What happens when the environment changes...

How do plants and animals impact the environment?

How can changes in the environment affect a plant or animal’s ability to survive?

What are scientists doing? Click Here to NASA article on Glow in the Dark Plants Aboard the ISS

and watch the video, or use the URL at the bottom.

Photo from NASA.gov

Go to: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/06may_arabidopsis/

How can plants change an environment?

Non-native species: An animal or plant that did not live and grow in a habitat originally. It was brought into an area intentionally or by accident.

Nonnative Plants in Florida

Aquatic plants attach to boat surfaces or get tangled in propeller blades, making their way to new lakes or waterways.

The Everglades provides a habitat where invasive plants often flourish. Picture from

NPS.gov

The Air PotatoOriginally from Asia, the air potato came to Florida from Africa in 1905.

The plant grows into dense, lush canopies, limiting light to the trees below. As a result, the air potato reduces the ability for native trees to thrive and reproduce.

In 1999, the Florida Department of Agriculture placed the air potato on the Noxious Weed List and is actively working to reduce its impact on local habitats.

Floating Water Hyacinth

In 1880, floating water hyacinths were brought from South America to the St. Johns River.

Researchers note that the plant first invaded near Palatka, Florida.

The plant grew quickly and soon made traveling by steamboat “almost impossible.” (www.myfwc.com)

Photo From the USDA

Melaleuca TreeJust like mosquitos

bother humans, the melaleuca tree is a pest to the Everglades.

The trees grow quickly and bunch together tightly.

They take over the local habitat and eliminate almost all other vegetation – impacting the homes and food for other insects and animals.

Nonnative Animals - Burmese Python

From Asia and the Indies, this large snake has been in Florida since the 1980s.

Growing up to 26 feet in length, it constricts the life out of its prey and is quickly moving to the top of the Everglades food chain. Other native Florida animals find their food supply being eaten up, or become prey themselves to the python!

The Cuban Tree Frog

This tree frog came to Florida in 1931 through packing materials. It has invaded the local habitats, preying on native tree frogs.

They are now common throughout Florida.

How do animals and plants affect the environment of other living things?

Can you give some examples? Are you ready to learn more?

Great places to start: Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/264

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission: http://www.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/

START1: Preserving our coastal waters: http://start1.org/

The National Ocean Service (red tide): http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/redtide.html

The red tide and Florida Manatees: http://www.livescience.com/27807-red-tide-manatees.html

The Sea Turtle Conservancy: http://conserveturtles.org/about.php

Save the Manatee Club: http://www.savethemanatee.org/action.htm

Protecting the Ocean by National Geographic: http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/protect/

Protecting the Everglades by the Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/florida/placesweprotect/everglades.xml

More great places:Ocean conservation: http://ocean.si.edu/conservation

Invasive species: http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-news/5-invasive-species-you-should-know

Impact of artificial light: http://www2a.biglobe.ne.jp/~wakaba/local03e.htm

How to stop using plastic: http://www.oprah.com/blogs/Me-vs-Plastic

The great pacific garbage patch: http://www.oprah.com/world/Ocean-Pollution-Fabien-Cousteaus-Warning-to-the-World

Plastic Paradise Movie: http://vimeo.com/42143924

TED Talk: The Great Pacific Plastic Trash Island: http://youtu.be/en4XzfR0FE8

Parasites make caterpillar glow and other impacts to animal behavior: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/worm-parasite-glow-red/

Glow-in-the-dark creatures: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/bioluminescent-creatures-gallery/?pid=3490

Glow shark: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/11/glowing-lantern-shark/

Words to Knowbased on www.wordcentral.com

Native: naturally lives and grows in an area

Invasive: tending to spread and invade

Endangered: to bring into danger

Extinct: no longer living

Habitat: an area where an organism naturally or normally lives and grows

Environment: the area and forces that surround and influence a plant or animal’s ability to survive

Permission to use photos...

Air potato vine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/soulsurvivor08/

Red glow: http://science1.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2009/28may_redglow/

Water hyacinth: United States Department of Agriculture

The melaleuca tree: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/264

The gator and python: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gator_and_Python.jpg

The Cuban tree frog: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tree_frog_Fern_Forest_2.jpg