Title: Invasives page 2
Course: Great Lakes Ecology

To learn about invasive species in the Great Lakes, click here.

Read this web page about invasive species. Pay close attention to the definition of invasive species, how they come to the Great Lakes and what you can do to help.

Once finished reading this web page, go to the GLANSIS database. This is a database of all the invasive species found throughout the Great Lakes Basin. You are able to search different invasive species and see where they have been found in the Great Lakes.

Choose a species from each cateogory to investigate.

Crustaceans: Cercopagis pengoi, Rusty Crayfish, Spiny Water Flea
Fish: Common Carp, Goby, Ruffe, Sea Lamprey, White Perch
Mollusks: Zebra Mussel
Plants: Curly-leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Watermilfoil, Flowering Rush, Purple Loosestrife

Insert the common name and then click on the scientific name to view the distribution map and species information. Pay close attention to the origin of the species, means of introduction, status and impact.

Creative Writing Assignment
Imagine yourself as a native species in the Great Lakes. Describe your home. What does it look like? What do you eat? What do you do everyday?
Suddenly a new species comes to town. This species eats the same food as you and may like to live in the same environment as you? What do you do? Where did this species come from and how did it get there? Do you have any adaptation that can help you? Are you able to eat another food? If you can, what else eats that food? Will you survive or not?

For inspiration, view this presentation of Great Lakes scenery.