Research Log #4 - Solutionary Project 2022

Date: Feb. 16, 2022

Name: Christopher Ahmed
Essential Question: How can we control invasive species without harming the local culture?

Three Points to Prove: #1: Invasive species cause problems for native ones.
#2: Feral pigs cannot be fully removed from Hawaii.
#3: Invasive species lack predators in Hawaii.

Point that this Source Proves: # 1: Invasive species cause problems for native ones.

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

Early into the documentary, the narrator mentions “What we do know is, for the most part, living things are a product
of their environment. They’ve evolved over time with the species around them... They know the rules, they know the
players, and they’ve found ways to co-exist. When an invasive species comes into play, things change”

Another narrator, Brend Blossey, adds that “It’s not the responsibility of the deer, deer just do what deer do.
It's our responsibility because we took the biological controls away”.

Carrie Brown-Lima makes the point that “people often think that’s the nature lovers’ problem or that’s the
scientist’s problem, but actually invasive species do impact our daily lives”.

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

This documentary does an excellent job of sending the message that it is indeed our responsibility to
manage invasive species. When an animal from a different part of our planet is introduced to a fragile
ecosystem that is a result of native animals evolving over millions of years, many problems can arise.
Unfortunately, the documentary did not cover Hawaii. Nevertheless, the themes covered were universal and
the documentary gave more extreme examples of what a lack of management can do.
A recurring theme in this documentary is that of “biological controls”. Biological controls are things that
keep a species’ population in check, such as natural predators and diseases. The problem with invasive
species (as opposed to introduced species) is that they lack biological controls. An introduced species would
be a species from a different part of the world that can still adapt to its new environment without causing
problems for native species. A relevant example of this would be wallabies in Hawaii. They may not be a
native species, but they do not harm the ecosystem in any way. However, pigs are known to be incredibly
destructive animals in areas where they do not belong.
The last excerpt is perhaps the most important to finding a solution. Invasive species can affect more than
just local wildlife, but also the economy. The examples that the documentary uses may not be specific to
Hawaii, but again, the concepts are universal. I think the best way to get people to care is by making
documentaries such as these, as invasive species documentaries seem to be in short supply.

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species” YouTube,
uploaded by NYSDEC 1 November 2021, Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species - YouTube

This is a reputable and reliable documentary because it was published by the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation in the year 2021.
 Research Log #__ - Solutionary Project 2022
Date:
Name:
Essential Question:

Three Points to Prove: #1:

#2:

#3:

Point that this Source Proves: #

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove)

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

This is a reputable and reliable article because