Transcript Aliens Among Us

Aliens Among Us
Invasive Species and
Their Influence On
Our World
A lesson from the
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Aliens Among Us
Good Alien………
………Bad Alien
Just like in “Men in Black”
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Some aliens add beauty to the world…
Courtesy Chesapeake Bay Program
Mute Swan
Cygnus olar
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Some aliens add beauty to the world…
But they may
create many problems
for their habitat.
Courtesy Chesapeake Bay Program
Mute Swan
Cygnus olar
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Some aliens add beauty to the world…
But they may
create many problems
for their habitat.
Courtesy Chesapeake Bay Program
Mute Swan
Cygnus olar
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These swans feed
on beds of submerged
aquatic vegetation
(SAV’s),
which are vital to
the ecosystem of
the Chesapeake Bay.
Some aliens do not cause many problems
or
are worth any trouble they may cause:
“Eat More Chicken”
Kansas Assoc. of Wheat Growers
www.wheatonline.com
Photo courtesy www.usda.gov
NO WAY!
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One of the more invasive of the invasive species,
and one that has received lots of publicity is the
Zebra Mussel
Dreissena polymorpha
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They first appeared
in the U.S. in the
Great Lakes and
have since moved
into many other
waterways.
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National Atlas of the United States
U. S. Geological Survey
http://nationalatlas.gov/zmussels1.html
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National Atlas of the United States
U. S. Geological Survey
Mathematics & Science Center
National Atlas of the United States
U. S. Geological Survey
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National Atlas of the United States
U. S. Geological Survey
Mathematics & Science Center
National Atlas of the United States
U. S. Geological Survey
Mathematics & Science Center
National Atlas of the United States
U. S. Geological Survey
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National Atlas of the United States
U. S. Geological Survey
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National Atlas of the United States
U. S. Geological Survey
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And now they’ve been found in Virginia!
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Millbrook Quarry
Courtesy of USGS
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So What’s the Big Deal?
Why are Zebra Mussels so bad?
Charles Ramcharan
Wisconsin Sea Grant
1. Their SMALL size!
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Craig Czarnecki, Michigan Sea Grant
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2. Their fast rate of
reproduction
Notice the baby zebras
attached to the adults
David Dennis
College of Biological Sciences, Ohio State University
3. Easily transported
by careless boaters
Ladd Johnson
NOAA/Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
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4. Harms other organisms
Fred Synder, Ohio Sea Grant
Clam and Crayfish
covered with Zebras
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
GLSGN Exotic Species Library
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How Do Aliens Get Here?
By Land
By Sea
By Air
Or….. the number one answer is:
People
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How Do Aliens Get Here?
Many of our aquatic aliens arrive in
ballast water
Courtesy MSC
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How Do Aliens Get Here?
Courtesy MSC
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Courtesy MSC
Can you identify an alien by looking at it?
Martha Vogel
Martha Vogel
NO!
Courtesy MSC
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Can you tell whether an alien is good or bad
just by looking at it?
Courtesy Chesapeake Bay Program
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NO!
Research it:
1. The biology of the organism
2. The native habitat
3. The method of reproduction
4. Its natural enemies
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Signs that an alien might be an invasive:
•Fast growing and rapid maturity
•High reproductive rate – produces lots of seeds or offspring
•Can out-compete native species
•No natural controls
•Is harmful to other organisms
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End of Section One
Now you will work together to research an alien.
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