Ridler, K. (2016, November 13). Scientists try bacteria to halt invasive cheatgrass overwhelming the West. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/ la-na-invasive-cheatgrass-20161110-story.html

In the west, including California, there has arisen a large problem with a type of grass called cheatgrass, an invasive species which is destroying native grass species and taking over their territory. To try and eliminate this grass, scientists have been using bacteria to stop the spread of the grass, which is a mixture of bacteria and herbicide. The bacteria is meant to not kill, but weaken the cheatgrass so that native plant species can eliminate them themselves and grow back stronger. One drawback of this process is an endangered species, the sage grass bird, inhabits sage grass, a type of grass that the cheatgrass has been destroying. Scientists are having a hard time finding a way to eliminate all or the majority of the cheatgrass without destroying the 500,000 mile path of sage grass that has been taken over by cheatgrass that the sage grouse needs to continue to repopulate.

This article relates to environmental science because it shows how invasive species can also effect endangered species, along with native species. In this instance, the invasive species are providing a perfect environment for the sage grouse, so scientists cannot eliminate the grass if the sage grouse is inhabiting it under the Endangered Species Act. I tink it is cool how everything ties together, as in invasive, endangered, and native species and habitats, to form one big picture. Environmental scientists are faced with a difficult task, trying to save the environment from these invasive grass species while still preserving the sage grouse.