Identifying
Invasive Species in
Our Community
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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What is a species anyways ?
• 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
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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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Labelling and Categorizing Species
• To define and identify
species, they have been
categorized in Canada as:
– Endangered
– Threatened
– Protected
– Native
– Invasive
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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
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.
Number of Number Number
Emerald
of Trees of
Ash Borers on site
Damaged
Present
/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
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Site B 78
700
480
?
?
?
Site C 90
1000
600
?
?
?
Site D 32
450
201
?
?
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Your Task
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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?
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•
•
•
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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?
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