Learns About Milfoil. A Curriculum about Idaho s Most Noxious Aquatic Weed. Brought to you by the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign

Transcription

1 Learns About Milfoil A Curriculum about Idaho s Most Noxious Aquatic Weed Brought to you by the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign Early Elementary Version Lesson 1

2 Eurasian Watermilfoil Lesson 1: Introduction to Eurasian Watermilfoil Objective: Students will understand the characteristics of Eurasian Watermilfoil Students will need: construction paper 12 x18, glue, crayons or colored pencils, Watermilfoil coloring sheet, Watermilfoil maze Vocabulary weed useless unwanted plant whorl A group of three or more leaves branching out from the same spot. Weed Superintendent county official managing the spread and growth of unwanted plants and weeds Ask, How many of you have gone swimming in a lake and you got your feet tangled in the weeds? (Let students respond) Say, There are some weeds that grow in the lakes that are very bad for the lakes and rivers. Ask, How many of you have ever heard of a plant called Eurasian Watermilfoil? (Let students respond) Say Today we are going to talk about a terrible plant that grows here in Idaho. This weed is called, Eurasian Watermilfoil. Have students repeat the words watermilfoil (Show photo of Eurasian Watermilfoil) Here are some important facts you should know about Watermilfoil. (Discuss each of the these concepts with the students) Watermilfoil is a weed Grows very quickly and very thick Grows underwater Has fine feather-like leaves (grayish or dark green under water) (Show picture of a milfoil whorl.) Pink or red stem Pink or red flower above the water Say Eurasian Watermilfoil can be found in several places in the state of Idaho. Many of our lakes and rivers in Idaho have been damaged with Eurasian watermilfoil. Say, The Idaho State Department of Agriculture Treasure Valley County Weed Superintendant is asking for your help in stopping the spread of this plant from one lake or river to another.

3 Fold 12 x 18 construction paper in half to make a folder. Glue colored picture of Eurasian Watermilfoil plant to cover of folder. Put name on cover. This folder will be used to keep information given during this unit. Activity 1: Show the Mortie Milfoil video as an introduction to Eurasian Watermilfoil. Activity 2: Pass out coloring sheet of Eurasian Watermilfoil and have the students color/trace the leaves according to the description given during the class discussion. Activity 3 Have students read and complete What is Eurasian Watermilfoil sheet. Activity 4: Have students complete the Mystery Code. (Background information for teacher) WHAT IS EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL? Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) is an extremely aggressive non-native aquatic weed once sold in this country as an aquarium plant. Its dense weed beds grow rapidly, choke native plants and spread easily to new areas. Watermilfoil currently flourishes in Idaho, Washington and British Columbia. It is a serious threat to our rivers and lakes. Watermilfoil was accidentally introduced to North America from Europe. Its introduction westward into inland lakes and streams is primarily attributed to boats, with some spreading caused by water birds. Eurasian Watermilfoil is an underwater plant that has fine feather-like leaves. The leaves are arranged in whorls of four. Each whorl generally has 12 or more leaflet pairs. This invasive aquatic noxious weed forms very dense thick mats of vegetation on the water s surface. This interferes with water-based recreation such as fishing, boating, water skiing and swimming. The dense mats increase the ph of the water and reduce the amount of oxygen in it killing fish and other life. This destroys water quality and creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Swimmers have been known to become entangled and drown in these dense thick mats. Although Eurasian watermilfoil can spread from seed, it primarily spreads through a process called fragmentation, where a piece of the plant the size of a small postage stamp breaks off and can start a new infestation. Eurasian watermilfoil is Idaho s only listed aquatic noxious weed. It is a native of Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. It was introduced into the United States in the early 1900 s through the Aquarium Trade. For more information go to <

4 Name Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

5 Name WHAT IS EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL? Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) is a thick, fast-growing, plant that grows in the water of lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. It has fine feather-like leaves that grow in groups of four. The stems of Eurasian watermilfoil are pink in color. The tiny leaves are a grayish to dark green color under the water. Tiny pink flowers grow on red spikes that stand several inches above the water. Although Eurasian watermilfoil can spread from seed, it is spread through a process called fragmentation, where a small piece of the plant the size of a small postage stamp breaks off and starts growing a new plant. Eurasian watermilfoil is believed to have come from Europe during the early 1900s. Read the above selection and fill in the blanks below Eurasian watermilfoil grows in,,, and of Idaho. The stems of the Eurasian watermilfoil are usually in color. The of the Eurasian watermilfoil are a grayish or dark green in color. Eurasian watermilfoil is spread by a piece of the plant that has broken off and has started growing a new plant. Eurasian watermilfoil is believed to have come from around the early 1900s.

6 WHAT IS EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL? (Answers) Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) is a thick, fast-growing, plant that grows in the water of lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. It has fine feather-like leaves that grow in groups of four. The stems of Eurasian watermilfoil are pink in color. The tiny leaves are a grayish to dark green color under the water. Tiny pink flowers grow on red spikes that stand several inches above the water. Although Eurasian watermilfoil can spread from seed, it is spread through a process called fragmentation, where a small piece of the plant the size of a small postage stamp breaks off and starts growing a new plant. Eurasian watermilfoil is believed to have come from Europe during the early 1900s. Read the above selection and fill in the blanks below. 1. Eurasian watermilfoil grows in _lakes_, _rivers_, _streams_, and _ponds of Idaho. 2. The stems of the Eurasian watermilfoil are usually pink in color. 3. The _leaves of the Eurasian watermilfoil are a grayish or dark green in color. 4. Eurasian watermilfoil is spread by a small piece of the plant that has broken off and starts growing a new plant. 5. Eurasian watermilfoil is believed to have come from Europe around the early 1900s.

7 Name MYSTERY CODE Solve the mystery code below. Write the letter that matches with each number on the top A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ,,

8 Answer key for Mystery Code: Watermilfoil harms plants and fish in lakes, rivers, and ponds.