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Home , Invasive species

Environmental Learning Outside the Classroom (ELOC)

This guidebook provides lesson ideas and activities to get students engaged with outdoor learning. Created by the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS), an extension arm of the University of Puerto Rico’s Grant College Program. For more information, contact: Howard Forbes Jr. (VIMAS Coordinator) ph: 340-693-1672/340-513-7203 E-mail: [email protected] Website: vimas.uvi.edu VIMAS Lesson Plan Topic: Invasive and Trophic food webs Grade level: 7th to 12th

Estimated time for activity: Lecture: 15-20 minutes, Activity: 30-60 minutes Information

Purpose: Procedure: To teach students what an invasive species Students will be given a small lecture and and what potential impacts (positive and briefing on the material. Then they will be

Activity negative) it may have on the surrounding engaged in a fun activity that teaches them environment and species. about the impacts of invasive species. Students will be actively engaged in discussion about invasive species. Students should be able to identify at least 2 invasive species and the possible impact that they are having on the environment. Students should also be aware of what the is currently doing

to address these concerns as well as ways they can help. Assessment

REEF.org http://www.paseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/BIOBULLIES-didymo-and-other- invasive-species-lessons.pdf http://www.corevi.org/ References http://geographicconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Booklet_invasive.pdf Invasive Species

An invasive species is a or animal that is not native to a specific location (an ); and has a tendency to spread, which is believed to cause damage to the environment, economy and/or human .

The lionfish ( volitans), is a voracious predator. They consume commercially important (lobster, grouper, snapper, parrotfish), particularly in their juvenile stages. How is this bad for the environment? Lionfish 101

Since lionfish do not have a natural predator in the , they can roam our waters and eat as they please. Their diet consists of at least 50 commercially and ecologically important fish species. Some of these include parrotfish which eat that could smother and kill coral. The picture above to the left shows a lionfish consuming a coral banded shrimp which helps clean fish of parasites. What can we do to help?

Although lionfish may be voracious predators, they have found their way into several restaurants on menus. One way of combating the lionfish invasion has been to promote their removal from reefs and increase their consumption by ; this has been one of the many aims of the Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education Foundation (C.O.R.E.). By educating the community about the lionfish, awareness about this problem can be raised. Lionfish dissection

Under the guidance of a trained professional, you can be engaged in a lionfish dissection and learn about the anatomy of a lionfish. Halophila stipulacea

Thalassia testudinum Another example of an Halophila stipulacea invasive species can be seen with the invasive sea grass species called Halophila stipulacea. Theories Syringodium hypothesize that this sea filliforme grass which is native to the Mediterranean, might have been transported to the Caribbean via ship ballast water. This sea grass might have the potential to Halodule wrightii displace the three of sea grasses found here. UVI researchers are working diligently to better understand it. General impacts (Lionfish)

Because lionfish are able to reproduce quickly and have no known predators in the Caribbean, it is believed that they will turn healthy coral reefs into desolate wastelands.

With their voracious appetite, they can eat all the ecologically important fish that live on coral reefs General impacts (Halophila stipulacea)

Because the invasion of Halophila stipulacea is fairly new, its potential impacts are not known. More research is needed to better understand what consumes it as well as if it grows amongst other seagrasses or by itself.

Its impacts may be positive or negative. Not all invasive species harm the environment or surrounding life. It may provide additional food source for . Only time will tell when more research is conducted. Other invasive species

Genip Small Asian Mongoose These (Melicoccus bijugatus) (Herpestes javanicus) invasive species which are found in the VI threaten what is called .

Coral (Antigonon leptopus) Tan Tan () Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the number of “different” species found within an . In the example below, A has only “1” species present compared to Forest B which has “6” different species. Therefore, Forest B would be more biodiverse containing a larger variety of species.

A B Trophic levels

Tertiary Within each ecosystem, there are what are called food webs which dictate how energy is transferred throughout the system. At the very Secondary consumer bottom are scavengers/filter feeders which consume and decaying material. Primary Primary consumer producers which are photosynthetic consist of mostly . Primary consumers are usually herbivorous and will consume the primary Primary producers producers. As you move further up the web, there are secondary and tertiary consumers which consume organisms below their web. Scavenger/ Species

As a facilitator, you will hand out species cards to each student. They are color coded based on that organisms classification on the food web: Secondary consumer Primary consumer Primary producers Scavenger/Filter feeder Invasive species The demonstration which should be done in an open area begins with the primary producers and the scavengers/filter feeders assembling within the area. One by one other species except invasive species are added to the mix. Organisms that support one another or are food source for another organism try to latch on to each other. After a minute, introduce the invasive species and facilitate discussion amongst students about the effects of invasive species introduction.