Invasive Species WorkshopPacific Science Center9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

Crayfish Invaders

• Understand how live animals and plants used in science instructional materials may have negative impact on native species

• Identify connections between schools and invasive species issues

• Clarify what teachers need to understand and believe to modify their behaviors

• Plan opportunities collaboratively to modify behaviors to minimize negative impacts

• Establish support for the leadership role of the resource materials manager

www.washingtoninvasivespecies.weebly.com

Science Kits

WA State LASER Washington State Science Kit Center Survey: Living Materials Distribution and Communication

Survey Responses• 9 new Science Kit Centers 2013, 15 Science Kit

Centers 2011 • 2013: Total of 24 science Kit Centers (63%) provided

details

Most Centers Provide:

• Crayfish - Sp• Goldfish - Sp• Guppies - Sp• Milkweed Bugs - MH• Night Crawlers - MH• Crickets - Sp• Darkling Beetles• Gammarus• Isopods• Land Snails - Local Sp• Mealworms • Pill Bugs - Sp• Red Worms - Sp• Sow bugs - MH• Duckweed - Genus• Elodea – Species - Sp• Butterfly Larvae – Species - Sp

< 50% Centers also provide:

• Bess Beetles• Cloudfish• Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches• Millipedes• Silkworm Eggs• Tadpoles - Species• Zophobas Beetle• Wax Worms• Cabomba

Some centers also provide:Ants, walking stick bugs, paramecia, euglena and

amoeba

Sp – species namedMH – Mountain Home Biological Sourced

Your Help Needed to Identify Species !!!

Most Centers Provide:• Unlisted species – which must not be

released into the environment

Check website for listed aquatic species:http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=220-12-090 WAC 220-12-090: Classification – Nonnative aquatic animal species

Species disposal and prevention guidelines available in:http://www.habitattitude.net/

< 50% Centers also provide:

• Cabomba– Quarantine Listed by WA Department of Agriculture

Thank You for Your Help to Identify Species !!!

Cabomba is an ornamental freshwater aquatic plant used to oxygenate fish tanks.

AquaScientific name: CabombaRank: GenusHigher classification: CabombaceaeLower classifications: Cabomba furcata, Cabomba caroliniana

Kit Center Propagation

Goldfish (1 center)Guppies (1 center)Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (3 centers)Night Crawlers (1 centerPlatys (1 center)Darkling Beetle (1 center)Land Snails (2 centers)

Mealworms (2 centers)Pill Bugs (2 centers)Pond Snails (1 center)Red Worms (2 centers)Sow Bugs (1 center)Elodea (1 center)

Millipedes: 1 center unsuccessful

Science Kits

WA State LASER Kit Center Survey Sept 2013:

Handling & Proper Disposal Info:• Instructions enclosed on proper care and disposal• Information provided through professional

development & kit training• Information posted on website• Information provided to district science leaders &

each teacher using materials

Science Kits

WA State LASER Kit Center Survey Sept 2013: Your needs:

Up-to-date proper disposal techniques Specific details on each critter Tips on propagation Searchable data base that provided care, disposal,

alternative local/native critters Contracts for students & parents to sign upon adopting

materials.

Problem: Invasive Species released from

schools

Inputs Releases

Science Suppliers

Science Kit Staff

Individual Teacher

School

Teacher

Student

Environment

Disposal Issues:

• Lack of knowledge

• Emotional• Convenience

Supplier issues:

• Inconsistent compliance

• Lack of specific information

Ordering issues:

• Lack of knowledge

• Habit• Requirement of

materials (authentic or assumed)

Inputs

Changing Behaviors

Washington Invasive Species CouncilWISE: WA Invasive Species Education http://www.wise.wa.gov

Bureau of Land Management

Invasives: Plants on the Move http://www.weedinvasion.org/

PBLU & Pacific Education InstituteSchoolyard Habitat Projecthttp://www.pblu.org/projects/schoolyard-habitat-project

Schoolyard Biodiversity Investigation Educator Guide http://www.fishwildlife.org/files/ConEd-Schoolyard-Biodiversity-Guide.pdf

Other Invasive Species Resourceshttp://www.westsoundgreenstem.net/invasive-species.html

OSPI Resources for CrayfishCrayfish Permit (PDF) | Notices for posting 5.5 x 8.5Crayfish Care and Handling 3.2 x 8 (PDF)Observing and Collecting Crayfish (PDF)Crayfish InvasionInvasive crayfish from the east have been spotted for the 1st time west of the Rockies, in a river in Eastern Oregon and a stream in Corvallis. They were shipped to elementary schools for biology classes and then released where they don’t belong by well meaning children or their teachers.

Additional Crayfish Resourceshttp://www.westsoundgreenstem.net/crayfish.html