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Think of earthworms and a few things come to mind: they make great bait for fishing, they aerate the soil, and they’re an excellent addition to a compost pile. But, what a lot of people don’t know is many earthworms are actually invasive species. Earthworms may be small but when they take over a forest, the impact is dramatic. They cause the rapid incorporation of organic material into the soil, changing its structure, chemistry and nutrient dynamics. What's known as the duff layer is suddenly removed, and this duff, or decaying organic material on the forest floor, is habitat for several species of insects, spiders, small vertebrates, bacteria and fungi. It is also the primary rooting zone for most plants.
(Source: DCMP)
Investigates the reasons why cattle and humans have been linked together for over 30,000 years. Analyzes the anatomy of the cow's stomach, detailing the purpose of each chamber. Visit the Masai with their cattle herds and the sacred cows of India. Introduces the main cattle breed of the 800 breeds developed in England, explaining how artificial selection is used to produce desirable characteristics. Also introduces British dairy cow detailing the working of the udder and teats and the use of genetic engineering to increase milk production. Interviews Eric Schlosser, an author about the development of slaughterhouse methods in America. Also visits a family ranch where cattle are being raised in natural conditions under a grass management system.
The image of a rat sniffing around for food with its little whiskers moving back and forth to help satisfy its appetite is enough to make most people lose theirs. But those whiskers play a valuable role in helping rats determine what is in the environment around them. With support from the National Science Foundation, Mitra Hartmann and colleagues at Northwestern University in Chicago are constructing whiskered robots that can detect and then project three-dimensional virtual images of objects on to a computer screen. Scientists here don't think it's so far-fetched that one day robotic rovers, much like the ones on Mars now, might contain a set of whiskers to help them navigate the terrain around them.
Bird lovers across Cyberspace have arrived at the Migration Celebration. When the trillers are a no-show, Professor Bobson knows something is amiss. After he cancels the event, phone calls and social media posts start reporting triller sightings all over Cyberspace. The Professor and kids recruit dozens of citizen scientists to record their observations when they see a triller. When all the citizen scientists have reported back, it leads to a shocking discovery. What is the data telling them? Part of the "Cyberchase" series.
Zoology is the study of animals and their behavior, and zoologists may study a particular species or group of species. They also study the interactions between animals and various ecosystems. Part of the "I Can Be Anything I Want to Be A to Z" series.
British naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace both set out on epic adventures to study various species and their development. They gathered evidence on the variation among individual members of a species, the relationships among species, and the patterns of geographic distribution across many species. Based on such evidence, they independently came to the same revolutionary conclusions: species change over time by means of natural selection, and species descend from other species.
Professor Lawrence Gilbert and his team at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered a population of tropical butterflies that exemplify "evolution in action," and a rare research opportunity. Gilbert says they may be witnessing a species of butterfly splitting into two different species. The stars of this research are the Heliconius butterflies, found in Central and South America. Despite the genetic similarities between the two groups of the butterflies, one group is showing a color preference during mating. With support from the National Science Foundation, Gilbert and his team are working to gain insights about genetics, behavior, ecology, and evolution.
The goal of this research is to determine the mechanisms underlying predatory and defensive behavior guided by an extraordinarily novel sensor in snakes. Pit vipers, pythons and boas possess special organs that form images in the brain of the thermal environment, much like vision occurs in the human brain. Thus, these snakes see heat, and this amazing system is the most sensitive infrared detector on Earth, natural or artificial. A better understanding of infrared-based thermal imaging in snakes is important not only for understanding complex behavior in these highly efficient predators, but also for understanding the evolution of imaging sensors and the behaviors they support in other animals including people. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
Joyce Poole, elephant researcher and conservationist, shares her insights and convictions about this large, dignified animal. Closeup photography support her discussion about elephant family units, mating rituals, behaviors, and "vocabulary." Recently lifted bans on elephant ivory means this endangered animal is even more at risk.
Parakeet talks about helping others selflessly. The cat and the llama, members of the Nothing to Do band announce that the pig, the third member, will not be joining the band anymore because he has no time to rehearse. The pig explains he is dedicating his time to hatching eggs. The fleas show a documentary on human behavior that may put their lives at risk. The celebrity guest singer explains how his charities affected his rock band.
