Menace to the West

Recommended Invasive Species Resources:

• Adopting a Classroom Animal Pledge Form - a printable pdf of a pledge to never release classroom pets into the wild.
• Adopting a Classroom Animal: Pledge-Form/Care Sheet (also available in Spanish)
• ANSTF Classroom Guidelines for Preventing the Introduction and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) (free download from US Fish & Wildlife Service)
• Aquatic Nuisance Species Project - Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
• "Don't let it loose" poster
• Don't Release a Pest Freezing is Best - This Public Service Announcement about Caulerpa Taxifolia gives a guide on how to properly get rid of an aquarium tank and plants and animals inside. Animated by George Zaleski.
• EEDMapS Species Distribution - current distribution maps of invasive plants, insects, diseases and wildlife.
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) for Natural Resource Management - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southwest Region.
• Nab the Aquatic Invader - Indiana–Illinois Sea Grant
• Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program (NAS) - Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey
• A Regional Approach to Predicting and Managing Aquatic Invasive Species Pathways - Research Project that looks at AIS in the classroom
• River Snorkeling - by Michael Bendixen and Nick Fisher at Oregon Public Broadcasting.
• The Silent Invasion - Oregon Public Broadcasting in partnership with the Oregon Invasive Species Council and The Nature Conservancy. Video by OPB and partners focusing on invasive species in Oregon (56:06; originally aired on April 22, 2008).
• Ways you can prevent invasions
• WISE lesson plans, curricula and identification guides:
  • • Identification guides:
      • Key Aquatic Invasive Species Watch: Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris in the Eastern Pacific (free download)
      • On the Lookout for Aquatic Invasive Species, 2015 edition (purchase online)
      • On the Lookout for Invasive Tunicates: Identification Guide for Early Detection and Response (purchase online)
    • The WISE Blog - Addressing emerging watershed issues through STEM and stewardship.

Additional Resources By Species

Asian Carp

• • • Oregon Clean Marina Program - Oregon State Marine Board
    • Protect Your Waters - Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    • Fact Sheet on Bighead Carp - U.S. Geological Survey
    • Carp Lemonade - By Duane Chapman, a leading scientist studying Asian carp, published in the Missouri Conservationist Magazine (2004).
    • USGS Fact Sheet - Facts About Invasive Bighead and Silver Carps
    • FWS - Columbia River Fact Sheet - Facts about Asian Carp

American Bullfrog

• • • Video: Bullfrogs are (Literally) the Worst Pets - Bullfrogs make terrible pets.
    • Habitattitude - Habitattitude is a site for aquarium hobbyists, backyard pond owners, water gardeners and others who are concerned about aquatic resource conservation.
    • Pet Pathway Toolkit, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council - Information on helping governments, the pet industry and their partners establish programs and policies to prevent the release of pets into an environment where they may become invasive.
    • Save the Frogs - A nonprofit organization dedicated to amphibian conservation.
    • USDA National Agricultural Library - The United States Department of Agriculture has made a bullfrog species profile complete with links to fact sheets collected from other sources, such as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Caulerpa

• • • Australia: “Eradicating and preventing the spread of the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia in NSW.” Gives a long discussion of different control methods.
    • Killer Algae, The True Tale of Biological Invasion By Alexandre Meinesz. 1999. Translated by Daniel Simberloff. The University of Chicago Press, 360 pages.

Chinese Mitten Crab

• • • National Invasive Species Information Center - Species profile of the Chinese mitten crab.
    • U.S. Geological Survey - A list of sources of information about the Chinese mitten crab.

Colonial Tunicates

• • • Marine Biotechnology - Consortium of European agencies with information on bioactive chemicals with potential uses for humans.
    • Sea Squirt DNA Sheds Light on Evolution - U.S. Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute.
    • Sea Squirts, Our Distant Cousins - Website by W. von Egmond and J. Parmentier, published in Micscape Magazine, 1998.
    • Wildscreen Arkive - Underwater video footage of a star sea squirt (no narration).

Crayfish

• • • Red swamp, virile, and native signal crayfish identification - WDFW Fishing Regulations
    • Australia: “Eradicating and preventing the spread of the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia in NSW.” Gives a long discussion of different control methods. Killer Algae, The True Tale of Biological Invasion, by Alexandre Meinesz. 1999. Translated by Daniel Simberloff. The University of Chicago Press, 360 pages.

Hydrilla and brazilian Elodea

• • • Balciunas, J. K., et al. 2002. Ch. Hydrilla. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. USDA Forest Service Publication FHTET-20020-04, p.413.
    • Basiouny, F. M., W. T. Haller, and L. A. Garrard. 1978. Survival of Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) Plants and Propagules after Removal from the Aquatic Habitat. Weed Science 26(5):502–504.
    • Chadwell, T. B., and A. M. Engelhardt. 2008. Effects of pre-existing submerged vegetation and propagule pressure on the invasion success of Hydrilla verticillata. Journal of Applied Ecology 45:515–523.
    • Doyle, R., M. Grodowitz, M. Smart, and C. Owens. 2007. Separate and interactive effects of competition and herbivory on the growth, expansion, and tuber formation of Hydilla verticillata. Biological Control 41:327–338.
    • Global Invasive Species Database. 2006. Egeria densa (Aquatic Plant). IUCN Species Survival Commission.
    • Haynes, R. R. 1988. Reproductive Biology of Selected Aquatic Plants. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 75(3):805–810.
    • Madeira, P. T., C. C. Jacono, and T. K. Van. 2000. Monitoring hydrilla using two RAPD procedures and the nonindigenous aquatic species database. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 28:33–40.
    • Mony, C., T. J. Koschnick, W. T. Haller, and S. Muller. 2007. Competition between two invasive Hydrocharitaceae (Hydrilla verticillata [L.f.] [Royle] and Egeria densa [Planch]) as influenced by sediment fertility and season. Aquatic Botany 86:236–242.
    • Van, T. K., G. S. Wheeler, and T. D. Center. 1999. Competition between Hydrilla verticillata and Vallisneria americana as influenced by soil fertility. Aquatic Botany 62:225–233.
    • Washington Department of Water Quality. 2005. Pipe and Lucerne Lakes 2004 Hydrilla Eradication Project. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. Washington State Department of Ecology. Annual Report.

