Ships Return to the Southern Ocean to Enhance Understanding of Food Chain
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/02/pr0236.htm
This press release from the National Science Foundation describes the voyage of a team of research vessels studying Antarctic marine food chains. The page also links to several daily dispatches from the research team that include photos of research activities and Antarctic scenery. These dispatches describe many aspects of the research ranging from the types of data acquired to the array of research tools used. [AL]
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Internet Handbook of Neurology
http://www.neuropat.dote.hu/neurology.htm
This Web site is a "collection of high quality online resources for health professionals" compiled by the University of Debrecen, Hungary. The sites are organized by category and subcategory, and many come from academic sources. The collection is much more extensive than it appears at first glance, a number of "chapters" each contain lists of categorized references specific to that subject. The site serves as a comprehensive reference collection with the most recent additions highlighted for easy identification. [AL]
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Crop Evapotranspiration - Guidelines For Computing Crop Water Requirements - FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X0490E/X0490E00.htm
This online report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a rich resource on evapotranspiration. The document includes a comprehensive introduction to evapotranspiration, methods of calculation, and an examination of evapotranspiration in crops. The report is easy to navigate with a detailed table of contents; navigational buttons; and links to figures, tables, and subsections. [AL]
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Chimpanzee Cultures [QuickTime]
http://chimp.st-and.ac.uk/cultures3/default.htm
This Web site exploring the cultural variation among various groups of chimpanzees is a collaboration by a number of primate experts. Its basis is a 1999 paper published in the journal Nature, and its main feature is two related databases. The Behaviour Definitions Database includes records of specific observed behaviors while the examples database includes photos, sketches, or video documentation of the behavior type. Both can be searched by a number of fields and are linked to each other. This is a comprehensive site, complete with background information on chimpanzees and research, as well as news and information related to this field of study. [AL]
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Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center
http://nps.ars.usda.gov/locations/locations.htm?modecode=12-35-00-00
This Web page, from the US Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service, features information about research being conducted at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Center. Twenty-one research projects are currently highlighted, each has a page that includes a description of the research project and links to annual reports, researcher information, and publications associated with the study. [AL]
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The International Immunogenetics Database
http://imgt.cnusc.fr:8104/
The International Immunogenetics (IMGT) Database "is a high-quality integrated information system specializing in Immunoglobulins (IG), T cell receptors (TR) and Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules of all vertebrate species." The site is developed and coordinated by Marie-Paule Lefranc, a professor at the Universite' Montpellier II. Each of the IMGT databases can be searched independently, and most contain links to fairly detailed help pages. Although the site is not new, it continues to add new features and tools. [AL]
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Embryological Modelling Research Group
http://embryos.st-andrews.ac.uk/default.htm
This Web site is a broad overview of the work of the Embryological Modelling Research Group at the University of St. Andrews. The research group deals with computer imaging of embryos for research and teaching purposes. The Human Embryo Database includes records from St. Andrews and the University of Cambridge. Users can search multiple fields for information about embryos of interest, some of which can be viewed online. The site provides unique information and many detailed images. [AL]
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Cat Specialist Group
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/
"The Cat Specialist Group consists of the world's leading scientists and wildlife managers involved with the 36 species of wild cats" and is part of the Species Survival Commission of the World Conservation Union. This Web site provides data on the wild cats that the Cat Specialist Group aims to protect, and the threats that each species faces. The information is well organized, both by region and species, and by category of vulnerability. For most species, the site also includes a number of great photos of the wild cats. [AL]
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Animal Information Database
http://www.seaworld.org/infobook.html
The Animal Information Database is an educational Web site from SeaWorld/Busch Gardens. The site contains a wide variety of information about many animals including fun facts, biological classification, habitat, and news about specific animals at the Sea World/Busch Gardens parks. A fun part of the site is the Animal Sounds Library where visitors can listen to the interesting sounds made by a number of animals. [AL]
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Tales from the Hive [QuickTime]
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/