While the human brain and nervous system are wired with hundreds of billions of nerve cells, or neurons, sea slugs can get by with tens of thousands. Ironically, sea slugs reveal a lot about the chemistry of the human brain and nervous system. In fact, they are ideal as study subjects for research on learning, memory, and how neurons control behavior. With support from the National Science Foundation, analytical chemist Jonathan Sweedler and his team at the University of Illinois are working to develop new measurement tools that enable insights into the function of individual cells in the central nervous systems of slugs and other animals in order to uncover novel neurochemical pathways. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
Part of the "The Biology Classics" series. Hydra is a genus of simple fresh-water animals possessing radial symmetry. Observes feeding behavior of hydra, shows detailed microscopy of stinging cells used in capturing prey, and reviews two digestive processes: cellular and extracellular. Also covers locomotion, reproduction by budding, the development of sex organs, and symbiotic guests, both external and internal.
Part of "The Living Oceans" series. Captures the mysteries of venomous marine creatures, such as nudibranchs, sea anemones, jellyfish, moray eels, and scorpionfish. Although these creatures can be fearsome predators, their defensive behaviors are also illustrated to highlight the predator/prey relationship that is a fact of life in marine environments.
The jaguar says llama wants to enter his house, but he doesn't want to let her in because she is sick. Apparently she has the swine flu, and he thinks she wants to infect him. Some audience members defend the jaguar and the llama. Llama explains that the house where the jaguar lives is her house and his uncleanliness has made her sick. After hearing the advices from the fleas, Kaka, and Ludovico, Jaguar promises to change his hygiene habits and apologizes to the llama for his behavior and promises to take care of her.
Documentary records Project Puffin, the successful effort to repopulate Seal Island, Maine, with Atlantic puffins and terns. Notes their life, behaviors, and mating during the summer before fall migration. Also remarks on the interdependence of terns and puffins. Biologists comment.
Part of the "The Biology Classics" series. Daphnia are small, planktonic crustaceans. Provides a classic study in arthropod behavior and anatomy. Examines the eye, brain, jaws, intestine, legs (with gills), and heart. Identifies two kinds of eggs: those that hatch directly into female daphnia and resistant eggs that carry the species through periods of freezing and drying.
Sea otters, the ultimate surf bum, are the crucial element for kelp forests and their diverse ecology. Reviews the history of otters on the Pacific coast and their near extermination. Describes the otters' habitat, physical characteristics, behaviors, diet, and use of "tools." This member of the weasel family has the lushest fur in the world.
On a distant island near Borneo, Din keeps an incredible secret. He has forged a friendship with one of the rarest and shyest creatures in the ocean, a dugong-cousin to the manatee. Through their adventures, Din uncovers the mysterious behavior of dugongs and explores the natural diversity of his island home. The story also exposes the plight of the islanders, as the arrival of foreign fishermen threatens their island.
Part of "The Living Oceans" series. Reveals the habits and behavior of night-spawning coral, manta rays, lobsters, white-tipped sharks, cuttlefish, Humboldt squid, and opalescent squid. Shows the mysteries of ocean ecology in the annual spawning of coral, the molting of lobsters, the feeding habits of sharks and cuttlefish, and the deadly attacks of squid. Captures the death of thousands of opalescent squid as they lay their eggs, and then die in vast numbers.
The lionfish is invading the Atlantic and Caribbean waterways with catastrophic results. This non-native species has no local predators and is propagating at a rate that adversely impacts the coral reef habitats of the Eastern United States, Caribbean, and South America. This is a story of communities banding together to ensure the protection of native species. Scientists and citizens are monitoring the situation, and high school marine biology students are studying the feeding behavior of this voracious predator.
Showing collections 1 to 5 of 5
Resources to teach younger students about animals
A collection containing 58 resources, curated by DIAGRAM Center
Resources related to vision
A collection containing 12 resources, curated by Charles LaPierre
Biology related concepts
A collection containing 59 resources, curated by Benetech
A collection of Chemistry related resources
A collection containing 67 resources, curated by Benetech
Collection of anatomy resources
A collection containing 21 resources, curated by Benetech
