (1 being the most infected)

Site A 50 500 350 ? ? ?

Site B 78 700 480 ? ? ?

Site C 90 1000 600 ? ? ?

Site D 32 450 201 ? ? ?

Site E 81 950 561 ? ? ?

Below is a data set your neighbour collected from nearby areas in your community affected by the Emerald Ash Borer. You offered to help him calculate his data so he can send it in to the City of London’s Ecologist. Fill in the last three columns of data.

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Your Task• Design a brand new, ultimate invasive species!• Think about where your species came from?• How did it get here?• What makes it such a successful invasive species?• What problems is it causing?• How can we stop it from spreading?

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What did you think about the lesson?

• What did you learn?• What did you love? • What do you want to learn more about?• What was boring?• How would you make the lesson better?