reply to 2 student initial posts, science homework help

ORIGINAL ASSIGNMENT: Select one species from the interactive image above or from the text list that has not been selected already by another classmate (check what has been posted already). Research your chosen species and answer the following questions:

• What is the common and scientific name of your organisms?
• Where are the organisms originally found? How did this species become invasive?
• What type and how much damage does the species cause?
• What characteristics about the species make them successful invasive species?
• What efforts are underway to prevent the spread and/or eradicate the species?
• In your opinion, what is the future of this species and the ecosystems?

STUDENT 1 (Anthony):

The Killer Bees

The killer bees are one of the most dangerous invasive species between Europe and Africa. They are a danger to human, plants, animal and the ecosystem, that is what make killer bees qualified for an aggressive species.

The common name of this organism is the Killer Bees, in which their scientific name is Apis mellifera. This species of bees can found in Brazil but originally was Africanized between Europe and Africa. They become invasive in “1957 when Sao Paulo accidentally released 26 Tasmanian queen bees that who went to a launch an agricultural calamity, a horror – movie franchise and a whole new level of melissophobia. The queen mated with the native European honeybees to create the so – called killer bees or Africanized bees – a particularly aggressive species” (content.time.com).

Because of the immigration of the killer bees, this has made them life threatening to, human, animals, and plants. Killer bee can become an epidemic for people who are allergic to stings, danger to animals that get caught in a swarm and damaging to plants during the lack of pollination. Researchers show that the killer bees have killed human and animals in whichever country they migrate to.

Also, the killer bees are productive at been an invasive species, because “Africanized honey bee swarms have been known to stage coups where they invaded European honey hives, killed the European queen and installed their leader” (content.time.com). This species has instilled fear in human since they have come about, even in today’s date people are still in fear of this species.

As an effort to stop the spread of killer bee done by the Utah County Beekeepers, they are doing their best to manage beehives around the world, especially those that are kept on a farm by beekeepers. Managing hives would be the first step to preventing colonies from becoming affected or Africanized. Secondly, beekeepers have been mixing the killer bee with the regular honey bee to dilute the aggression in the killer bees. This will aid in help to eradicate the killer bee or make them less attracted to areas where people are mostly populated. Utah beekeepers are also educating the public about the necessity of reporting feral nests, along with beekeeper, regulatory, and the public safety agency (www.utahcountrykeepers.org). This will help to eliminate swarms, promote safety, and stop colony from Africanized bees.

For the future of the of this species, I understand that this species of bees are mostly dangerous, but what can we do to stop the aggression of this species? In many cases, the public must stay away from their nesting area, and beekeepers have to keep them away from populated area. I think the future of this species will continue to live on for a long time and I also do not believe they will completely eradicate from our ecosystem.

References

Africanized Honey bees in the US. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2017, fromhttp://www.utahcountybeekeepers.org/africanized_ho…

CISR. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2017, from http://cisr.ucr.edu/africanized_honey_bee.html

Webley, K. (2010, February 02). Top 10 Invasive Species. Retrieved March 13, 2017, fromhttp://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/art…

STUDENT 2 (Jessica):

What is the common and scientific name of your organisms?

Wavyleaf basketgrass (Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. Undulatifolius)

Where are the organisms originally found?

This organism southern Europe and Southeast Asia, and it was found in Baltimore County, Maryland in 1996. It is unclear how it was first introduced to the United States however, one speculation is that it was brought unintended through boots, or waved baskets.

How did this species become invasive?

This organism is shade tolerant and does not tolerate sunny environments. It can completely cover the forest floor, providing competition against native forest and interior plant species.

What type and how much damage does the species cause?

With the decrease in plant diversity in the invaded habitat this organism breaks the natural balance in the forest floor. Specific organisms eat, and pollinate specific plants and the habitat also provides shelter for these organisms. This specie provides very little wildlife value since it not native to the habitat, organisms would not or cannot eat it. This organism forms a carpet on the forest floor it shades out small plants some animals could eat. Providing no room for seedling trees to sprout. Less animals can find food, and with no new trees coming up, the adult trees cannot reproduce (Piedmont Environmental Council).

What characteristics about the species make them successful invasive species?

This organism is an imposter off the Japanese stiltgrass, Arthraxon, or native Deer Tongue and it often mistaken by one of the two. As it is unknown to the community. This plant leaves will die during winter months but the plant itself survives. It re-emerges during spring time. It seeds long-germination season and mobility makes it a fast-growing invasive species.

What efforts are underway to prevent the spread and/or eradicate the species? In your opinion, what is the future of this species and the ecosystems?

People residing in the state of Maryland and the commonwealth of Virginia have been informed about this specie. The public has been advised not to purchase, or plant basketgrass. To avoid going to infested areas to prevent unintentional seed dispersal.

References

Home. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2017, from https://www.pecva.org/land-conservation/managing-your-land/to-remove-invasive-species/149-wavyleaf-basketgrass-in-virginia/what-is-wavyleaf-basketgrass/602-section-3-why-is-this-plant-bad

Wavyleaf Basketgrass (Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius). (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2017, from https://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/ophiu.htm