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Ecology Links
Welcome to the Ecology links page. These links are provided as additional information to go along with the topics covered on my website. At the time of this posting, the links are all in working order, but if you come across one that doesn't work, please contact me at WWDD.
Conserving Biodiversity
This is a hypertext book, but most of the links leave the book in order to take advantage of documents produced and updated elsewhere. Used in Bio65, Biological Conservation.
This library from the World Conservation Union is stuffed with papers, case studies, reports, abstracts, and other sources of information on the economics of preserving biodiversity.
Biodiversity of the Hengduan Mountains
This region of southern China is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots, imperiled areas chock-full of unique species. You can check out the impressive haul of specimens from one of the few botanic surveys of the Hengduan Mountain region.
Islands of Hope to Challenge Extinction
44% of all higher plants and 35% of all land vertebrate species are confined to 25 hotspots, which together make up just 1.4% of the Earth's land surface. The total area of the hotspots is 2,122,891 square kilometres - and 38% of that already enjoys at least nominal legal protection.
Israel Biodiversity Information System
The Israel Biodiversity Information System being developed at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem showcases the promise of creating geographic information systems (GISs) that can transform raw observations into user-friendly maps that detail where plants and animals live. Visitors can click on a species and pull up all its records, then plot them on a map. The site's map tool can be used to zoom in on any point in Israel and pull up data on specimens and ecological conditions.
Wildlife Research Organizations
From bacteria that build soils to insects that aerate the soil.
Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution
The Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution is a non-partisan group of practising ecologists and evolutionary biologists.
Central American Cloud Forests
Through their impact on water and soil quality, climate patterns, and numerous known and unknown plant and animal species, cloud forests profoundly affect life surrounding them, and life around the planet.
Land Use History of the Colorado Plateau
Centered on the Four Corners of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, the Colorado Plateau is 337,000 square kilometers of paradox. Learn about the Anasazi people, who built cliff dwellings and kivas before mysteriously disappearing 800 years ago. Find out how scientists use fossilized garbage piles left by packrats to trace past vegetation and animal life.
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North American Bluebird Society This is a non-profit conservation, education and research organization, promotes the recovery of bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting species. |
Northern Prairie Research Center
Tremendous range of files, many of them highly pictorial, about species of animals and plants of North American. Research Reports, ecological studies and much more of interest.
Imagine environmental protection in the year 2010. How will changes in our society, institutions, and technological world affect our environment and impact our policies? This is a report about our environmental future, our options, and our opportunities.
Seabirds and Forage Fish Research
Aimed at both students and scientists, the site explains Alaskan ecosystems through descriptions of research on how the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and long-term swings in forage fish populations have affected seabirds. But birds are the site's stars in a large photo gallery.
Worldwide Species information and Endangered Species Lists
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a clearinghouse on livestock and genetic diversity.
Australia's wildlife is threatened by many natural changes. These usually take place over long periods of time. Some actions of humans however can have a more sudden effect on wildlife and lead to extinctions if continued.
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COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) is a committee of experts that assesses and designates which wild species are in some danger of disappearing from Canada. |
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between Governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Environmental Information Portal
Do you need to know what percentage of land in Uganda is set aside in reserves, or how many of Australia's 260 mammal species are threatened, or how many wild orchids are legally sold each year? This almanac is packed with facts and figures for researchers and teachers hoping to jazz up a lecture.
The NatureServe database holds information on over 50,000 species, including endangered status, distribution, life history, and references.
Rare/Threatened/Endangered Mammals
This site provides information on the world's endangered species and includes many different searches, such as by rarest animals, or by country.
The United Nations says efforts to save the world's most important forests should concentrate on just 15 countries -- the 15 contain more than 80% of the forests it judges need protection most. See also WWF - Forests For Life.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered and threatened species program works to build and maintain partnerships, promote good science, and adopt an ecosystem approach to management.
Climate Study
Introduces students to long-term patterns in temperature and precipitation, and issues such as the debate over global warming. Each unit describes scientific findings about climate variation and discusses how such changes might have influenced human history or evolution.
Climatic Extremes and Weather Events
Sections focus on different forms of unruly weather. For example, you can search a 50-year database for all tornadoes above a certain wind speed, maximum/minimum daily rainfall, or browse the gallery of satellite views of fires, hurricanes, cyclones, and pounding storms.
Aims to make climate change real and immediate by documenting effects we can see and measure today. The site provides examples of environmental shifts that range from disappearing toads in Costa Rica to melting permafrost in Alaska to surging sea levels in Siberia.
