Invasive Species are Bugging Me!

“Waiter, what’s this fly doing in my soup?”“Looks like the backstroke, sir.”

THE BIG QUESTION: Why are invasive species an environmental

problem here in Pennsylvania?

What are INVASIVE SPECIES? Organisms that are brought from another

ecosystem, overpopulate quickly, and cause harm to the environment, human health, or the economy

Why are they a problem? Have no natural predators in their new

ecosystem Crowd out and compete with NATIVE

species for resources (food, water, etc) Cost $138 BILLION in damage per year!

Invasive Species harm humans! The sap of the

GIANT HOGWEED causes painful blistering when exposed to the sun.

Pests Threaten Biodiversity

Don’t be fooled by its pretty looks! This weed is a pest!

They take over and outgrow the native plants.

This is purple loosestrife

Pests Destroy Ecosystems and Cause Disease

These puddles were caused by wild pigs in Hawaii.

They erode the soil and attract mosquitoes that may carry malaria

They Cause Property Damage!

ZEBRA MUSSELS clog drainage and intake pipes

How do they get here? Some get here on purpose:

Used for landscaping Exotic pet that gets abandoned Tribute to Shakespeare!?

Tribute FAIL

100 European starlings were brought to Central Park between 1890-1891 as a tribute to Shakespeare and his works.

Now there are over 200 MILLION across the entire US!

A flock of starlings once flew into a jet plane engine, causing a plane crash, killing 62 people!

How else do they get here? By accident

Aquatic animals get transported via ballast water in cargo ships

Wood-boring insects hide inside wood shipping crates

Seeds ‘hitch-hike” in tire or shoe treads

This diagram explains what ballast water is. Do you see how invasive species can be transported?

Examples of Invasive Species Threatening PA Ecosystems PLANTS

Kudzu Purple loosestrife Giant Hogweed Multi flora Rose

ANIMALS Asian Long-

horned beetle Northern

snakehead Zebra mussel

So what can we do about them?

What is the solution for Invasive Species?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) A SUSTAINABLE way of dealing

with pests that does not harm the environment.

Emphasizes PREVENTION, using harmful chemical pesticides as the last option

IPM “PYRAMID”

PREVENTIONStop pests from getting there in the first place

PHYSICALRemove the pests by hand

PREDATORGet another living thing to kill

or eat it

PESTICIDEUse a chemical or poison to kill it (weed killer, bug spray)

1st choice

Last choice

Is this an invasive species?

DO NOW! Using the IPM pyramid, develop a plan to

get control mice in your home. Write your answer on your summary sheet.

IPM “PYRAMID” for mice

PREVENTION

PHYSICAL

PREDATOR

PESTICIDE

1st choice

Last choice

Now it’s your Turn! Research one invasive species that

threatens PA ecosystems Present your findings to the class using one

of these formats: “Wanted Poster” Powerpoint Google doc Class wiki page entry

What you must include Common name(s) of the invasive species Scientific name, written correctly Written description and/or picture How it got here Why it is invasive/what damage it causes What IPM methods are used to control it