Invasive species

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/invasive-species

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the ecological impact metrics?Measured by changes in species richness, abundance, community composition, and ecosystem processes
2. How do invasive species get to new places?They are often carried by humans through shipping, planes, or trade. Once there, they survive, grow, and spread to new areas.
3. Why can invasive species be so dangerous to other animals and plants?They can eat or outcompete native species, spread disease, and change the habitat, making it hard for local life to survive.

Biogeography: The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.
Phenotypic Plasticity: The ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to environmental changes.
Ecosystem Services: The benefits that humans derive from natural ecosystems, such as clean air and water.