Explore Curriculum Connection guides, which are written to accompany each issue of Coastal Heritage,
a quarterly publication of the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.Coastal Heritage, Spring 2007 issue: Knocking Back Biological Invaders.
Invasion Alert! Are invasive Species creeping into your backyard? Focus Questions:
- How do species “invade” environments? What can I do to help the environment?
Use the Curriculum Connection to address these SC Curriculum Standards:
3rd Grade
Habitats and Adaptations, “…understand
structures, characteristics, and adaptations of organisms that allow
them to function and survive within their habitats.”
4th Grade
Organisms and Their Environments, “…understand the characteristics and patterns of behavior that allow organisms to survive in their distinct environments.”
(5th Grade)
5th Grade
Ecosystems: Terrestrial and Aquatic, “…understand relationships among biotic and abiotic factors within terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.”
5th Grade
Ecology: The Biotic and Abiotic Environment, “…understand how organisms interact with and respond to the biotic and abiotic components of their environment.”
High School
Biology, “…understand the inter-relationships among organisms and the biotic and abiotic components of their environment”
Lesson Links…
Exploring Invasive Species
1. Making Observations and Developing Inferences.
a. Alien Invasion! NOAA’s National Ocean Service (Appropriate for 9-12 grade levels.)
Explore inter-relationships among the living organisms, physical
features, bio-chemical processes, natural phenomena, and human
activities in coastal ecological communities. This activity uses
research, monitoring and assessments to better understand invasive
species and the factors that affect them. http://www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/classroom/lessons/06_coastal_alien.pdf
2. Identify adaptations of species and make predictions about their impact.
a. Introduce an Alien! Louisiana Sea Grant Program (Appropriate for middle grades.) Students
identify the adaptations that help species to survive in different
ecosystems. They predict the impact of an exotic species on the food
web and project it’s success in a particular environment. http://www.lamer.lsu.edu/topics/pdfs/ExoticSpecies.pdf
3. Evaluating the risk of invasive species.
a. The Rapa River Watch. Virginia Sea Grant (Appropriate for 9-12th grades.)
Students explore the likelihood of the rapa whelk, an invasive species
in VA, to invade and thrive in four fictitious habitats. Students
interpret data sets, graphs and maps to conduct the risk assessment. http://www.vims.edu/mollusc/pdffiles/RapaRiverWatch.pdf
b. Where Will the Zebra Mussel Invade? Virginia Sea Grant Program (Appropriate for 8-12th grades.)
Students
work collaboratively to analyze scientific data on zebra mussels and
water quality. They develop predictions about the likelihood of the
mussels becoming introduced and established into new aquatic locations.
http://www.vims.edu/chessie/zmtxt.html
c. Where in the World? Oregon and Washington Sea Grant Programs
(Appropriate for 6-12th grades.) This activity uses geography skills to
map routes of invasive species from native habitats. http://www.iisgcp.org/edk-12/eatm/world.pdf
4. Solving the “invasive” problem.
a. What Would You Do…? Oregon and Washington Sea Grant Programs (Appropriate for 6-12th grades.) Students employ role-playing to examine real-life trade-offs involved in managing natural resources. http://www.iisgcp.org/edk-12/eatm/what.pdf
Literature Connections:
- “Oh No! Hannah's Swamp is Changing” Written by Marilyn Barrett-O'Leary. This children's book is appropriate for elementary grade levels.
It focuses on the impacts of exotic species on the environment by
addressing non-indigenous species, the effects that they have on our
environment, and what can be done to mitigate their effects are
included. The book contains a poster and several activities for young
hands to do. http://www.lamer.lsu.edu/classroom/nis/pdfs/OrderForm.pdf
- “Invasion Ecology”
by Marianne E. Krasny and the Environmental Inquiry Team addresses the
issue of how exotic species devastate environments. This teacher’s
guide provides background, methods and research ideas for middle and
secondary students of ecology. http://www2.nsta.org/recommends/product.asp?id=13683
Informal Assessment Ideas:
A NEW POSTER!!!
Don't miss your FREE Flowing Oceans poster made available by COSEE-SE and SEACOOS. Email Carolyn Robinson at Carolyn.Robinson@scseagrant.org or call 843.953.2078 for your copy. Spread the word to your colleagues!
Coastal Heritage
is a quarterly publication of the South Carolina Sea Grant. Each issue
focuses on coastal resources relevant to the lives of South Carolina
citizens.
You can access the latest Web version at: http://www.scseagrant.org/Sections/?cid=82. Subscriptions to Coastal Heritage are free upon request; simply send an email to Annette.Dunmeyer@scseagrant.org or call 843.953.2078. 
For further information call (843) 953-2078
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