This module introduces students to ecological disturbances through the real-world occurrence of invasive brown tree snakes in Guam.

Students learn that some disturbances are natural, and others are caused by human actions. Following a disturbance, there is usually a recovery. These recoveries can occur with or without human action. Students see how human intervention in certain problems can lead to unintended consequences. 

Students explore how energy flows through an ecosystem using models such as food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids. Students apply their knowledge by constructing a food web using the Chesapeake Bay as a case study. Then, students link this learning to the invasive tree snakes in Guam by investigating how other species are impacted.