Q You are required to post your initial answers by WEDNESDAY and your follow-up comments on the postings of your classmates are due on SUNDAY at midnight. Please be sure that your comments to peers are substantive (see the Grading Rubric below). You should have a minimum of two postings for each thread and you will need to answer any questions I might ask you. Make good use of the information in your textbook as well any resources you find online! Don't forget to correctly cite any source you use. Points will be deducted for incorrectly cited references, lack of references and missed deadlines! The following rubric will be used to score your discussion postings. There are 10 pts possible on each Discussion topic: Points Criteria 9-10 (Excellent) • Initial posting went beyond a basic response and provided a critical examination of the issue and/or demonstrated critical thinking. • Follow-up response added new insight to the discussions and promoted ongoing dialogue. • No errors in grammar or spelling 6-8 (Good) • Initial response conveyed the basic information and showed good content knowledge, but needed to expand on the reasoning and logic. • Follow-up response would have benefited from incorporation of critical analysis and insight. • Few errors in grammar or spelling with meaning very clear 4-5 (Fair) • Discussion addressed the main points but lacks explanation or elaboration. • Follow-up response provided minimal information and need significant improvement. • Many errors in grammar or spelling making posting unclear. 0-3 (Poor) • Initial response was vague, irrelevant or off-topic and/or was posted late or not all. • Follow-up response was missing. • Posting has so many errors in grammar and spelling that topic is not answered. Discussion Topic Topic #1 Invasive or Alien Species Invasive or alien species have decimated natural ecosystems and cost us untold millions of dollars in environmental damage. 1. Define what constitutes an invasive or alien species. 2. Why, in general, do invasive species pose such a serious problem for natural ecosystems? 3. Select one invasive species from the list below (be sure it is different from your classmates) address the following: ? Where did this species come from and where and how was it introduced? ? What effect has this species had on the ecosystem? ? Provide one new interesting or surprising fact about your species. Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) Asian Swamp Eel (Monopterus albus) European Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) European Spruce Bark Beetle (Ips typographus) Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) Nutria (Myocastor coypus) European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Curly Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) Africanized Honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) Mile-A-Minute Weed (Persicaria perfoliata) Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) Quackgrass (Elymus repens) Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)