1. Group 1 TIP Susan Cosgrove Tim Hale Robin McLean
Invasive Species
Group 1
TIP
Susan Cosgrove
Tim Hale
Robin McLean

2. What is an invasive species?
Exotic Species are species that occur outside of their natural ranges because of human activity (1).
An exotic species becomes invasive when it becomes established in its new environment and out competes native species (1).
Does anyone have an example of a invasive species?
Allow students to share their thoughts on invasive species. Correct any inaccuracies. If possible, list on the board as students mention them and before you correct inaccuracies, ask their peers if they think any should be removed from the list.

3. Types of invasive species
Animals
Plants
Pathogens

4. What is the problem with an invasive species?
Can cause an imbalance in the natural environment (1)..
Out compete native organisms
Change abiotic factors
Threaten agriculture
Endanger the health of plants and animals
Give an example of each imbalance.
Out compete-
Change abiotic-
Agriculture-
Endanger Health-

5. How do invasive species travel?
Humans
Wind
Water

6. Humans- Can simply carry a organism.
Some invasives can stow away on a ship or plane.
Wind- Seeds can be carried great distances.
Water- Organisms can be transported on natural “rafts”

7. Examples of Invasive Species:
Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus)
Lionfish (Pterois spp.)

8. Zebra Mussel(2) Originally from the Caspian and Black Sea.
Introduced to the Great Lakes in 1988.
Cause many problems:
Can harm other fresh water mussels
Can block intake pipes for power plants
Can cause problems for recreational activities.

9. Zebra mussels Covering a Crayfish (3b)
Zebra Mussel
showing bysall threads(3a)

10. Giant Hogweed(2) Native to Eurasia
Introduced to the United States in 1917.
Originally used as an ornamental plant
It out competes other plants for resources.
It produces a toxic sap.

11. Giant Hogweed Giant Hogweed Video (4) Hogweed (4)
Giant Hogweed Video (4)

12. Asian Tiger Mosquito(2)
Originally from Asia.
Introduced to Hawaii in the late 1800’s.
Continental United States in 1985.
Can be a vector for disease.
Ex. West Nile Virus

13. Asian Tiger Mosquito (5)

14. Lionfish(2) Native to the Pacific Ocean
Introduced to the water around the United States in 1992 through the aquarium trade.
Preys on native species.
Has poisonous spines.

15. Lionfish (6) Lionfish video (6)
Lionfish video (6)

16. What can you do?
Obey the rules. Do not transport plants and animals when you travel.
Never release pets into the wild.
Learn about invasive species in your area for identification.
Use native plants.

17. Report invasive species in your area.

18. Invasive species watch in New Jersey:
The brown marmorated stink bug (7)
Halyomorpha halys

19. Invasive species watch in Virginia The emerald ash borer (8)
Agrilus planipennis
adult
larvae

20. Invasive Species watch in Maryland The northern snakehead (9)
Channa argus

21. References
1. Primack R Essentials of Conservation Biology. fourth Ed. pp
2. USDA National Agriculture Library. National Invasive species Information
Center.
3. a. b. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
9. a. b.