Invasive species

1- write discussion post according to the instructions attached below, please review all attached files.

2- kindly convert the “Biomes_POGIL” pdf document into a word document and answer all the questions, save completed file back as pdf. Thank you.

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Link to find invasive species: https://www.invasivespeciesva.org/

EXAMPLE OF DISCUSSION

Scientific Name: Trapa bispinosa

Common Name: Two-horned trapa

Kingdom: Plantae

When and How it was Introduced: The two-horned trapa was first introduced in Pohick Bay, within

the Potomac River near Lorton, Virginia in 2014. At first, many believed that it was the first

colony Trapa natans. After a DNA analysis was done, it was found that this was a different species that

is native to China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea: Trapa bispinosa var. inumaii. Unfortunately, it’s not

known how the two-horned trapa was introduced to Virginia freshwaters. There’s speculation that they

were intentionally introduced as an ornamental plant for horticultural use. It could have also been an

accidental introduction where it was stuck on wildlife like the Canada goose, machinery, clothing, or in

shipping crates.

Environmental Effect: The two-horned trapa is identifiable as it has deltoid leaves that are green on top

and red underneath. They produce a pink flower that then seeds until frost. The fruits produced are 2

inch nuts with two sharp spines. This plant prefers freshwater habitats like lakes, ponds, and slow-

moving streams. This poses a threat to Virginia’s freshwater ecosystems. Dense maps are formed that

can entirely choke or cover the surface of these bodies of water. Their continuous growth creates

competition with native submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and other species of plants. In the winter

time, their roots and leaves decay which causes reduced dissolved oxygen that leads to a weakened

https://www.invasivespeciesva.org/

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ecosystem. Additionally, the waters that contain a large amount of two-horned trapa makes boating,

fishing, and other recreational activities difficult. The horned fruits are sharp, posing additional harmful

risks as they can easily pierce through clothing and skin. Private property owners may have to pay large

sums of money to manage this plant and decreased enjoyment of their property in general.

Combating Environmental Effects:

It’s important to have early detection of these invasive species to have better chances for eradication or

suppression. State and federal agencies, non- profit organizations, informed individuals, and volunteer

groups are working together to eradicate this invasive species. As soon as the two-horned trapa is

detected and reported, removal or treatment will begin. The trapa plants can be removed by hand and

composted in a dry area. All the plants must be harvested before seed-set to stop fertile seeds from

sprouting the next year. Continuous research is being done into the effectiveness of aquatic herbicide

against the two-horned trapa. All these efforts must be continued in the following years to ensure

eradication. As more trapa plants are being removed, the cost, and volume of harvests will decrease each

year. In Virginia, the two-horned trapa is in the process of being listed and regulated as a Tier 2 Noxious

Weed.

Works Cited

Sweany, Ag. “Two-horned Trapa.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, 2 Apr. 2024,

storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/05396b12d9384eb1a92f2bd66a19da64.

Two-Horned Trapa (Trapa Bispinosa) (U.S. National Park Service). www.nps.gov/articles/000/two-

horned-trapa-trapa-

bispinosa.htm#:~:text=Two%2Dhorned%20trapa%20(Trapa%20bispinosa)%20is%20an%20annual,near

%20Lorton%2C%20VA%20in%202014%20(Chorak%20et.&text=As%20of%202024%2C%20there%2

0are%20130%20observations,which%20are%20in%20Maryland%20and%20Northern%20Virginia

Links to an external site..

Two-horned Trapa. www.invasivespeciesva.org/species/two-horned-trapa.

http://www.nps.gov/articles/000/two-horned-trapa-trapa-bispinosa.htm#:~:text=Two%2Dhorned%20trapa%20(Trapa%20bispinosa)%20is%20an%20annual,near%20Lorton%2C%20VA%20in%202014%20(Chorak%20et.&text=As%20of%202024%2C%20there%20are%20130%20observations,which%20are%20in%20Maryland%20and%20Northern%20Virginia

Biomes of North America

Biomes of North America
How do temperature and precipitation affect the distribution of plants and animals?

Why?
Have you ever wondered why no polar bears are in California, or cacti in Alaska? The amount of precipi-
tation and the temperature varies tremendously across North America, resulting in well-defined commu-
nity boundaries or biomes that are suitable for some populations but not for others.

Model 1 – Biomes of North America
Average Precipitation and Temperature

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1. According to Model 1, which two biomes have the same amount of rainfall?

