What do the brown tree snake, red imported fire ant, melaleuca tree, and zebra mussel have in common? They are invasive species-non-indigenous plants and animals that can wreak havoc on the environment. To combat invasive species, scientists study the organisms, then work on ways to prevent their continued spread. Science Warriors presents the four species above as case studies. Tips for stopping invasive species. Glossary. Web resources. Index. Full-color photographs.
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As informative as a textbook and as exciting as a detective novel, Science Warriors takes
science out of the classroom and onto the front lines of the war against invasive species. From the book’s first sentence (“On the U.S. island of Guam, Anderson Air Force Base is under siege.”), Sneed B. Collard III makes clear the stakes of these battles. As the book goes on, he explains how biologists are working to win them.
Collard’s investigations demonstrate that effective responses require in-depth research. For example, he describes a promising plan to contain the red imported fire ant, based on the work of biologist Larry Gilbert, who looks for phorid flies that may be natural parasites of the fire ant. Collard details how Gilbert and his colleagues find these flies and breed them, and tells about the successes and setbacks of this attempt to control the fire ant population. In the case of the melaleuca tree, which is turning the ecosystems of the Florida Everglades into wastelands, Collard quotes Dr. Ted Center on how he approached the task of controlling this pest: “I reviewed the biology of melaleuca and tried to figure out what we needed to do to the tree to combat it. As I read about it, I realized that the flowers are produced by the tips of the shoots, or branches, and as the shoots grow, they keep producing flowers. So I thought, ‘That may be the weak point.’” Here, as in each of the investigations, Collard demonstrates the value of careful observation, creative thinking, and international cooperation.
Sure to be popular with students interested in biology and the environment, Science Warriors shows that science can be a great adventure.
Collard profiles scientists battling two invaders causing ecological devastation: red imported fire ants in Texas and Florida's Melaleuca tree. The clear and helpful photographs show the scientists working in field and laboratory settings, as well as the featured plants and animals. Collard includes steps readers can take to help fight invasive species and a call for more public funding to fight invaders. Websites. Glos., ind.