Unit 3: Biology and Ecology
Invasive Species » Unit 3: Biology and Ecology
Overview
What is the biology behind invasiveness? A species can become invasive when introduced to new ecosystems and/or freed from its natural constraints. Certain qualities can give plants, animals, and insects a competitive edge over other species. Biologists recognize that “weedy” traits might indicate that a plant has the potential to become a pest. Devices and strategies for long-distance travel, such as seeds with propellers or Velcro-like casings, allow plants to invade new areas. Biological characteristics, such as the ability to harness airborne nitrogen or produce millions of seeds, allow plants to dramatically affect the environments they invade. They become “ecosystem engineers,” changing their surroundings in ways that can negatively affect other species.
In addition to invasive species’ own methods of dispersal, globalization has opened the door to rapid transit around the world. A small cluster of insect eggs clinging to the branches of an imported Christmas tree, or a seed packet ordered online can make the trip from Oregon or Central Africa to your front door in record time. What happens when these new organisms arrive in Hawai’i? Sometimes they escape into the wild. To effectively respond to these foreign invaders, scientists must investigate where they came from, how they got here, and how to keep them from spreading.
Length of Entire Unit
10-12 class periods with extended labs.
Subject
Invasive Species Module, Unit 3: Biology and Ecology
Importance
Unit Focus Questions
- How are unknown plants identified?
- What is the protocol for creating a plant voucher?
- How do scientists determine which species are invasive?
- What is the Weed Risk Assessment and how is it used?
- What are ecosystem engineers and how do they work?
- How do invasive organisms travel?
- What environmental factors influence biological invasions?
Enrichment Ideas
- Discuss the “weediness” factor of non-native plants that rely on specialist pollinators. Examples include ficus trees (Ficus macrophyllaor is one species) that require fig wasps and night blooming cereus (Hylocereus undatus), or dragon fruit, that require bats or moths. As long as their pollinators do not arrive in the Islands, these plants are less likely to be invasive. But what happens when the pollinators show up? How should these plants be treated?
Resources for Further Reading
For information about the Hawai’i Weed Risk Assessment: official site: www.hpwra.org
Nitrogen Fixing and Native Hawaiian Plants: Tenbruggencate, Jan. “Nitrogen-fixing plants: Self-feeding as a bad thing,” post on Raising Islands blog: http://raisingislands.blogspot.com/2007/08/self-feeding-as-bad-thing.html
Leianuenue Bornhorst, Heidi. Growing Native Hawaiian Plants: A How-To Guide for the Gardener, Bess Press, 2005.
