SPREADING THE WORD ON SPREAD PREVENTION - DETECTIVE BARRIER (SUPER SLEUTH)

When a plant or animal is introduced to a new habitat, sometimes it survives and becomes part of that new habitat. If it then starts to “take over” and pushes out other plants and animals, it is called an invasive species. What can we do about it? The answers depend on the species, the place, and the people, money, and equipment that are available to try and get rid of it. For example, invasive weeds in lakes might be removed using chemicals that kill plants; using machines, rakes or hands to pull the weeds out; or by lowering the water level in the lake to freeze the plant roots in winter. All of these choices need careful thought to decide if they might harm other plants and animals living in the lake or the people that use the lake.

One of the best ways to stop invasive species is to prevent them from moving around in the first place. This is called ‘spread prevention.’ One way to do this is to teach people about invasive species--how accidental introductions happen and the role people play in preventing the spread. It is easier and cheaper to prevent new invasions than to try and get rid of plants and animals once they arrive.

How might you go about educating your classmates, teachers, parents, and other people in your community about invasive species? Here are some ideas.

• Poster in school, library, community center
• Brochure, flier, or pamphlet
• Presentation to class or community group
• Write and present a skit or a song to class or community group
• Morning announcements (a “thought for the day” or “did you know?” kind of thing)
• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper

What kind of information would be most useful? How are you going to convince busy people they should care about invasive species?

Your educational mission (should you choose to accept it) is to create a flier that will convince people to take action against aquatic invasive species. You have a choice of two different fliers to produce.

1. Develop a flier that convinces people that they should show up at a local lake on a Saturday morning in June to help pull rosettes of water chestnuts out of the water before they have a chance to drop their seeds into the water. (Review rap sheet and other resources on Walter “the Seedy” Water Chestnut.)

OR

2. Develop a flier that convinces people with home aquariums that they should never release fish or plants from their aquarium into local lake or coastal waters. (Review rap sheet and other resources on either Norm “the Chomper” Northern Snakehead or Leo “the Venom” Lionfish.)

Once your flier is complete, you can print it out for sharing with your family or classmates. Your teacher should also submit your flier to Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant so it can be posted on the “Nab the Aquatic Invader!” website. Please email the document in pdf format to iisg@illinois.edu. Note in the subject line: “Stewardship project for Nab the Aquatic Invader site.”