Inquiry Activity in Your Neighborhood

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Inquiry Activity • In Your Neighborhood

Chapter 5 Invasive Organisms Near You

Problem What invasive species live in your neighborhood? Your Prediction 1. Do you think invasive species live in your neighborhood? Why or why not?

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______Background What Makes an Species Invasive? Look around at the organisms that live in your neighborhood. How did these species get here? Some evolved here—these are native species. Some evolved someplace else—perhaps on another continent! A storm, or perhaps the actions of humans, brought them to your neighborhood. These are exotic, or non- indigenous, species. Some of those exotic species became very successful in their new location. Their populations increased dramatically, and they became a problem for the native species living here. These are invasive species. Invasive Species in the United States Currently, the National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC) is tracking more than 1500 plant and almost 1000 animal invasive species in the United States. The NISIC collects information from numerous federal and state agencies and nonprofit groups in all fifty states. Research Your Local Environment Procedure Materials Computer with Internet access Step 1 To find out which species might be invading your area go to the National Invasive Species Information Center state map page. You can also type in the name of your state under “Search NISIC” and go from there. If you do not have computer access, then your teacher will provide this information to you; if this is the case, skip to Step 4. Step 2 Select your state, and open the page. Step 3 On the “State Resources” page, scroll down to select topics pertaining to the invasive species affecting your state’s natural resources.

Environmental Science • Lab Manual

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Step 4 Differentiate between the lists of invasive and non-indigenous species in your state. Step 5 Choose one invasive species that has thrived in your local area. Step 6 Find a news report in local or national news media archives about your chosen species and its impact on the local area. Step 7 Use reference sources in print and online to collect basic biological, ecological, and historical data for the species you chose. Step 8 Make recommendations for future actions the community can take to manage the effects of this species, without harming the local ecosystem.

2. Name an invasive species in your local ecosystem.

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3. Briefly describe characteristics—such as climate, vegetation, and geography —of your area.

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4. Use a news source to identify any impacts that the invasive species has had— recently or historically—on your local ecosystem.

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5. Fill in the Data Table with biological information about the species you chose. Use reference sources such as field guides, encyclopedias, and online sources.

Data Table

Species Name / Common Name

Kingdom

Organism • Description* (size range, color(s), • identifying traits, life cycle, population • groupings, etc.) •

Habitat Description*

Native Range* (where it is from)

North American Invasive Range* (where it is found on this continent)

*DATA SOURCE:

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Analyze and Conclude 6. Relate Cause and Effect What effect have humans had globally on the spread of invasive species?

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7. Draw Conclusions How can you tell which plants and wildlife in your local area are truly native to the area?

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8. Draw Conclusions Do you think people can succeed in controlling the invasive population you identified? What actions would you recommend to members of your community?

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______Local to Global 9. Evaluate Your Prediction Was your prediction about invasive species in your area correct? How do you know?

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10.Think Globally Do you think humans have a responsibility to control already-thriving invasive populations? Why or why not?

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