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Invasive Species Curriculum1
Charles Jacoby, Nanette Holland, Debbi Berger2Invasive species represent a critical issue for society. Recent estimates show that such species cost the United States nearly $120 billion per year and put significant pressure on about 42% of threatened and endangered species (Pimentel, Zuniga and Morrison, 2005). The costs and problems associated with invasive species impact almost all aspects of our society, including agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, fishing, boating, diving, the environment, and natural habitats.
Management of invasive species is increasing around the world. In the United States, management falls to multiple agencies with complex, overlapping, and confusing responsibilities. However, common threads run through strategic plans at the national, regional, and state levels. Threads include:
Management agencies agree that success in dealing with invasive species relies on education and outreach. This Invasive Species Curriculum helps fill this need by providing important information about invasive species through a dozen classroom activities, glossary, list of web sites and supporting materials designed for middle school use. Each activity addresses specific Sunshine State Standards and Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) benchmarks for grades 6-8. Individual activities are available as separate documents through the links provided with their descriptions.
- leadership, coordination, and cooperation
- research and information management
- prevention
- early detection and rapid response
- effective management
- education and outreach
We hope students and teachers use the curriculum to improve their awareness and understanding of these issues so that they can make better decisions and help prevent plant and animal invasions. Please use these activities, let us know what you think, and check for updates by going to:
Tampa Bay Estuary Program at http://www.tbep.org
University of Florida IFAS Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) at http://edis.ifas.ufl.eduThose who use this curriculum may want to obtain a copy of A Primer on Invasive Species in Coastal and Marine Waters, SGEB 60 (a copy is available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SG075 ), which provides important background information on invasive species, especially invasive species in saltwater systems. The primer:
- defines key terms;
- explains the history of introduced and invasive species;
- provides examples of the impacts of invasive species;
- discusses the potential harm caused by introduced species in saltwater systems;
- provides examples of how species are introduced into coastal and marine systems;
- explains how introduced species may spread through coastal and marine systems;
- discusses the challenges associated with preventing introductions and invasions;
- outlines management of invasive species by groups in the United States; and
- provides useful references and sources of further information and assistance.
Classroom Curriculum
The 12 classroom activities and corresponding Sunshine State Standards and Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) benchmarks are:A Dichotomous What?
This activity illustrates the use and value of dichotomous keys (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA13200.pdf ).SC.D.1.3.3 CS
SC.D.1.3.4 AA
SC.F.1.3.1 AA
SC.F.1.3.7 CS
SC.F.2.3.3 CS
SC.G.1.3.2 CS
SC.G.1.3.4 AA
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
By Land, By Sea, By Air
This activity illustrates the variety of ways that invasive species can be introduced (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA13300.pdf ).SC.D.2.3.2 AA
SC.F.1.3.7 CS
SC.G.2.3.4 AA
SC.G.2.3.3 CS
SC.H.2.2.1 CS
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
Classroom Takeover!
This activity illustrates characteristics that allow invasive species to spread and impacts that invasive species may cause (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA13400.pdf ).SC.F.1.2.2 CS
SC.F.1.2.3 AA
SC.F.2.2.1 CS
SC.G.1.2.2 AA
SC.G.1.2.7 CS
SC.G.2.2.2 CS
SC.G.2.2.3 CS
SC.H.1.2.3 AA
SC.H.1.2.5 CS
SC.H.2.2.1 CS
SC.H.3.2.4 AA
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
How Many Are Really Out There!?!?
This activity promotes an understanding of the distribution of invasive species (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA13500.pdf ).SC.D.1.3.3 CS
SC.D.1.3.4 AA
SC.F.1.3.1 AA
SC.F.2.3.3 CS
SC.F.1.3.7 CS
SC.G.1.3.2 CS
SC.G.1.3.4 AA
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?
This activity promotes an understanding of how species are introduced and where they will become established (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA13600.pdf ).SC.D.1.3.3 CS
SC.D.1.3.4 AA
SC.F.1.3.1 AA
SC.F.1.3.7 CS
SC.F.2.3.3 CS
SC.G.1.3.2 CS
SC.G.1.3.4 AA
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
Invaders Galore!
This activity illustrates factors that influence increases and decreases in numbers of invaders (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA13700.pdf ).SC.D.1.3.3 CS
SC.D.1.3.4 AA
SC.F.1.3.1 AA
SC.F.1.3.7 CS
SC.F.2.3.3 CS
SC.G.1.3.2 CS
SC.G.1.3.4 AA
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
Lionfish...Could They Invade Our Waters?!?!
This activity discusses lionfish, Pterois spp., as a potential invader of Florida (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA13800.pdf ).SC.D.1.3.3 CS
SC.D.2.3.2 AA
SC.F.2.3.4 CS
SC.G.1.3.2 CS
SC.G.2.3.3 CS
SC.H.1.3.1 AA
SC.H.2.3.1 CS
AA= annually assessed
CS = content sampled
Made For Eating!
This activity illustrates how the shape, form and function of fish influence their ecology (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA13900.pdf ).SC.D.2.3.2 AA
SC.F.1.3.7 CS
SC.G.2.3.3 CS
SC.G.2.3.4 AA
SC.H.2.2.1 CS
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
One Mean Weed!
This activity illustrates how characteristics of the autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata, influence its ability to invade habitats (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA14000.pdf ).SC.D.2.3.2 AA
SC.F.1.3.7 CS
SC.G.2.3.3 CS
SC.G.2.3.4 AA
SC.H.2.2.1 CS
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
The Race For Space!
This activity illustrates how reproductive rates, especially that of the green mussel, Perna viridis, influence invasions (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA14100.pdf ).SC.D.1.3.3 CS
SC.D.1.3.4 AA
SC.F.1.3.1 AA
SC.F.1.3.7 CS
SC.F.2.3.3 CS
SC.G.1.3.2 CS
SC.G.1.3.4 AA
AA=annually assessed
CS = content sampled
Ssssneaky, Pesssky, Ssspeciesss!
This activity illustrates how the brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis, has invaded Guam (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA14200.pdf ).SC.D.1.3.3 CS
SC.D.2.3.2 AA
SC.F.2.3.4 CS
SC.G.1.3.2 CS
SC.G.2.3.3 CS
SC.H.1.3.1 AA
SC.H.2.3.1 CS
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
The Green Machine
This activity illustrates how scientific methods could be used to sample an invasive green alga, Caulerpa brachypus (single activity available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FA/FA14300.pdf ).SC.D.2.3.2 AA
SC.F.1.3.7 CS
SC.G.2.3.4 AA
SC.G.2.3.3 CS
SC.H.2.2.1 CS
AA = annually assessed
CS = content sampled
Reference
Pimentel, D., R. Zuniga, and D. Morrison. 2005. Update on the environmental and economic costs associated with alien-invasive species in the United States. Ecological Economics 52: 273-288.
Footnotes
1. This document is CIR1496, an Invasive Species Curriculum, and it is reprinted by permission of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Florida Aquarium. Original EDIS publication date: January, 2007. It was supported by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, the Florida Aquarium, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of the University of Florida, and the National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce, under NOAA Grant No. NA 16RG-2195.2. Charles Jacoby, Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611; Nanette Holland, Public Outreach Coordinator, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, 100 8th Avenue S.E., MS I-1 / NEP, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; Debbi Berger, Vice President of Education, The Florida Aquarium, Inc., 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida, 33602
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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
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