Exploration 3
Invasive Species

Students will explore invasive species that are threatening the ecosystems of the Wadden Sea. They will trace the journey of one invasive species from its origin to the Wadden Sea.

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Guiding Question

What effects might invasive species be having on the national park’s ecosystem?

Invasive species, also known as alien species, are found all over the world. In the Wadden Sea, invasive species are prevalent due to the close proximity to major commercial ports in Northern Germany. Ships from all around the world carry invasive species with them either in the ballast water, which is released and refilled at ports, on the hull of ships, or on motors of smaller boats. However, invasive species have also been introduced through aquaculture (Pacific oysters). Globalization and aquaculture have significantly increased dispersion of alien species throughout the Wadden Sea. Invasive species destroy habitats, disrupting and causing havoc in ecosystems.

Read Exploration 3: Invasive Species from the Companion Reader below, and watch the Invasive Species 101 video by National Geographic on YouTube.

Exploration 3: Invasive Species(PDF, 28 KB)

Start Activity 1: Invasive Species using the worksheet below.
Although the national park is a protected region, it is surrounded by ports visited by ships from across the globe. An unintended consequence of global shipping is the transport of species from one location to another. Often alien species are able to thrive in a new location because of reduced predation and outcompeting native species for food.

Students will:
View the “The Blue Mussel and Its Neighbors in the Continually Submerged Area of the Wadden Sea” infographics from the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, and the “Invasive Species—the New Species in the Wadden Sea” infographic from the Alfred-Wegener-Institut. Have them answer the following question:
How have introduced species changed the Wadden Sea ecosystem?

Formative Task
Students should choose one of the invasive species from one of the infographics and conduct research on it. They should trace the journey of the species from its native habitat to the Wattenmeer, tell the story of the species, including its origin, journey, adaptation, and effect on the Wadden Sea ecosystem. Their story may be text, infographic, graphic novel, video, or slideshow with narration. Ask them to cite their sources of information.

Activity 1: Invasive Species(PDF, 27 KB)

Use the food web created in Exploration 2 - Activity 3 to predict the effect of invasive species on survival of migratory shorebirds.

Scientists from the Alfred-Wegener-Institut have been studying seagrass in the Schleswig-Holstein Wattenmeer for several decades. Learn more about their research at https://www.awi.de/en/focus/north-sea/seegrass-in-the-wadden-sea.html.

Challenge students to research and identify invasive species in their community. Students should organize an Invasive Species Community Clean-Up Day, where they ask members of the community to help rid areas of invasive species.