Bighead Carp Changing the Missouri River Ecosystem

• Why are Bighead Carp a concern to a river ecosystem?

• What are the resources found in a river ecosystem?
• How did the Bighead Carp get into the Missouri River?
• How might the presence of Bighead Carp change the river ecosystem?

Students could:

• Evaluate the different evidence (graphs, charts, tables, etc.) that shows the relationship between resource availability and organisms in an ecosystem. 
• Compare and contrast the needs of an organism and resource availability. 
• Use data to make predictions about resource availability and organism populations. 

• US Forest Service | Invasive Species Program: This program provides effective strategies to prevent invasive species.  
• National Park Service | Invasive and Non-Native Species:  This resource from the National Park Service contains a graphic about invasive species and advises what can be done to stop the spread of invasive species.  
• Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation | 5 of Iowa's Most Invasive Species (and How to Get Rid of Them):  This resource from Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation lists Iowa's 5 most invasive plant species and includes pictures, a description, and what each of the plants do when they invade a particular area.  
• PBS LearningMedia: Invasive Plant and Animal Species: The Wildlife Center of Virginia: Learn about invasive plant and animal species, native species, and non-native species with this video.
• Invasive and Exotic Species of North America: This resource is from Invasive.org and contains a field guide for identification of invasive species as well as several additional website links to maps and websites about invasive species in the United States.  

Media produced for Iowa Outdoors by Iowa PBS.

Submitted by Chantel Karns and Olivia Tebben as part of their Iowa STEM Teacher Externship experience at Iowa PBS.