The Good, The Bad and the Non-Native Species

Introduction

There are several ways to group species in an ecosystem. We can group them by similarities in features, their behavior, their benefits or their value. One system of grouping used is for looking at one possible result of human activities that can potentially impact biodiversity in an ecosystem.

This webquest is designed to help you gain meaningful understanding about the following group of species: native, non-native and invasive.

Task

At the end of this activity you should be able to demonstrate ability to do the following:

  1. Differentiate between native species, invasive species, and exotic species.

  2. Identify and describe examples of native species, invasive species, and exotic species.

  3. Discuss how invasive species affects an ecosystem.

To accomplish this, you will  be visiting a variety of websites to learn and hopefully master the concepts related to native, non-native, and invasive species. To synthesize the information you will get from the websites, you will be answering some guide questions. 

After exploring the different suggested websites, the end goal is to produce a brochure that contain the summary of what you have learned from the process.

 

Process

Click the suggested weblink for each section and answer the guide questions as you explore each sites.

Open a Word Doc. Copy and paste the questions, then type your responses on the document. Do not forget to include your name and title each section of your work.

A. The Good Native Ones

http://www.audubon.org/content/why-native-plants-matter

Guide Questions:

1. What are native plants?

2. List and describe 5 benefits of native plants.

3. Click the hyperlink Native Plants. Watch the video Plants for Birds. What was video about?

4. Click the hyperlink Handy Database. Enter your email address and zipcode to search for examples of native plants in your area. Identify an example of native species for each types of plants.

 

B. The Bad Invasive Ones

https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species.aspx

Guide Questions:

1. Why are invasive species considered as one of the leading threats to native wildlife?

2, What makes a species invasive?

3. How do invasive species spread?

4. Why do invasive species pose such a threat?

5. What are examples of direct and indirect threats of invasive species?

6. List at least 3 examples of invasive species.

7. What can you do to help curb the spread of invasive species.

 

 

C. The Non-native Species

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/invasive-noxious-plants.htm

1. What is an exotic species?

2. Give an example of an exotic species?

3. What is the difference between exotic and invasive species? 

4. Are exotic always classified as invasive as well?

 

 

 

Evaluation

Now is the time to create a brochure that will show how much you have learned from this process. Your work should summarize all major concepts related to native, non-native, and invasive species. The brochure should include a balance of text and graphics (pictures/drawings). Include a section for the references you used in completing your brochure. Below is the rubric that will be used in grading your work.

CATEGORY

4

3

2

1

Content ­ Accuracy

All facts in the brochure are accurate.

90% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.

­80% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.

Fewer than 80% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.

Graphics/Pictures

Graphics go well with the text and there is a good mix of text and graphics.

Graphics go well with the text, but there are so many that they distract from the text.

Graphics go well with the text, but there are too few and the brochure seems \"text­ heavy\".

Graphics do not go with the accompanying text or appear to be randomly chosen.

Attractiveness & Organization

The brochure has exceptionally attractive formatting and well­organized information.

The brochure has attractive formatting and well­organized information.

The brochure has well­organized information.

The brochure\'s formatting and organization of material are confusing to the reader.

Sources

Careful and accurate records are kept to document the source of 95­100% of the facts and graphics in the brochure.

Careful and accurate records are kept to document the source of 94­85% of the facts and graphics in the brochure.

Careful and accurate records are kept to document the source of 84­75% of the facts and graphics in the brochure.

Sources are not documented accurately or are not kept on many facts and graphics.

Conclusion

Respond to the following question:

  1. How are native species, invasive species, and exotic species different from each other?

  2. What are examples of native species, invasive species, and exotic species?

  3. How do invasive species affects an ecosystem?

Credits

Information used in this webquest are from the following websites:

www.audubon.org

www.nwf.org

www.gardeningknowhow.com

The rubric was generated from:

rubistar.4teachers.org