The Threat of Invasive Species

Provided by: TED-Ed |Published on: May 31, 2022

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Synopsis

This TED-Ed video discusses the impact invasive species can have on ecosystems using the examples of Kudzu vines in the southern United States, Burmese pythons in Florida, and European rabbits in Australia.
Students will learn about coevolution and limiting factors as important components of healthy and balanced ecosystems.

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Subjects: Biology

Authors: TED-Ed

Region: North America, USA - South, United States, Global, Oceania, Florida

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

The video uses engaging animations to hook students.
There are comprehension questions, links to additional resources, and discussion boards to accompany the video.

Prerequisites

Students can create a free account to save their answers to the questions and participate in the discussion boards.
Teachers can create a free account to view student work and customize the lesson.

Differentiation & Implementation

The video ends with a provocative question that asks if humans are an invasive species. This can be used to spur a class discussion on the degradation of the environment and biodiversity caused by humans.
Cross-curricular connections can be made with civics classes by focusing on how governments control the transport of plants and animals and the effectiveness of these laws and policies.
In science classes, students can research an invasive species in their region and create an action plan to mitigate the damage.
Climate change can lead to the spread of invasive species. Students can explore this idea more using this video about Atlantic fish spreading into the Arctic waters.
This video that highlights the many ways humans negatively impact ecosystems is another helpful related resource.

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The Threat of Invasive Species

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources