Rare, Endangered, and Vulnerable Plants of the Republic of Georgia [.pdf]
http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/georgia/welcome.shtml
Because of its large number of endemic species and rapid rate of habitat destruction, the Republic of Georgia is a biodiversity hot spot. In collaboration with the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Institute of Botany and the Botanical Garden of the Georgian Academy of Sciences has compiled this list of 1200 at-risk species, arranged alphabetically by family. Information on habitat and geographic distribution is included for all species, and images are included for some. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
BRENDA: The Comprehensive Enzyme Information System
http://www.brenda.uni-koeln.de/
BRENDA is a comprehensive database of enzymes maintained by the Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Cologne. Scientists collect and evaluate enzyme function data from primary literature sources. The site has recently been updated with new enzymes and an entirely new search engine. Various searches can be performed, including enzyme name, organism, or EC number. Links to literature citations, two dimensional images, and other databases are included for many of the enzymes. Academic and nonprofit use is free; commercial users must acquire a license. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
41st Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy [RealPlayer]
http://www.icaac.org/Community.asp
Sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology, the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) presents cutting edge research on infectious disease. This year, for the first time, Web casts of selected conference lectures are available. You can listen to the lectures, view slides, and read interviews of the subject's leading scientists. The site also provides links to several infectious disease Web sites and information about next year's conference. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Genetic Status of Atlantic Salmon in Maine [.pdf]
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309083117/html/
This interim report from the National Research Council's (NRC) Committee on Atlantic Salmon in Maine is a prepublication of the March 2002 report provided by National Academy Press. The once abundant populations of Atlantic Salmon in Maine have declined in recent years, now listed as endangered. The NRC Committee believes that "understanding the genetic makeup of Maine's salmon is important for recovery efforts." This 48-page report includes information on the salmon's biology, evolution, genetics, its current state, and the committee's conclusions. It can be viewed online or downloaded for printing. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Moths of North America
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/mothsusa.htm
The US Geological Survey's Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center has recently updated its Moths of North America Web site(last mentioned in the May 13, 1998 Scout Report for Science & Engineering) to include many additional county records and photos. Site visitors can view state distribution maps of many individual moth species or view checklists of all confirmed species in a county. Answers to commonly asked questions, instructions on how to report a species that is currently not found on a county checklist, and other information about moths and butterflies make this site complete. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Plants Database
http://plants.usda.gov/
The US Department of Agriculture's Plants Database (last mentioned in the January 16, 1998 Scout Report) is continually adding improvements. Most recently, the Web sitehas added an advanced query to allow users to search for specific plant data based on many different search characteristics. This new feature is also user friendly; by clicking on any of the fields, a definition of the field is displayed. Also new are targeted links that allow you to link directly from a queried plant profile to other Web sites with information on that plant. Links to county-level maps have also been included for a few states. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Bioinformatics.org
http://bioinformatics.org/
Bioinformatics.Org is a nonprofit academic organization that is committed to promoting the free exchange of biological information. This Web sitecurrently hosts 48 research projects, along with free software and news. The Frequently Asked Questions section provides an overview of the field of bioinformatics, other resources, and career information. Even though free, registration is required to access some sections of the site. (Note: At the time of publishing, this Web site was down for routine maintenance.) [AL]
[Back to Contents]
The Convention on Biological Diversity Database
http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/publications/cbdsearch.htm
The New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has commissioned this review of research and applications as part of its commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The database includes 3918 publications and 22 research projects and initiatives pertaining to New Zealand's Agricultural Biodiversity. Various searches can be performed, including by title, keywords, or researcher. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Kid's Planet [Flash, .pdf]
http://www.kidsplanet.org/
A Web sitedesigned just for kids by Defenders of Wildlife, Kid's Planet has much to offer for teachers and students. Teacher's Table contains downloadable .pdf lesson plans and activities. Designed primarily for middle school students, these lesson plans and essay contests cover topics like wolves and sea otters. With electronic fact sheets on over 50 species, the section titled Get the Facts may prove useful. This editor particularly enjoyed weaving through the Web of Life with the garden spider. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
New Lesson Plans on DiscoverySchool.com
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/whatsnew.html
The DiscoverySchool.com Lesson Plan Library (last mentioned in the December 14, 2001 Scout Report) has added 39 new lesson plans for Spring 2002. Most lessons are designed for grades 6-12 and cover various topics like health, forensic science, and the human body. These comprehensive lesson plans have ideas for getting the students actively involved in the lesson, questions for discussion, tips for evaluation, and ideas to extend the lesson. This site is well organized and full of useful information. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
The Manduca Project
http://www.manducaproject.com/
University of Arizona's Biology Project (last mentioned in the January 20, 1999 Scout Report for Science & Engineering) has included this online resource to help teachers use Manduca sexta, the tobacco hornworm, in their biology lessons. The easily navigable Web siteincludes a great deal of information about the life cycle of this species and how it is useful "for examining a diverse array of biological problems." Lesson plans and instructions for rearing help teachers transform this fascinating Web siteinto hands-on classroom learning. You can even order Manduca eggs directly from this Web site. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Journey North
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/index.html
Spring is coming, meaning it's time to track migrations. Journey North (last mentioned in the February 19, 1999 Scout Report) allows students and teachers to track their favorite critters as they make their way to their summer homes. Beginning in February, Journey North will provide migration updates on various species like Bald Eagles, Gray Whales, Hummingbirds, Caribou, and more. After free registration, students can report their own sightings to the database. Classroom lessons, a teacher discussion forum, and tips for using the site are all provided to make this a useful classroom resource. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
The Meaning of Sex: Genes & Gender
http://www.hhmi.org/grants/lectures/index.htm
"Just what is a male? Just what is a female? Sex, it turns out, can be defined on a number of different levels, from anatomical to physiological." Geared toward honors high school students, these lectures from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Holiday Lecture Series focus on the molecular and genetic mechanisms of sex determination. Web casts of the four lectures can be viewed online, or teachers can order free videotapes or DVD's. Summaries of the lectures, questions, and discussion points are also provided online. An interesting interactive feature is Gender Testing of Female Athletes. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Froguts [Flash, .pdf]
http://www.froguts.com
Save a frog by visiting this online frog dissection. Designed by graduate student and science teacher Richard Hill, Froguts attempts to teach the lessons typically learned through classroom dissections "while preventing what may be an over-use of frogs in our environment." The dissection can be viewed from start to finish, or you can skip straight to the parts that are most interesting. Additional resources for teachers are available for download (.pdf). With vivid photos and detailed text this site has a lot to offer. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Yukon Butterflies [QuickTime]
http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/jackhulland/projects/butterflies/
This Web siteis a student project from the Jack Hulland Elementary School. Visitors to the site can view the metamorphosis of a Painted Lady Butterfly and read daily observations of a larva transforming into a butterfly. Fun games and classroom activities are provided along with an explanation of the butterfly's life cycle. Resources that make this site particularly useful for teachers include Learning Outcomes and instructions on how to set up a Web cam. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Rader's Biology4Kids [Flash, QuickTime]
http://www.biology4kids.com/
This appealing site by Kapili.com has recently undergone some major changes, including updated content and its own URL. With lots of information and neat photos, this is a great site to learn about how to study and classify life forms, ranging from cells and microbes to plants and animals. Visitors can be guided through the site tour, browse, or search for specific topics. Even though there is only one quiz available in the Activities section, the site is interesting and informative. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Investigate Biodiversity
http://investigate.conservation.org/default.htm
A great way to learn about biodiversity is by visiting Conservation International's Investigate Biodiversity Web site. Visitors can read about biodiversity hot spots and major threats to the world's species. Of particular interest is the Expeditions Online section, detailing scientific field expeditions. Through this section, you can read daily updates and see photos of teams of scientists conducting biological surveys in remote parts of the world. After learning about Conservation International's research projects, students can follow the online guide to developing their own biodiversity field study. This well designed Web sitehas plenty to offer to anyone interested in biodiversity. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
BIODIC Image Gallery
http://www.ulb.ac.be/sciences/biodic/index.html
View this online catalog of 1127 scanning electron microscope images from the Free University of Brussels. The most recent addition to the categorized index is Cells. Images can be viewed and downloaded for private use. This site is a must for anyone who wants to see close-up images of things, like a leaf stomata, scales of a butterfly wing, or the head of a flea. Some visitors may be glad that many of the insect and arachnid specimens are too small to see with the naked eye. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Polar Bear Central [Flash]
http://www.wwf.ca/en/PolarBearCentral/default.asp
New from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada is a Web siteall about Polar Bears. Learn about these giant arctic bears, their habitat, and behavior. Also, find out about what threatens their survival and how WWF is working to protect them. The site also has plenty of fun stuff, like videos, a quiz, and postcards to send to your friends. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
GIS Projects From the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/gis/index.html
