Oregon State University Study Documents Invasive Species Release by Science Teachers
by Judith Aquilar
Oregon State University recently released their findings of a study conducted regarding the introduction of invasive species by science teachers. It was presented on August 7, 2012 at the National Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. The study surveyed 2000 teachers from Florida, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, California, Connecticut, British Columbia, and Ontario and included focus groups and interviews with teachers, curriculum specialists and biological supply house owners and managers. The researchers found that one out of four educators who used live organisms in their classrooms released them into the wild after they were done using them. Some of the organisms included crayfish, elodea, amphibians, and mosquito fish.
For example, crayfish are often used to teach students about habitats and adaptation, and Elodea can be used to provide food and shelter for the crayfish. These organisms are popular to allow students to observe the behaviors of the crawfish as well as their structure and the function. It seems like a fantastic idea for inquiry-based learning in an elementary classroom. Unfortunately, however, the study found that teachers in Oregon stopped using the native Pacific Northwest crayfish due to their high mortality rate and instead began to order their crayfish from Louisiana. If these non-native Louisiana crayfish are eventually released into the wild, this poses a problem because they are not an indigenous organism if released into a local Pacific Northwest lake or stream and the diseases or parasites they carry are unknown.
The NSTA Position Statement for the Use of Live Animals specifically states that if used teachers must “refrain from releasing animals into non-indigenous environs.” Unfortunately, though, sometimes teachers don’t give this issue much thought. Oregon State University expert on invasive species, Sam Chan, advises teachers and suppliers to become educated about the introduction of invasive species. So what should teachers do? The easiest answer is probably to rely only on reputable sources for organisms, and use native species whenever possible. Plan ahead for care or disposal of the organisms once you’re finished with them in the classroom. If in doubt, there are resources available to help you decide the best option. These include:
- Your local veterinarian
- California Department of Fish and Game: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/
- Your local Animal Control
- Rescue Network: http://www.rescuenetwork.org
You can read the official news release from Oregon State University by visiting their web page.
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http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/whatsnew/NaturalDiscourse/artists.shtml
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Peter A’Hearn: Rush hour in little blue circle land.
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