RAFT Assignment: Controlling an Invasive Species
After individually researching the Hemigrapsus sanguineus (Asian Shore Crab), you will consider the different design solutions for protecting the ecosystem from this species. Your goal is to evaluate the benefits and limitations of every available solution.
Role: You are a biologist hired by the town conservation committee.
Audience: Town conservation committee (class)
Format: Prepare a letter for the town conservation committee in favor of a particular solution. The letter must be in the form of a persuasive essay made up of: an introductory paragraph, 3 supporting paragraphs, and a closing paragraph. Paragraphs must be 5-7 sentences long.
Topic: Choose a solution, based on your research and the evidence provided, for controlling a particular invasive species. Why is your solution the best option? Use evidence to explain why the benefits outweigh the limitations.
Hemigrapsus sanguineus (Asian Shore Crab) Resources
www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov
www.issg.org
www.massnrc.org
www.massaudubon.org/Invasive_Species/
www.massnature.com/Plants/Invasives/invasiveplants.htm
https://maccweb.org/resources_inv_eco.html
Invasive Species General Resources
US Forest Service: www.fs.fed.us/pnw/invasives/
NOVA: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/impact-invasive-species.html
Center for Invasive Species Management http://www.weedcenter.org/inv_plant_info/impacts.html
Encyclopedia of Life: http://eol.org/info/460
National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species.aspx
USDA- Aquatic Species: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/economic.shtml
Strategies for Invasive Species Management Resources
Chemicals: Insecticides
CropLife America, Benefits of Pesticides and Crop Protection Chemicals http://www.croplifeamerica.org/crop-protection/benefits
EPA, What are pesticides and how do they work? http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/pesticides/pestwhatrhow.htm
Wikipedia, Health effects of pesticides http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_pesticides
Chemicals: Herbicides
Answers.com, What are the advantages and disadvantages of herbicides on the environment? http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_advantages_and_disadvantages_of_herbicides_on_the_environment
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Controlling purple loosestrife with herbicides http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/purpleloosestrife/control_herbicides.html
Barriers
Ontario, Wildlife and Nature http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Biodiversity/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_068705.html
Great Lakes Commission, New report demonstrates that permanent physical barriers to stop Asian carp at Chicago are feasible http://glc.org/announce/2012-physical-barrier-chicago-feasible/
Control Of Invasive Carp Using Non-Physical Barriers by Kaveh Someah, Ovivo USA,LLC http://mipn.org/MNWIISC%20talks/upload%20folder/Control%20of%20Invasive%20Carp%20Movements%20Sing.pdf
Introduced Predators
New York Times, An Invader Advances in Hawaii http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/an-invader-advances-in-hawaii/
Science Daily, Predicting The Perfect Predator To Control Invasive Species http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080213133316.htm
Physical Removal
U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Management Methods: Physical Methods http://www.fws.gov/invasives/StaffTrainingModule/methods/physical/practice.html
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District, Zebra Mussel Action Plan http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/invasive/pdfs/Zebra0-SWT-ActionPlan.pdf
Non-Chemical Control
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District, Zebra Mussel Action Plan http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/invasive/pdfs/Zebra0-SWT-ActionPlan.pdf
Nature Conservancy, Scuba Divers Provide Non-Chemical Weed Control on Wisconsin Lake http://blog.nature.org/science/2013/11/19/scuba-divers-offer-non-chemical-weed-control-on-wisconsin-lake/
After individually researching the Hemigrapsus sanguineus (Asian Shore Crab), you will consider the different design solutions for protecting the ecosystem from this species. Your goal is to evaluate the benefits and limitations of every available solution.
Role: You are a biologist hired by the town conservation committee.
Audience: Town conservation committee (class)
Format: Prepare a letter for the town conservation committee in favor of a particular solution. The letter must be in the form of a persuasive essay made up of: an introductory paragraph, 3 supporting paragraphs, and a closing paragraph. Paragraphs must be 5-7 sentences long.
Topic: Choose a solution, based on your research and the evidence provided, for controlling a particular invasive species. Why is your solution the best option? Use evidence to explain why the benefits outweigh the limitations.
Hemigrapsus sanguineus (Asian Shore Crab) Resources
www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov
www.issg.org
www.massnrc.org
www.massaudubon.org/Invasive_Species/
www.massnature.com/Plants/Invasives/invasiveplants.htm
https://maccweb.org/resources_inv_eco.html
Invasive Species General Resources
US Forest Service: www.fs.fed.us/pnw/invasives/
NOVA: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/impact-invasive-species.html
Center for Invasive Species Management http://www.weedcenter.org/inv_plant_info/impacts.html
Encyclopedia of Life: http://eol.org/info/460
National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species.aspx
USDA- Aquatic Species: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/economic.shtml
Strategies for Invasive Species Management Resources
Chemicals: Insecticides
CropLife America, Benefits of Pesticides and Crop Protection Chemicals http://www.croplifeamerica.org/crop-protection/benefits
EPA, What are pesticides and how do they work? http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/pesticides/pestwhatrhow.htm
Wikipedia, Health effects of pesticides http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_pesticides
Chemicals: Herbicides
Answers.com, What are the advantages and disadvantages of herbicides on the environment? http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_advantages_and_disadvantages_of_herbicides_on_the_environment
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Controlling purple loosestrife with herbicides http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/purpleloosestrife/control_herbicides.html
Barriers
Ontario, Wildlife and Nature http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Biodiversity/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_068705.html
Great Lakes Commission, New report demonstrates that permanent physical barriers to stop Asian carp at Chicago are feasible http://glc.org/announce/2012-physical-barrier-chicago-feasible/
Control Of Invasive Carp Using Non-Physical Barriers by Kaveh Someah, Ovivo USA,LLC http://mipn.org/MNWIISC%20talks/upload%20folder/Control%20of%20Invasive%20Carp%20Movements%20Sing.pdf
Introduced Predators
New York Times, An Invader Advances in Hawaii http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/an-invader-advances-in-hawaii/
Science Daily, Predicting The Perfect Predator To Control Invasive Species http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080213133316.htm
Physical Removal
U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Management Methods: Physical Methods http://www.fws.gov/invasives/StaffTrainingModule/methods/physical/practice.html
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District, Zebra Mussel Action Plan http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/invasive/pdfs/Zebra0-SWT-ActionPlan.pdf
Non-Chemical Control
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District, Zebra Mussel Action Plan http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/invasive/pdfs/Zebra0-SWT-ActionPlan.pdf
Nature Conservancy, Scuba Divers Provide Non-Chemical Weed Control on Wisconsin Lake http://blog.nature.org/science/2013/11/19/scuba-divers-offer-non-chemical-weed-control-on-wisconsin-lake/