Zoom Rainforest Advertisement. EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site. As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.Click here to learn more. (Already a member? Click here.) What is a Rainforest? Rainforests are very dense, warm, wet forests. Rainforests are extremely important in the ecology of the Earth. Strata of the Rainforest Different animals and plants live in different parts of the rainforest. EMERGENTS: Giant trees that are much higher than the average canopy height. An incredible number of animals live in rainforests. In temperate rainforests, most of the animals are ground dwellers and there are fewer animals living in the forest canopy. Where are Rainforests? Tropical rainforests are found in a belt around the equator of the Earth. Temperate rainforests are found along the Pacific coast of the USA and Canada (from northern California to Alaska), in New Zealand, Tasmania, Chile, Ireland, Scotland and Norway. Rainfall Temperature
Earth Floor:Tundra Biome Arctic Tundra Arctic tundra is found across northern Alaska, Canada, and Siberia. This biome has long cold winters and short cool summers. The Arctic tundra has low precipitation (less than 10 inches per year) and dry winds. These conditions make the Arctic tundra a desert-like climate (see climograph). One unique characteristic of the Arctic tundra is permafrost--ground that is permanently frozen. Curiously, during the summer Arctic tundra is characterized by lots of surface water. Back | Next
A Zunal Biome Zoo You will be assigned into groups of five and be given one of the world biomes to conduct your research.In your groups you will assign the roles of specialists to break down the assignment. You will work individually on your specific specialist role and find the information relevant to produce your virtual tour. As a team you will work together to make a virtual tour of your biome through a PowerPoint presentation. You must include; *An introduction page that briefly describes your group and biome *Forms of images, videos, maps, graphs, and other multimedia to make your information easy to read *At least 3 slides for each specialist and their findings *Pictures and descriptions of the animals selected for the new exhibit *Make sure to show the unique characteristics of the biome * Resources from where the information was found are needed to be shown at the end of the presentation Your team will present your virtual tour of your biome to the class. A. B. C. D. E. * World Biomes * Ecosystems
KILL 'EM ALL They buzz. They bite. And they have killed more people than cancer, war, or heart disease. Here’s the question: If you could wipe mosquitoes off the face of the planet, would you? Ever since there have been humans, mosquitoes have been biting us, and we’ve been trying to kill them. Oh, and we visit a mosquito factory in eastern Brazil. And after listening, read this, from Radiolab producer Andy Mills: what if we don't kill 'em all? Special thanks to reporter David Baker Deep-Sea Vents and Life's Origins Seafloor spreading generates new ocean crust, but it may also have created conditions necessary for the beginning of life on Earth. At mid-ocean ridges, molten lava pushes through breaks in the crust during amazing undersea volcanic eruptions. This molten rock quickly cools, and as it does, it contracts, forming long cracks and fissures. Ocean water seeps into these cracks to a depth of several kilometers, where it is heated by magma in Earth's mantle to as much as 350 degrees Celsius (660 degrees Fahrenheit). This superheated water then rises and eventually emerges from hydrothermal vents in the ocean floor as an underwater geyser. When the hot vent water meets cold ocean water, dissolved minerals in the vent water precipitate. Such an extreme environment seems unlikely to support life, given its high temperature, crushing pressure, and absence of light for photosynthesis. Bacteria called chemoautotrophs serve as the primary producers at the base of the hydrothermal vent food chain.
Earth Floor: Rainforest Biome Tropical Rainforest The tropical rainforest is a hot, moist biome found near Earth's equator. The world's largest tropical rainforests are in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Tropical rainforests receive from 60 to 160 inches of precipitation that is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The combination of constant warmth and abundant moisture makes the tropical rainforest a suitable environment for many plants and animals. Tropical rainforests contain the greatest biodiversity in the world. The hot and humid conditions make tropical rainforests an ideal environment for bacteria and other microorganisms. Back | Next
Tundra Biome The Tundra Biome In the tundra, conditions are cold, with an annual average temperature less than 5 C, and precipitation (mostly in the form of snow) less than 100 mm per year (see figure at right). The summer is brief, with temperatures above freezing lasting for only a few weeks at most. However, this "warm" summer coincides with periods of almost 24 hour daylight, so plant growth can be explosive. The map below shows the tundra spreading across the northern hemisphere. The biggest threat, however, is from oil and gas development and the resulting global warming. Back Bill Moyers Reports: Earth on Edge - Ecosystems Ecosystems are communities of interacting organisms and the physical environment in which they live. They are the combination and interaction of the plants, animals, minerals, and people in any given area of the Earth. A small bog, a single sand dune, or a tiny patch of forest is an ecosystem. In our heavily industrialized societies, work, religious expression, and recreation often take place in urban areas. It is our very reliance on ecosystems that is threatening them. For comprehensive data about the world's ecosystems, visit EarthTrends at www.earthtrends.wri.org/. Take our Interactive Quiz to see how much you know about ecosystems, then check out our Get Involved section to learn about ways you can make a positive difference in your home, your community, and your world.
The Population Biology of Isle Royale Wolves and Moose: An Overview | The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale 1. Five decades of wolf-moose dynamics The wolves and moose of Isle Royale have been studied for more than five decades. This research represents the longest continuous study of any predator-prey system in the world. The most important events in the chronology have been essentially unpredictable. 2. Each symbol on this graph represents the density of moose (read from the horizontal axis) and the density of wolves (read from the vertical axis) for a particular year. Wolf and moose densities are the total number of wolves and moose on Isle Royale, divided by the size of Isle Royale, 544km2. This graph tells a great deal about how wolf and moose populations are interconnected. By contrast, if moose abundance was determined primarily by wolf predation, and if wolf abundance was a good indication of predation pressure, then wolf and moose abundance would be negatively related. This graph shows that wolf and moose abundances are neither positively nor negatively related. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Tooter4Kids-Ocean PowerPoint To The Ocean By: Susan Stein The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand.... The sun goes down but gentle warmth still lingers on the land.... ~Author Unknown~ For Teachers: Click on the links box. Treasures @Sea-Exploring the Ocean through Literature Ocean Ideas For Teachers OCEAN DIORAMA: If you are planning an ocean unit this year, do consider using these diorama instructions as a wrap up activity. SHARK PRINTOUTS: Children are enchanted with sharks, and here they can find several pages to print out with factoids about all kinds of sharks. SEA ANIMAL WRAPPERS: With the templates provided and a few extra materials, students will explore and create their very own animal "wrappers". Kids-Just For You Introduction Under the sea Ocean Poetry Ocean Books to Explore Sea Animal Links Aquatic safari Life In the Ocean