Knotweed

• • • Comprehensive information and photos about knotweed from King County in Washington state.
    • Students investigate the “crimes” of Aquatic Invasive Species on the “Nab the Aquatic Invader!” website - Japanese knotweed is one of the criminals students can investigate.
    • Network Rail has been ordered to pay £15,000 compensation for damage caused to homes by the invasive weed spreading from its land.

New Zealand Mudsnail

• • • USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Fact Sheet
    • US Fish and Wildlife - Fact Sheet on NZ Mudsnails - For Kids!
    • Aquatic Invaders - Youtube video on New Zealand mudsnails

Nutria

• • • Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Nutria - Visit this site and get ideas for creative nutria recipes such as chili, sausage, and gumbo!
    • Hi! I’m a nutria! - Support for the viewpoint that nutria are a naturalized species and should be left alone. New York Times Opinion Editorial Video (by Drew Christie, March 19, 2012).
    • "Evaluating simplistic methods to understand current distributions and forecast distribution changes under climate change scenarios: an example with coypu (Myocastor coypus)" NeoBiota, doi: 10.3897/neobiota.32.8884. Mark.

Red-eared Slider

• • • California Department of Fish and Wildlife Fact Sheet - Learn about the invasive red-eared slider and its impacts in California.
    • California Turtles Range Maps - This site provides the ranges of native, invasive and sea turtles of California.
    • Invasive Species 101 - Created by Oregon Sea Grant Extension WISE Program, this site is for those interested in invasive species education and awareness in their local watershed.
    • Invasive Species 101: Tony the Turtle - Features original story and illustrations about "Tony," a western pond turtle that witnesses the degradation of his pond by nutria, bullfrogs and red-eared sliders. Features original student art work.
    • Oregon Sea Grant: Watershed and Invasive Species Education - Oregon Sea Grant's educational tools for teachers and students.
    • Oregon Zoo, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Native Turtles of Oregon - These organizations have made identification cards for Oregon’s native and nonnative turtle species.
    • The Silent Invasion - Oregon Public Broadcasting feature, “The Silent Invasion,” describes Oregon’s battle against invasive species.
    • USGS - A list of sources of information about the red-eared slider throughout the United States.
    • Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - Current information on Washington’s conservation topics including the western pond turtle recovery plan.
    • Washington Invasive Species Council - Learn more about the invasive species of Washington and report sightings on this website.

Zebra and Quagga Mussels

• • • Aquatic Invasive Species Eradication and Control California Sea Grant - This site is intended to assist lake managers and collaborating groups in preparing and implementing eradication and control tactics for aquatic invasive species.
    • Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force - Protect Your Waters and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Information on aquatic hitchhikers, prevention, control.
    • Invasive Species of Oregon - Salem Statesman Journal - Ten-month series investigating invasive species. Includes various articles and videos, 2007–2014. Search archive for several articles.
    • Nuisance Species Project - Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Aquatic Invasive Species.
    • Oregon State Marine Board - Oregon Clean Marina Program - Part of OSMB’s environmental programs, site provides extensive information on aquatic invasive hitchhikers on Oregon’s waterways, permits, and boat maintenance and inspections.
    • Quagga and Zebra Mussels - California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
    • School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
    • Zebra/Quagga Mussels - 100th Meridian Initiative - Informational brief on western quagga mussels.
    • Quagga & Zebra Mussels Invade California Waters - California Department of Fish and Game. Video by CDFG, available on scvtv. com (43:43; originally aired on January 30, 2012).
    • Quagga Mussels Feeding—Speeded Up 10x - University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Selective filtering in action: Zebra mussel expelling algaas pseudofeces (1:19; uploaded June 11, 2009).
    • The Silent Invasion - Oregon Public Broadcasting in partnership with the Oregon Invasive Species Council and The Nature Conservancy Video by OPB and partners focusing on invasive species in Oregon (56:06; originally aired on April 22, 2008).
    • ODFW boat inspectors decontaminate pontoon boat carrying invasive quagga mussels - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
    • Bill to keep mussels out of lakes - Denis Cuff, April 11, 2008. Contra Costa Times.
    • Crustacean-sniffing dogs fight invaders for Fish and Game April 3, 2008. SF Gate.
    • Formidable invasive species won’t be easy to keep out of Great Lakes - Dan Egan, July 26, 2014. Journal Sentinal, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Second of four parts of series, A Watershed Moment, on aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes region.
    • Zebra Mussels Make New Rules - Patrick Kendall, September 10, 1996. Chicago Tribune. Describes food chain impacts and provides an example of how to write and share science with a more general audience.
    • Zeke “the Prowler” Zebra Mussel - Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant - Nonindigenous species site for kids.
    • Online slide show about quagga mussels - The Great Lakes WATER Institute.
    • Zebra Mussel Mania Traveling Trunk Adventure - Minnesota Sea Grant - Learn all about zebra mussels and other invasive species with this award-winning science kit and curriculum, for ages 8–14.