Great Lakes Under Stress: Invasive Species as Agents of Ecosystem Change

This module explores invasive species as agents of ecosystem change in the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America, focusing specifically on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Following a brief introduction to the Great Lakes ecosystem, the case study describes several key invasive species and the roles they play in disrupting natural ecosystem behavior and function. It then concludes with an overview of control strategies and mitigation efforts. A modeling exercise is described to introduce students to an important tool used by scientists and engineers to simulate system behavior for ecosystem management. Discussion questions are provided throughout the text, designed to stimulate critical thinking among students; these can either be examined by students independently, or used to guide class discussion.