Yet another great site from PBS's NOVA Online. Tales from the Hive offers an up-close look at the interactions and social organizations of honey bees. Lots of vivid photographs and detailed descriptions of behavior help the visitor enjoy learning from the site. After learning how to interpret the dances bees use to tell their hivemates where to find nectar, users can test their understanding through the interactive game entitled You Be the Bee. [AL]
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Phylogeny of Life
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibit/phylogeny.html
The University of California Museum of Paleontology's Web site includes this section on the phylogenetic relationships that connect diverse life forms. The highlight of the site is the online exhibit The Phylogeny of Life, which contains many great images and photos to enhance the text. Without a specific navigational path, visitors can view the information in what ever pattern and level of detail that they choose. Those unfamiliar with phylogeny will appreciate the short introduction to phylogeny and may also learn from the Journey into Phylogenetic Systematics. [AL]
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The D.C. Herbarium
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/dcflora/dcherbarium.html
The D.C. Herbarium, maintained by the Smithsonian Institution, is a collection of preserved plants found in the Washington, D.C. - Baltimore, MD region. This Web site allows users to query the online database for plants of interest and includes an image and distribution map for most species, and an estimated map location for most specimens. The site also contains an image gallery of D.C. area flora and first-flowering date records since 1970. [AL]
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WhaleNet
http://whale.wheelock.edu/Welcome.html
WhaleNet is an educational Web site for students and teachers from Wheelock College in Boston. The sites main features include photos, maps, and data from several satellite tracked marine animals, and lots of information on whales, whale sightings, and whale research. The site includes a teachers resources section with a number of activities and lesson plans to enhance the usefulness of this site in the classroom. The WhaleNet Tour is fairly useful for new site visitors, as is the WhaleNet Index for an overview of all the site has to offer. There are also many links to other whale related Web sites. [AL]
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ScienceMaster's Biology & Life Science Home Page
http://www.sciencemaster.com/life/life.php
ScienceMaster is a company that provides this free Web site as a collection of several high quality educational Web sites. Resources include articles, Web pages, and curriculum guides that focus on a variety of life science subjects aimed specifically at kids. One notable feature is the Learning Galleries which emphasize the use of images to explain a number of scientific topics. In addition to this life science site, ScienceMaster also tackles physical, earth, technology, and space sciences. [AL]
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Bird Watching
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/Birdwatching.html
This brief Web page from Enchanted Learning.com is actually a broader resource than it appears at first glance. By clicking on the highlighted links kids can learn a bit about how to become a knowledgeable bird watcher, and how to attract birds to their yards. The Zoom Birds link takes the user to a more extensive Enchanted Learning.com page about birds in general. [AL]
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Encarta Schoolhouse Encyclopedia Lesson Collection
http://encarta.msn.com/schoolhouse/default.asp
This Web collection of lesson plans may be useful to teachers of all disciplines. The site uses frames where teachers can choose their subject of interest, the science category offers many life science lessons from agriculture to botany to histology, and more. Each lesson plan includes the source of the lesson and the targeted grade level, and many include Web links for more information on a specific topic. The search function makes it easier to find a lesson on a specific topic or for a designated grade level. [AL]
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State Birds Forced to Take Flight? Global Warming Likely to Displace Nation's Migratory Birds [.pdf]
http://www.nwf.org/climate/statemigratorybirds.html
The National Wildlife Federation's Climate Change & Wildlife Web site is currently featuring the topic of state birds that are likely to be impacted by global warming. Visitors can download a fact sheet for each state that focuses on the threats to bird species in that state. The site also contains the downloadable Birdwatcher's Guide to Global Warming, a report put out by the National Wildlife Federation and American Bird Conservancy. The research "shows that global warming is already shifting songbird ranges, altering their migration behavior and habitat, and perhaps diminishing some species' ability to survive." [AL]
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Ocean Explorer: 2002 Explorations
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/explorations.html
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Ocean Explorer Web site (last mentioned in the March 8, 2002 NSDL Scout Report for the Life Sciences) has begun several of this seasons explorations. Six new voyages have been, or soon will be undertaken and the Web pages include daily updates, photos, and videos of the research efforts. Studies include biological monitoring of marine sanctuaries, hydrothermal vents, geological studies, and recovery of a sunken Civil War ship. An interesting site for those interested in the type of research conducted by NOAA, and those curious about careers in oceanography. [AL]
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Two on Chronic Wasting Disease
http://whyfiles.org/156cwd_deer/index.html
