Science Warriors: The Battle Against Invasive Species
Series
Scientists in the Field
by
Sneed B. Collard III
Edition
-
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Imprint
Houghton Mifflin
ISBN
9780618756360
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Language: Mild Language
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.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Language: Mild Language
Details
Format
Page Count
48
Trim Size
11" x 9"
Dewey
578.6/2
AR
7.6: points 2
Lexile
1110L
Genre
Nonfiction
Scholastic Reading Counts
14
JLG Release
Feb 2009
Book Genres
Topics
Guam. Search dogs. The brown tree snake. Invasive species. Ants. The red imported fire ant. Competition. Biological control. Melaleuca trees. The Florida Everglades. The zebra mussel. Ballast water. Human responsibility. Precautions.
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Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Booklist, The Horn Book Magazine, The Horn Book Guide^, School Library Journal
Praise & Reviews
Junior Library Guild
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.
Horn Book
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.
Grades 3-5
Intermediate Readers
For Grades 3-5
A wide variety of novels and accessible nonfiction for younger elementary readers who love a good story comprise this category of 12 books per year. The focus in these titles is primarily on the text, though some novels may feature illustration.
12 books per Year
$236.64 per Year
Interests
Chapter Books,Fiction,Transitional Readers
Grades 3-5
Intermediate Readers
12 books per Year
$236.64 per Year
