2. Biological Science Technician – Invasive Species By Caitlyn in partnership with Brenda Strohmeyer

3. RMRS Website Brenda Strohmeyer, like many people at the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS for short), is a biological science technician. Biological science technicians have many jobs that are important, one being forest and woodland ecosystem research. In this job scientists acquire, develop, and deliver information on large wildfires, insect and disease breakouts, exotic species invasions, and much more. The scientists do this to sustain and restore forest and woodland health and biodiversity processes. What the scientist do is important for people and animals to be able to live together. There are many scientist at the RMRS, click here to listen

4. One of the most important studies of a biological science technician that many people believe is very important is exotic or invasive species outbreaks. This is an important topic because invasive species can destroy ecosystems and native plants and animals. Invasive species attack or eat all the food of native plants and animals, like the Colorado River cutthroat trout. These are some invasive species in Arizona. 1. Quagga Mussel 2. Buffelgrass 3. New Zealand Mudsnail 4. Red Imported Fire Ants 5. Asian tiger mosquito 6. Northern Crayfish 7. Yellow Starthistle 8. Red Bromegrass 9. Silver carp 10. Giant Salvinia

5. Plants are probably the worst type of invasive species. Most of the invasive plants are weeds. These invasive weeds impact native plants and animals greatly, killing the native plants animals would eat. Spotted knapweed invading the forest But you might change your mind on plants when there are invasive animals too, including insects. Invasive animals are causing huge impacts, mortality, and changes in forest ecosystem structure. RMRS research programs have developed important information related to the banded elm bark beetle, a very major invasive threat that deals with drought

6. Invasive species are spreading over America quickly, making it hard to stop them. Biological science technicians record and collect data about the exotic plants and animals to understand them better and understand how to stop them. Scientists at RMRS develop ways to identify invasive or exotic plants and animals before they arrive and determine the specialty of native ecosystems that make them sensitive to invasion to determine risk.

7. Another thing scientists at RMRS do is spread the word on invasive species. Once an exotic plant starts to become invasive, scientist tell people about the plant or animal. This is good because the people help the scientists locate and collect more data on the invasive species.

8. In conclusion, invasive species is a very important topic in a biological science technicians studies. Thanks to scientists like the ones at RMRS, people have a better understanding of invasive species. People can help report invasive plants and animals to prevent them from destroying native ecosystems. Biological scientist study much more than forest and woodland ecosystems though. Invasive species is just one part of being a biological science technician.

9. Credits Brenda Strohmeyer- For sending me links and her autobiography http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/az.shtml http://www.azgfd.net/wildlife/conservation-news/10-most-unwanted-arizona- invasive-species-plants-animals/2009/05/27/ http://www.eddmaps.org/tools/statereport.cfm?id=us_az http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/32804 http://www.google.com/cse?cx=011380079945713262039%3Azls1k4u10qg&ie =UTF- 8&q=invasive+plants+in+forest+ecosystems&sa=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=invasive%2 0plants%20in%20forest%20ecosystems&gsc.page=1 http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/ http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=571&tbm=isch &tbnid=S1ItCHdDT9BfyM:&imgrefurl=http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/tag/sar anac-river&docid=-qXV9Ocb9xM- WM&imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_85VBWUwtj7o/TFQSURk- 2YI/AAAAAAAAAMg/IBTDIoF- uGU/s1600/invasive_curve.jpg&w=500&h=327&ei=mYudUOC6CKmwigKAuYGgAQ&z oom=1&iact=hc&vpx=413&vpy=254&dur=47&hovh=181&hovw=278&tx=106&ty=13 4&sig=104857627405821953969&page=1&tbnh=101&tbnw=154&start=0&ndsp=20 &ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0,i:105