Hannah’s family took a trip to Florida. As they drove through several southern states, she saw a vine growing along the roadside. In some places it covered the entire hillside. Her mom told her the vine is called kudzu, and that it was brought to the United States from Asia to control erosion.
In several of the places where the kudzu was very thick, she noticed that the vine appeared to be growing over dead trees. Her mom said, “Yes, there were some beautiful old oak trees there before, but the kudzu has finally managed to kill them all.” Hannah wondered how a vine could kill a tall, healthy tree.
Hannah said, “You said people brought it over from Asia. If it kills trees, why would we ever have wanted to bring it to the United States?”
“Because it stabilizes the soil and does a really good job of preventing soil from being washed away,” Mom replied.
“But it’s killing the trees,” Hannah said.
“I know. Sometimes when people do things, there are consequences that they didn’t intend to happen. If your soil was being washed away, then maybe planting kudzu was a good idea. The problem is that the kudzu didn’t stay where it was planted.”
“So is it considered an invasive species?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Is there anything we can do to control it?”
“I’m not sure. I wonder how big a problem it really is?”
Question 1
1.
Which one of these best explains how a fast-growing vine could cause the death of an otherwise healthy tree?
Question 2
2.
Kudzu has a competitive relationship within the ecosystems where it has spread. Which one of these observations best explains this statement?
Question 3
3.
The preceding article gives the impression that we should not be greatly concerned about kudzu as an invasive species. The map, however, makes it seem as if kudzu is a major problem all across the South.
Part A
Cite specific information from the article that supports a claim that kudzu does not pose a major problem for ecosystems not currently infested with kudzu.
Part B
Explain what additional information would be needed in order to make a decision about whether an effort needs to be made to control kudzu. How would this information help you make a decision?
Question 4
4.
Hannah wondered how people might be able to control kudzu in those places where it is a problem. She read about different methods that have been proposed to eliminate kudzu from infested areas.
Which methods of kudzu control should a community choose in order to minimize unwanted impacts on the environment?
Select the TWO best answers.
Question 5
5.
Which one of these best describes a relationship where both kudzu and another organism benefit?
Question 6
6.
Which one of these best describes a relationship where both kudzu and another organism benefit?
Question 7
7.
Hannah wondered about other nonnative species. She learned that many of them are considered invasive because of their effect on the native ecosystem.
Which one answer best explains how ecosystem interactions could be used to identify a species as invasive?
Question 8
8.
Using the Criteria for Success and Constraints on Implementation from the table, select the TWO best reasons below why government agencies refuse to remove kudzu by spraying oil and burning the plant.
Question 9
9.
Hannah reads the different plans and considers which ones best meet the criteria and constraints for success.
Which one combination of criteria for success and constraints on implementation does the plan that calls for “preventing spreading only” best meet?
Using goats and cattle to eat the vine
Spraying the vines with oil and burning them
Infecting the plant with a disease that kills it
Spraying chemical weed killers on the vines while they are actively growing
Repeatedly mowing down newly sprouted vines until the roots finally die because of the lack of leaves to perform photosynthesis
The interactions with the species are primarily beneficial, with the nonnative species helping to increase the success of the native species.
Solution should last as long as possible before needing to be repeated.
Solution should have lowest cost possible.
Solution should be as attractive as possible.
The solution should have minimal or no impact on the ecosystem, and the solution with significant effects on the ecosystem can’t be considered.