Find out about invasive species and play the Cray-zy Invaders game designed by Jack Daniels to explain some of his research. From his website.
Invasive Species and In-stream Infrastructure
Invasive species (those that are transported outside their native range by human activity and have significant negative impacts) are one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Their introduction can lead to the extirpation and extinction of native species through a variety of mechanisms, and recent studies have suggested that invasive species are a driving factor in 33% of animal and 25% of plant extinctions.
Freshwater ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to invasion due to a number of unregulated sources of invasive species (e.g. aquarium release, ballast water, aquaculture etc.). Furthermore, the impacts of invasive species are more severe in freshwater systems, as hydrological and biotic isolation leads to higher levels of endemism and a greater risk of extinction
The Game:
Oh no – your river has been invaded by signal crayfish! It’s your job to protect your friendly local fish using a combination of big barriers, small barriers, and traps. You only have $150 to spend, so make sure you use it wisely…