Activities

1.  Nonnative species are also known as
   1. Endemic species
   2. Invasive species
   3. Endangered species
   4. Both A & B
      
      
2. Deforestation can cause
   1. Loss of species
   2. Increase soil erosion
   3. An increase in greenhouse gasses
   4. All of the above

3. Northern Snakehead fish, originally found in China and Russia, was first discover in Maryland in 2002. Since then, several fish have been caught in Pennsylvania. Endemic species compete with this fish for the same habitat and food resources. Describe a solution for reducing the population of the Northern Snakehead fish.
   
   
4. In Pennsylvania, there are several invasive species. Some of the more common species are the black and brown rat, the zebra mussels, Japanese beetle, and the Brown Marmorated Stinkbug. List three different ways invasive species can spread.

5. Population sizes can be limited by the depletion of an ecosystem’s resources. It can also be impacted by the addition of nutrients such as fertilizer that are add to farmlands and family gardens. Identify an issue with the overuse of fertilizer then justify a possible solution.
   
   
6. Choose a natural disaster and explain the impact it would have on the populations of an ecosystem.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. B.
   
   
2. D.
   
   
3. Acceptable responses might include, but not be limited to:
   One possible solution to reduce the Northern Snakehead fish population would be for people to catch the fish and eat them or grind them up for garden fertilizer.

4. Acceptable responses might include, but not be limited to:
   • Overseas shipping
   • Through wood products, like shipping crates
   • Exotic pets
   • Overseas travelers (The invasive species finds its way into a traveler’s bags.)
   • Ornamental plants

5. Acceptable responses might include, but not be limited to:
   Agriculture runoff can limit a population’s size. If a farmer or gardener adds too much fertilizer to his farmlands the excess may end up in nearby bodies of water.  These nutrients disrupt the both fresh and salt water ecosystems. In a fresh water ecosystem the nutrients cause huge algae blooms which reduce the levels of dissolved oxygen and can lead to the death of the organism that make the aquatic ecosystem their home.  A possible solution is for farmers and gardeners to limit or reduce the amount of fertilizer that they use. If a farmer or gardener carefully applies the fertilizer then it will give the crops the boost they need without impacting the environment. It would also be helpful to keep fields and gardens as far away from water sources as possible.

6. Acceptable responses might include, but not be limited to:
   • Oil spill – Destroys land and aquatic ecosystems; harms and kills animals and plant life
   • Forest fire – Destroys forest ecosystem, kills animals and plant life