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has added a GIS unit to their Web sitethat currently includes four projects. Take a virtual tour through the Princess of Wales Conservatory, or view satellite imagery of the deforestation of the Itgi thicket in Zambia. Data on world plant distribution, and vegetation and geology of Madagascar can be downloaded with ArcView software. The use of technology on this site makes it worth checking out, even for those not interested in botany or conservation. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Your Genome
http://www.yourgenome.org/
This Web siteby the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute provides information about genome science for various levels of awareness. Although the advanced section is not yet complete, the beginner and intermediate touch on genes, DNA, RNA, and the Human Genome Project. If your curiosity is not satisfied by the Web site, there is a form for submitting questions directly to the Sanger Institute. Two nice features are the links (with descriptions and organized by level) and a timeline of genome science from the 1950's to the present. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Climate Change: Potential Impacts on Inland Freshwater and Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the United States [.pdf]
http://www.pewclimate.org/projects/aquatic.cfm
The latest report by the Pew Center for Global Climate Change is the seventh in a series of reports on the potential impacts of global climate change. The report predicts that projected climate change over the next 100 years will have significant impacts on valuable US freshwater ecosystems. Introductory sections are viewable online, while the entire report can be downloaded in Adobe Reader (.pdf) format. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
CSIRO Land and Water
http://www.clw.csiro.au/
CSIRO Land and Water is an Australian research organization working with government and industry to solve some of Australia's environmental challenges. The Current Issues section of this Web siteoffers some understanding of the resource management and ecosystem issues facing Australia, including agricultural and aquatic ecosystem issues. The site also offers an Image Gallery containing almost 1,200 downloadable images that visitors can browse by category or search by keyword. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Bug Bios
http://bugbios.com/index.html
This site is designed to "help you really see insects for the miniature marvels they represent and understand how intertwined our cultures have become with these alien creatures." It includes stunning photos grouped by order, several articles dealing with insects and their role in human culture, and links to other insect related sites. Particularly interesting are the butterfly wing patterns in the section titled class:insecta. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Eutrophication and Algal Blooms
1. NewScientist.com: Red Tide Wipes Out Kenyan Fish
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991883
2. Scientific American: Shrinking the Dead Zone
http://scientificamerican.com/2001/0701issue/0701scicit1.html
3. Minnesota Environment: Oxygen-Poor 'Dead Zone' Links Gulf of Mexico with Minnesota Waters
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/mnenvironment/fall2000/hypoxia.html
4. EPA: Eutrophication
http://www.epa.gov/maia/html/eutroph.html
5. The Harmful Algae Page
http://www.redtide.whoi.edu/hab/
6. Northwest Fisheries Science Center: An Algae Bloom
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/hab/blooms.htm#bloom
7. NOAA: Harmful Algal Bloom Forecasting Project
http://www.csc.noaa.gov/crs/habf/
8. Neuse Estuary Eutrophication Model
http://www.coe.uncc.edu/~jdbowen/neem/
Eutrophication is occurring in waters around the world and can have serious effects on marine life and humans. Excess nutrients cause the algae to "bloom," which affects aquatic life by depleting oxygen; some algae species also emit neurotoxins that impact marine species directly.
The first (1) is an article from New Scientist about the recent occurrence of thousands of dead fish on Kenyan shores. Oxygen deprivation due to algal blooms has become quite serious in the Gulf of Mexico, as described in the second (2) article from Scientific American. An article from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (3) discusses how places even as far inland as Minnesota can contribute to the problem in the Gulf of Mexico. The next site (4) from the US Environmental Protection Agency includes information about eutrophication, what causes it, why we should be concerned, and various links. The National Office for Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algal Blooms at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has created the this Web site(5) (last mentioned in the October 29, 1997 Scout Report for Science & Engineering) that gives the basics on harmful algal blooms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Northwest Fisheries Science Center (6) also has a page that includes photos and information about marine algae. NOAA also has harmful algal bloom forecasting project (7) which uses remote sensing to help predict algal blooms. The last site (8) is a modeling project used to predict water quality and nutrient loading in the Neuse River Estuary in North Carolina. [AL]
[Back to Contents]
Below are the copyright statements to be included when reproducing annotations from The NSDL Scout Report for the Life Sciences.
The single phrase below is the copyright notice to be used when reproducing any portion of this report, in any format:
From The NSDL Scout Report for Life Sciences, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2002. http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/
The paragraph below is the copyright notice to be used when reproducing the entire report, in any format:
Copyright Susan Calcari and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 1994-2002. The Internet Scout Project (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/), located in the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides information about the Internet to the U.S. research and education community under a grant from the National Science Foundation, number NCR-9712163. The Government has certain rights in this material. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the entire Scout Report provided this paragraph, including the copyright notice, are preserved on all copies.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or the National Science Foundation.
For information on additional contributors, see the Internet Scout Project staff page:
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/about/team.html