2. Which biome in Model 1 has the most rainfall?

3. Which biome has the highest average temperature?

4. Which two biomes have nearly the same average temperature?

2 POGIL™ Activities for High School Biology

5. Refer to Model 1.

a. Name the three different types of forests shown in Model 1.

b. What is another name for the coniferous forest?

6. Refer to Model 1.

a. What characteristic differentiates the tundra and the desert?

b. Why might the tundra also be known as the “frozen desert”?

7. Consider the biomes in Model 1 with moderate temperatures.

a. What characteristic differentiates the grasslands and temperate deciduous forests?

b. What would be the most likely reason for the grasslands having grasses rather than trees as
their dominant plant species?

8. Describe the relationship between temperature, rainfall, and the type of forest.

Biomes of North America

Model 2 – Plant and Animal Species in North American Biomes

Trend in number of species

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Equator

Temperate

Arctic

Subarctic

Tropical

Reindeer moss, lichen,
heather, dwarf willow,
reindeer, caribou, polar bear

Pine, cedar, spruce, heather, wolf, mountain
lion, grizzly bear, black bear, bald eagle,
moose, squirrel

Oak, maple, hickory, sassafras, deer, squirrel, raccoon,
skunk, rabbit, owl, fox, wolf, black bear, carpet moss
Big blue stem, rye, wheat, oat, creosote bush, bison,
coyote, prairie dog, grasshopper, fox, hawk, sparrow,
rattlesnake
Prickly pear, creosote bush, yucca,
coyote, rattlesnake, roadrunner,
armadillo, tarantula

Mahogany, coconut palm, coffee, cocoa, orchid, fern, moss, lemon, orange, pineapple,
mangrove, pitcher plant, parrot, hornbill, monkey, jaguar, boa constrictor, toucan,
tapir, sloth, dart frog, centipede, crocodile, bat, anaconda, anteater, longhorn beetle,
giant walking stick, bird of paradise

9. The six bars in Model 2 represent the six North American biomes introduced in Model 1, and
include a list of some plants and animals typically found in each biome.

a. What information is represented by the x-axis in Model 2?

b. What information is represented by the y-axis in Model 2?

c. How might the y-axis information in Model 2 be related to one of the data axes in Model 1?

4 POGIL™ Activities for High School Biology

10. Identify each of the six biomes found in North America on the map below. Average rainfall data
is given to help you choose between biomes in the same latitudinal region.

Zone Rainfall (cm)
1 25
2 75
3 25
4 60
5 150
6 >225

1. 3. 5.

2. 4. 6.

11. Use information from Model 1 and the map in Question 10 to label the six biomes in the chart
in Model 2.

12. Refer to Model 2.

a. Which latitudinal region contains the fewest number of species?

b. List the biome(s) found in this latitudinal region.

c. Which latitudinal region contains the largest number of species?

d. List the biome(s) found in this latitudinal region.

Biomes of North America 5

13. Biodiversity is a term used to describe the variety of plant and animal species in a given biome.
An ecosystem or biome that supports a large variety of species is very biodiverse.

a. What biome in North America has the highest biodiversity?

b. What characteristics of this biome enable it to support such a high level of biodiversity?

c. What biome in North America has the lowest biodiversity?

d. What characteristics of this biome make it diffi cult for a high level of biodiversity to develop?

14. What is the general trend of the biodiversity in biomes as the latitude moves from the arctic
region towards the equator?

6 POGIL™ Activities for High School Biology

Extension Questions
15. The grasslands biome is considered to be the “bread basket” of our country because it is a hub

of agricultural activities, particularly grain farming (wheat, corn, rye, oats, etc.). Much of the
U.S. animal farming and meat production also occurs here, since the animals are often grain-fed.
Recent climate change models suggest that as the planet warms, rainfall in this region will
drop and temperatures will rise. Use the information from this activity to answer the following
questions.

a. What characteristics of the grasslands biome make it a critical source of food for the U.S. and
other countries?

b. If rainfall in the grasslands biome does decrease as the climate change model suggests, to what
type of biome would the grasslands biome convert?

c. Assume that the climate change model accurately predicts the change to this biome over the
next 50 years. What results would this have on our country’s ability to support its people?

16. One of today’s most serious environmental problems is the dramatic loss of the tropical rainforest
through deforestation. Explain, using the information from this activity and outside sources, how
deforestation is resulting in devastating consequences for our environment.

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