Linda Tucker Serniak Invasion Ecology

Invasive Species Profile Assignment

In this assignment, students will demonstrate their understanding of the invasion process as well as begin to
explore management options for invasive species. In addition, they will gain experience in delivering
presentations to their peers.

This activity supports the following course learning outcomes:

1. Students will be able to explain the stages of the biological invasion process and identify the current
stage of a species.
2. Students will be able to create and critique management strategies for invasive species.
3. Students will be able to compose and deliver oral presentations to peers about ecological topics.

Instructions:

1. Go to the Global Invasive Species Database (http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/) and select a species that interests
you and is found in your local area. Read through the database entry to gain background information on your
species. Check the bibliography of the entry for primary articles on how your species was introduced into its
exotic range and how it has since spread. You may also search for additional articles as needed. In addition,
select a local natural area that you are familiar with where you would want to manage this species. It could be a
park, a state forest, a watershed, etc.

2. Based on your research, identify where your species currently fits in the invasion process on a large scale and
determine when, where, and how it moved through each stage of invasion. Also consider your local area does
your species appear to be in the same stage of invasion?

3. What general type of management action would be appropriate for your natural area eradication,
containment, or asset-based protection?

4. Next, you should search the web for management plans currently being implemented for your species
anywhere in the world. Examples of good sources to check include state and federal agencies, soil and water
conservation districts, watershed councils, and universities. Choose one plan to share and then decide if the
same plan would be a good choice for your local natural area and explain why.

Develop a presentation that is 5 10 minutes in length. Your presentation should address the following points:
Species names (common and scientific)
Brief description of the organism and its habitat
Place of origin and where it is introduced
Current stage of invasion on a large scale
How the species moved through the invasion process, stage by stage
Brief introduction to your natural area and the stage of invasion of species at the local level
What type of management action is appropriate at the local level
Management plan and whether or not it would be appropriate for your natural area

Your presentation can take many forms. Some options include:

Video recording of a presentation (using PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.)
Screen capture of a presentation with narration
Animated video using PowToon or a similar tool
Linda Tucker Serniak Invasion Ecology

Presentations should be uploaded to a sharable platform such as Google Drive, Box, YouTube, etc. and the link
to your presentation should be submitted to your instructor on Canvas by 11:59 pm PST on XX. A list of
references used in the presentation should also be submitted with the link, and should be in the format used by
Biological Invasions (see author instructions for format at
http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/ecology/journal/10530). A rubric is also provided to explain
expectations and grading criteria for this assignment.

On XX, your instructor will provide you with the links to three student presentations. Watch each presentation
and provide peer review by answering the following questions about each presentation:

1. Does the presentation appear to fulfill the requirements of the assignment?

2. Was the explanation of the stages of invasion clear and accurate?
3. Did the suggested management action match what is appropriate for an invasion in the stage mentioned
by the presenter?
4. Was the management plan presented in a clear and understandable manner?
5. What improvements could be made to the presentation?

This assignment is worth 20 points towards your final grade.

Linda Tucker Serniak
3 pts.
Audio and Presentation is delivered with
Visual Quality clear audio and video
3 pts.
Presentation Presentation was within the
Timing specified time of 5 10
minutes
4 pts.
Background Presentation covers both the
Information on common and scientific name
Species of the species. A basic
physical description of the
species and its habitat is
provided. Place of origin and
introduced range is discussed.
6 pts.
Invasion Presentation clearly identifies
Process current stage of invasion on a
large scale as being
introduced, established,
proliferating, or naturalized.
Each stage applicable to the
chosen species is accurately
described and supported by
primary literature.
4 pts.
Invasive Presentation provides a basic
Species in description of the local area,
Local Natural including geographic location,
Area type of habitat, and land use
by humans. Distribution of the
species is described and stage
of invasion at local level is
identified. Management action
appropriate for stage of
invasion is indicated.
4 pts.
Management Presentation describes the
Plan geographic location, type of
habitat, who is involved,
specific control methods used,
and goals for the management
plan. Appropriateness of
management plan for local
natural area is indicated along
with an explanation of why it
is or is not appropriate.
3 pts.
Reference List Reference list is provided and
citations are in the correct
format for Biological
Invasions.
3 pts.
Peer Review Student watched all 3 videos
and appropriately answered
the peer review questions for
each.
Grading Rubric
2 pts.
Presentation is delivered with
either clear audio or video,
but not both
2 pts.
Presentation was too short or
too long, but was within 3
minutes of the required
timing
3 pts.
Presentation covers both the
common and scientific name
of the species. A basic
physical description of the
species or its habitat is
provided, but not both. Place
of origin or introduced range
may be missing.
4 pts.
Presentation identifies
current stage of invasion on a
large scale as being
introduced, established,
proliferating, or naturalized.
Some details are missing
from the description of the
stages of invasion.
3 pts.
Presentation provides a basic
description of the local area,
but may be missing a piece of
information. Distribution of
the species is not well
described, but stage of
invasion at local level is
identified. Management
action appropriate for stage
of invasion in indicated.
3 pts.
Presentation describes the
management plan, but leaves
out an important piece of
information. Appropriateness
of management plan for local
natural area is indicated
along with an explanation of
why it is or is not
appropriate.
2 pts.
Reference list is provided,
but citations contain one or
two errors.
2 pts.
Student did not answer all
questions or did not provide
constructive suggestions for
improvement.
Invasion Ecology
1 pts.
Presentation audio and
video are both poor
1 pts.
Presentation was too
long or too short by over
3 minutes
2 pts.
Presentation covers both
the common and
scientific name of the
species, but lacks
additional background
information on the
species and its habitat.
2 pts.
Presentation does not
identify current stage of
invasion. The stages of
invasion are mentioned
but little or no details are
provided.
2 pts.
Presentation provides
little information about
the local area but
identifies it by name.
Distribution of the
species is not described
and stage of invasion at
local level is not
identified. Management
action is identified, but is
not appropriate.
2 pts.
Presentation does not
adequately describe the
management plan.
Appropriateness of
management plan for
local natural area is
indicated, but no
explanation is provided.
1 pts.
Reference list is
provided, but citations
contain three or more
errors.
1 pts.
Student did not provide
peer review for all 3
videos.
0 pts. Score
Presentation was not
delivered (e.g., only
PowerPoint slides were
submitted)
0 pts.
Presentation was not
delivered (e.g., only
PowerPoint slides were
submitted)
0 pts. Score
Presentation provides
only one name for the
species and lacks any
background information
on the species and its
habitat.
0 pts. Score
Presentation does not
cover the stages of
invasion for the species.
0 pts. Score
Presentation does not
cover a local natural area
and does not identify the
stage of invasion at the
local level. No
management action is
provided.
0 pts. Score
Presentation does not
address a management
plan.
0 pts. Score
No reference list is
provided.
0 pts. Score
No peer reviews were
completed.
Total Score: ___ / 20