Page 32 of Eight Count Heat
"Yes, Mr. Wu. I'm sure you have thoughts."
"Invasive species can destabilize existing relationships between organisms," Tyler responds, leaning forward slightly. "The introduced species lacks natural predators, giving it a competitive advantage that disrupts the established balance."
"Correct. Though perhaps a bit textbook." Professor Davis pulls up a slide showing a lake choked with purple flowers. "Water hyacinth in Lake Victoria. Beautiful plant. Completely destroyed the ecosystem within decades. Anyone know why?"
More hands this time. Professor Davis points to a girl in the front row.
"It reproduces too fast for the environment to adapt?"
"Partially. But it's more complex than that." Another slide: clear water, then the same area covered in a thick mat of vegetation."The real problem is that it changes everything else. Blocks sunlight, depletes oxygen, alters the entire food web."
Zane leans over to whisper, "Think he's trying to tell us something about dating?"
I snort with laughter, earning a sharp look from Professor Davis.
"Ms. Callahan, since you find this amusing, perhaps you can tell us what happens to native species when their environment changes this dramatically?"
Heat creeps up my neck. "They either adapt, migrate, or..." I trail off, not wanting to say the obvious.
"Or die out," Professor Davis finishes. "Exactly. Change the environment enough, and even species that thrived for millennia can disappear almost overnight."
The lecture continues with more examples: kudzu vines strangling forests in the South, zebra mussels clogging the Great Lakes, pythons taking over the Everglades. It's actually more interesting than I expected, though I suspect that has more to do with my company than the subject matter.
Tyler keeps glancing back at us throughout the lecture, clearly wanting to add commentary but holding back. When Professor Davis mentions the economic impact of invasive species, Tyler's hand twitches like he's fighting the urge to raise it.
"For next week's assignment," Professor Davis announces as class winds down, "I want you to work in groups of three. Pick an invasive species and analyze its impact. Not just ecological, but economic and social. Twenty pages, due Friday."
Zane immediately turns to me. "Partners?"
I nod, then glance down at Tyler, who's already started packing up his laptop. "Tyler? Want to join us? Make it a trio?"
He looks up, genuine surprise flickering across his features. "You'd want to work with me? I mean... I know I get a little intense about research stuff."
"Are you kidding? Your research skills plus Zane's creative thinking plus my ability to actually write coherent sentences? We'll ace this thing."
"I can write coherently," Zane protests. "I just prefer visual storytelling methods."
"You mean pictures and jokes," Tyler says, but there's warmth in his voice now instead of that stilted genius.
"Visual aids and humor are valid academic tools," Zane replies with mock dignity.
Tyler actually grins at that. "Okay, but I'm picking our species. No offense, but Zane would probably choose something like... I don't know, vampire bats or something equally dramatic."
"Hey, vampire bats would be fascinating," Zane argues.
"What were you thinking?" I ask Tyler as we gather our things.
"Cane toads in Australia. They brought them in back in the thirties to eat beetles, but now there are millions of them and they're basically poisoning everything that tries to eat them."
"Toxic murder toads," Zane muses. "Okay, I'm sold."
As we file out of the lecture hall, Tyler falls into step beside us, his usual careful distance from other people relaxed slightly. "I've actually been reading about this case for another class. There's some really interesting data on how they spread north..."
He catches himself mid-sentence, looking slightly embarrassed. "Sorry. I know I ramble about this stuff."
"Don't apologize," I say firmly. "Your enthusiasm is why we're going to nail this project."
Tyler's smile is small but genuine. "Thanks. I don't usually... I mean, group projects aren't really my strong suit."
