Ecosystems and Non-Native Species

During this assessment, students will read three sources related to the impacts of non-native species on ecosystems.

• Text 1: “Are All Invasive Species Bad?” by Carrie Arnold; Available at http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/08/31/are-all-invasive-speci...
• Text 2: “Earthworms: Contain Those Crawlers!” by Andy Holdsworth, Cindy Hale, and Lee Frelich; Available at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/earthworms/index...
• Text 3: “Alien Species Reconsidered: Finding a Value in Non-Natives” by Carl Zimmer; Available at http://e360.yale.edu/feature/alien_species_reconsidered_finding_a_value_...

Then, students will write an essay that develops an argument in response to this scientific question: What effect do non-native (invasive) species have on the environment?