This Invasive Species Decision Challenge will help your students understand how invasive species, food webs, biodiversity, native species, plankton, competition, and human impacts can affect a freshwater ecosystem. This activity gives teachers an easy, NO PREP way to have students analyze ecology data, compare possible management options, and make an evidence-based decision about whether lake managers should take action against invasive mussels.

Students investigate a real-world style ecosystem problem in Lake Evergreen, where invasive mussels have been discovered and are spreading quickly. Students analyze multiple Information/Data Sets related to invasive mussel population growth, plankton decline, native mussel changes, food web effects, and community concerns. They then use the evidence to decide whether lake managers should take strong action, monitor the lake, or allow the ecosystem to adjust naturally.

Students choose between three possible recommendations using information in the activity:

Should lake managers take action to control the invasive mussels in Lake Evergreen?

Students choose between three possible recommendations:

Option A: Take strong action now to control the invasive mussels.

Option B: Monitor the lake, but do not take major action yet.

Option C: Use a targeted containment plan focused on high-risk areas and native mussel habitat.

Students use the provided background reading and evidence sets to:

• Analyze invasive mussel population growth over time
• Identify patterns in plankton decline
• Explore how invasive species can affect native species
• Analyze how changes at the bottom of a food web can affect other organisms
• Evaluate evidence related to native mussel decline
• Consider community concerns such as cost, boating, swimming, fishing, and long-term control efforts
• Compare multiple environmental management options
• Use evidence to support a science-based decision

Click here to download my Mosquito Control Ecology Decision Challenge Activity for FREE

You can find this challenge as well as all my other Ecology Challenges in my Real-World Ecology Decision Challenges Bundle. Click here to see the included topics and learn more.

This activity moves students from background reading → data analysis → evidence comparison → final decision writing.

Topics Students Explore

• Invasive species
• Freshwater ecosystems
• Food webs
• Biodiversity
• Native species decline
• Competition for food and space
• Plankton and aquatic food sources
• Filter feeders
• Population growth
• Human impacts on ecosystems
• Environmental management trade-offs
• Evidence-based decision-making
• Real-world ecology problem solving

What’s Included

✅ Complete Invasive Species Decision Challenge activity

✅ Student background reading

✅ Multiple Information/Data Sets

✅ Evidence analysis questions

✅ Final decision writing task

✅ Early finisher extension activities

✅ Complete answer key

✅ Grading rubric

✅ DIGITAL and PRINT ready versions

✅ Fully editable file

Perfect for:

• Ecosystems units
• Invasive species lessons
• Food web activities
• Biodiversity lessons
• Human impact on ecosystems units
• Environmental science lessons
• Freshwater ecosystem studies
• Data analysis practice
• Evidence-based writing
• Small group collaboration
• Sub plans or review days
• NGSS life science lessons

Teacher-Friendly Features

• NO PREP and ready to use
• Builds data analysis and evidence-based reasoning skills
• Encourages students to support claims with evidence
• Connects ecology concepts to a realistic environmental management decision
• Includes built-in assessment with a rubric
• Works well for independent work, partners, small groups, or class discussion
• Includes extension options for early finishers
• Editable so you can adjust the activity for your students

This activity is a great way to help students practice analyzing evidence, comparing possible solutions, and making a science-based decision about a realistic invasive species problem.