Unit 2: Invasive Species Impacts: Why Care?
Invasive Species » Unit 2: Invasive Species Impacts: Why Care?
Overview
What’s the big deal about invasive species? What damage could a few plants possibly cause? Non-native, alien plants and animals may seem harmless at first but their impact can be long lasting and severe. In extreme cases, they may be capable of driving a native species to extinction. When an endemic Hawaiian species goes extinct, it’s not just a loss for Hawaiʻi; it’s a loss for the entire planet. Invasive species affect more than just native Hawaiian ecosystems; they can also disrupt cultural practices, damage key industries such as tourism and agriculture, and pose threats to public health and safety. In this unit, students look at invasive species through the lens of each of these concerns.
Length of Entire Unit
6 class periods.
Subject
Cultural connections and ethnobotany. Watersheds and hydrology. Economics. Public heath and safety.
Importance
Invasive species negatively affect every aspect of life in the Hawaiian Islands from cultural practices to watersheds, the economy, and public health and safety.
Unit Focus Questions
- 1) In what ways do invasive species affect the natural environment of Maui? The culture? The economy? Public health?
- 2) How have invasive species changed Maui over time?
Enrichment Ideas
- Create a poster, flyer, or brochure explaining how invasive species affect a) watersheds, b) cultural resources, c) public health or, d) the economy. Have it reviewed for accuracy by an official at the Hawaii Department of Land and Resources www.hawaii.gov/dlnr or Maui Invasive Species Committee: (808) 573-6472 www.mauiinvasive.org
Resources for Further Reading
Lahaina: Waves of Change, film by Eddie Kamae and Myrna Kamae, Hawaiʻi Legacy Foundation, 2008. (DVD included in this curriculum or available for loan by contacting the Maui Invasive Species Committee).
Cuddihy and Stone, Alteration of Native Hawaiian Vegetation. University of Hawaiʻi Press, 1990.
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) website about coqui frogs: www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/coqui/index.asp
For questions about rat lungworm, call the Maui District Health Office at 984-8213 or CTAHR Maui Cooperative Extension Office, at 244-3242, ext. 232.