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/cwd/
Chronic wasting disease, the brain disease sometimes compared to mad cow disease that affects deer and elk, has become a problem outside of the states of Colorado and Wyoming where it has been known for decades, raising awareness and concern for wildlife in affected areas. The first Web site is a recent Why Files discussing the epidemic and Wisconsin's plans to control it. The second is a Web site from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service which includes a fact sheet on the disease and USDA actions to attempt to eradicate it. [AL]
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US Fish & Wildlife Service National Image Library
http://images.fws.gov/
This digital image collection from the US Fish & Wildlife Service contains an enormous number of photographs that can be viewed online or downloaded. The collection contains images of plants, wildlife, landscapes, and habitats. The search function allows for either general or specific searches, but the site is lacking a browse function that would allow users an overview of the scope of categories contained in the collection. [AL]
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NOAA Fisheries Shark Web Site
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sharks/index.htm
This Shark Web site from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contains a broad range of information on sharks ranging from shark biology and management to reducing the risk of a shark attack. The Web site includes a series of fact sheets on these various topics that briefly and effectively convey information. The site, which is mainly text, is easy to navigate, and includes a large number of links for more information organized into topic groups. [AL]
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Seeing Leaves in a New Light
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/LAI/
This current feature from NASA's Earth Observatory focuses on the use of a new type of vegetation measurement called the leaf area index (LAI). The four page article describes how trees moderate climate, and how scientists think the LAI will be useful in modeling global climate change. The text is written for a general audience and includes images showing what LAI data actually looks like. When the glossary is turned on, links are provided to definitions for a number of scientific terms. [AL]
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Dendrology at Virginia Tech
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm
This home page for the Dendrology program at Virginia Tech is a great resource for those interested in woody plants. In addition to the set of fact sheets on over 450 tree species and fall color photos for many species, the site hosts two useful identification keys. The Leaf Key and Twig Key allow users to identify a tree by viewing online photos and statements, and clicking on the choice that most resembles the tree to be identified. When the suspected genus or species is identified, more photos and descriptions are provided to help ensure that the identification is correct. [AL]
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Environmental Indicators
http://ecoinfo.org/env_ind/indicators_e.cfm
Environment Canada has developed a set of environmental indicators that are easily measurable and provide useful clues on the state of the environment. This Web site provides a listing of those indicators that Environment Canada monitors. For each indicator, there is a detailed description of the environmental indicator, how it relates to larger environmental problems, and what is being done to reduce the threat. A number of Web links are provided for further information on each indicator. [AL]
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Integrated Pest Management
1. VegEdge
http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/
2. UC IPM Online
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/default.html
3. Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/
4. Center for Integrated Pest Management
http://cipm.ncsu.edu/
5. Elementary Urban IPM Curriculum
http://www.pested.msu.edu/CommunitySchoolIpm/curriculum.htm
6. IPMnet News
http://www.IPMnet.org/IPMnet_NEWS/archives.html
7. New York State Integrated Pest Management Program: Success Stories
http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/success/stories02.html
8. Integrated Pest Management for the Home Vegetable Garden
http://vegipm.tamu.edu/
The first Web site is an integrated pest management (IPM) resource from the University of Minnesota Extension Service (1) with a number of regional newsletters and crop specific fact sheets. The next resource from the University of California (2) is a comprehensive overview of IPM dealing with a wide range of topics including weather, weeds, and pesticides. Cornell University's Guide to Natural Enemies in North America (3) (last mentioned in the December 10, 1997 Scout Report for Science & Engineering) is a tutorial and guide to the beneficial insects that help control weeds, diseases, and pests. The home page for the Center for Integrated Pest Management (4) is a gateway to IPM research. Teachers wishing to incorporate the ecological concepts of IPM into their classrooms may be interested in this curriculum developed by Michigan State University (5) downloadable in Adobe Acrobat Reader format. Users looking to stay current on the subject of IPM may want to check out the IPMnet newsletters (6) from the Consortium for International Crop Protection. Brief reports of several IPM successes are posted on this New York State IPM Web site (7). Lastly, the home gardener may benefit from this (8) Texas A&M University site focusing on IPM for the home vegetable garden. [AL]
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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.
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