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SCIN 130 AMU week 7 forum Local Invasive Species American Military University assistance is available on Domyclass

The Directions:

Please make sure to respond to the post with your original content as early in the week as possible to allow others to read and digest your material, but it is due by Wednesday at 11:55 pm EST. Make sure to give your original post a descriptive title so we all will quickly know your topic. Continue to follow your classmates’ posts for the remainder of the week and post at least 2 follow-up messages to your classmates’ posts. Pay attention to who communicates with you and respond back over the week’s discussion (create conversation!). Your follow up posts can add additional insight to your classmates’ opinions or can challenge their opinions – just make sure to do it respectfully.

Initial posts are due: Wednesday at 11:55 pm EST

Responses are due: Sunday at 11:55 pm EST, but the earlier the better

VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure to check out the grading rubric here.

 

The Introduction:

Non-native, alien, exotic, weedy, and invasive are all terms to describe plants or animals that are introduced into an ecosystem where they are not usually found. So what’s the problem with invasive species? Let’s look at a few examples. Invasive species currently impact half the species listed as Threatened or Endangered in the U.S. One study estimates the total cost of invasive species damage in the U.S. to be over $100 billion each year (Pimentel, Zuniga & Morrison, 2005).  In the Great Lakes region of the United States, invasive species that come from ballast water for ocean vessels are estimated to cost $138 million a year in damage (Rothlisberger, Finnoff, Cooke & Lodge, 2012). In the southeast, a vine called kudzu grows voraciously over everything choking out other plants, wildlife habitat, forestry plots, and even taking out powerlines at the tune of over $500 million (Bettcher, n.d.).  The list of examples and impacts goes on.

 

The Objective:

Understand the top global invasive species, the damage they cause and what we can do to stop them.

 

For This Forum:

You can either use a search engine to find invasive species in your area (search for your state and invasive species) or you can visit: https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/resources/lists.shtml

• Find an invasive species in your area or somewhere you have been – a plant, animal, insect, fungi.
• Include the name of the species in the title of your post – before posting, make sure to check the list so that you do not choose the same species as your classmates!
• Identify your geographic location and research your chosen species
• Answer these questions:
  • What is the common and scientific name (properly formatted)?
  • Where did it originate?
  • How did it get to your chosen location (speculate if you don’t know)?
  • What characteristics of the species makes it successful?
  • What are the effected native species (any plants, animals, etc.)?
  • What efforts are underway to prevent the spread of the species?
  • What is one thing you learned from this research?

 

For more information:

Wildlife Guide: https://www.nwf.org/educational-resources/wildlife-guide/

Feral/Wild Pigs: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5313597.pdf

Invasive Species: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species

 

Resources:

Bettcher, M. (n.d.). The growing problem of kudzu: An exploration of issues and solutions. Retrieved from http://kudzusolutions.web.unc.edu/issues/

Pimental, D., Zuniga, R. & Morrison, D. (2005). Update on the environmental and economic costs associated with alien invasive species in the United States. Ecological Economics. 52(3): 273-288.

Rothlisberger, J.D., Finnoff, D.C., Cooke, R.M. & Lodge, D.M. (2012). Ship-borne nonindigenous species diminish Great Lakes ecosystem services. Ecosystems. 15(3): 462.

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