Invasive Species Defined Stem Day 1

Last updated almost 5 years ago

4 questions

Introduction:

More and more stories are being reported by newspapers and television news shows about pets being let go in the wild and the issues that this can cause. Recently, a giant goldfish was found in Lake Tahoe. Where did it come from? Most likely someone dumped it into the lake from an aquarium. Situations like this can disturb the ecosystem, and in some cases, cause harm that cannot be fixed.

As you watch the following video look for evidence to answer these questions. You can record your evidences in questions 1-3 below:

How do invasive species affect ecosystems?
What can engineers do to protect ecosystems from invasive species?
How might sharing negative consequences of invasive species change human behavior, such as releasing pets into the wild?

How do invasive species affect ecosystems?

What can engineers do to protect ecosystems from invasive species?

How might sharing negative consequences of invasive species change human behavior, such as releasing pets into the wild?

Big Idea
People acting individually and/or as groups influence the environment.
Aquatic ecosystems consist of diverse living and non-living components that change over time and among geographic areas.

Essential Questions
How do humans influence the environment?
How do changes within living and non-living components of aquatic systems affect the balance within and between them?

In your breakout rooms discuss what the Essential Question's are asking.

Individually read through Goal, Role, Audience and Situation (3 Min)

G.R.A.S.
Goal
Your goal is to educate people about the long-term dangers of releasing pets into the wild. You have been asked to develop a national awareness campaign to be used by pet stores around the country. This campaign should help people understand how introducing a new species into an ecosystem can change an ecosystem forever.

Role
You are an ecologist who has been asked by an organization affiliated with pet stores across the country to develop a public awareness campaign related to invasive species. This campaign should highlight various invasive species that have become key species in a new ecosystem. You will want to share the impact these new species had on other components of the ecosystem and any species that were eliminated from the original ecosystem.

Audience
Your audience will be pet store owners across the country who will be attending a national conference. These people are looking for creative ideas to educate their customers about the dangers of introducing invasive species into an ecosystem.

Situation
More and more stories are being reported by newspapers and television news shows about pets being let go in the wild and the issues that this can cause. Recently, a giant goldfish was found in Lake Tahoe. Where did it come from? Most likely someone dumped it into the lake from an aquarium. Situations like this can disturb the ecosystem, and in some cases, cause harm that cannot be fixed. Other stories are constantly in the news about other animals that were once pets. These stories include everything from alligators to snakes. People need to understand the impact these creatures can have on an ecosystem and the living components within.

In your breakout rooms, discuss with classmates what is the purpose and expectation of this activity. (3 min)