Ecosystem Links by Climate
Antarctic and Arctic
The Icy Continent is a booming place for science on everything from meteorites to Weddell seals, calving icebergs, and microbes that thrive in the hostile dry valleys. One can get a quick overview at Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research . Its site briefly describes research projects ranging from glaciology to seals. For more technical info, check out the United States Antarctic Resource Center where you can see all kinds of maps -- zoom in on the nearly water-free dry valleys, for example. If it's general information you're after, check out the British Antarctic Survey and it's recently spiffed-up site. It includes updates on topics such as the ozone hole as well as diaries of scientists.
Alaska Science Forum: Water, Snow and Ice Index
From the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, this website contains lots of cool stuff (pun unintentional!) about cold. Glaciers, Ice Age, Ice, Snow and People.
Need to know the history of arctic sea ice, whether mercury pollution is harming polar bears, or perhaps the current temperature at the North Pole? These are just a few tidbits to be found at the, Arctic Theme Page a new collection of links and articles from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. See also Norwegian Polar Institute to learn more about polar pollution and animal life.
Caves
Within caves a diverse biota may be found, exhibiting varying degrees of adaptation to the subterranean environment. Information and links about cave habitats and fauna, as well as cave protection and related topics. Illinois Natural History Survey.
Biospeleology (University of Texas)
The Biospeleology web site is sponsored by the Texas Memorial Museum at The University of Texas at Austin. This site is dedicated to exploring the world of cave biology (biospeleology), ranging from completely cave-adapted species (troglobites) of fishes, salamanders, and invertebrates, to troglophiles (animals that may be somewhat adapted to caves, but which may be found in similar habitats), and trogloxenes (animals that roost in caves, such as bats and cave crickets).
GORP - Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park's 52,700 acres constitute one of the greatest protectors of biological diversity in Kentucky.
Deserts
This page, put together by the Missouri Botanical Garden, includes basic information about desert life, as well as links to other biomes.
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The Living Desert was established in 1970 as a non-profit education and conservation center, dedicated to preserving the plant and animal life of the desert. Today, The Living Desert is one of the most successful zoological parks in the country and is fully accredited by The American Zoo and Aquarium Association. |
The North American deserts are highly accessible, well-researched and very diverse, so they provide a good basis for understanding desert ecology.
Forests
There are several types of forests to look at, each with their own brand of ecology. Use the links to go to a specific forest type.
- Cold Climate Forests (Taiga or Boreal)
- Temperate or Deciduous Forests
- Temperate Rainforests
- Tropical Dry Forests
- Tropical Wet Forests
Cold Climate Forests (Taiga or Boreal)
Boreal Ecology from DavidSuzuki.org
The boreal region is truly extraordinary and encircles the globe across the northern hemisphere through Canada, Russia, Scandinavia and Alaska. This vast region is characterized by a mosaic of ecosystems, including forests, lakes, river valleys, wetlands and peat bogs.
Studies in the sub-boreal ecosystem in the northern Okanogan Range on the Canadian border.
The taiga is characterized by a climate of long, severe winters and a constant cover of snow, and short, cool summers. The vegetation is dominated by conifers such as spruce, fir, and hemlock.
Temperate or Deciduous Forests
Deciduous Forests of the Eastern United States
Deciduous forests are forests in which the leaves fall from the trees during autumn and early winter. Deciduous forests occupy most of the eastern half of the United States.
Temperate deciduous forest is characterized by a warm to hot growing season with moderate precipitation, followed by a winter that is not as cold or as long as in more northerly regions.
Temperate Forests (Rainforest)
Temperate rainforests are among the rarest ecosystems in the world, and originally comprised less than .02 per cent of Earth's land surface. Approximately half of all original temperate rainforests have been logged.
This page was designed with the temperate rain forests of the Pacific Northwest in mind. It provides images of the types of life that can be found in this unique environment.
A home to such animals like the Tasmanian devil and the American alligator, this biome occurs in areas of slightly lower rainfall next to tropical rain forests. Found primarily in Central America, southern Asia (forests here are known as Monsoon Forests), and some portions of Australia, their well defined dry season limits plant growth and the activity of animals.
The Tropical Dry Forest of the Sierra de la Laguna
The Cape region of the southern state of Baja California is home to the Sierra de la Laguna dry forest. Tropical dry forests make up the majority of tropical forests on earth. Even though there is more dry tropical habitat throughout the world than rainforest, this habitat is not as well known and tends to be overlooked by conservation efforts.
Believe it or not, Hawaii has dry forests! The Hawaiian Dry Forests ecoregion harbors a number of specialist species that thrive with little rain, including native hibiscus trees and several rare shrubs such as Gouania, now represented only by a few individuals.
The Environmental Literacy Council - Tropical Forests
Tropical rain forests are green, lush forests that support a tremendous amount of species. These forests are typically located near the equator and are found in parts of Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Malaysia. While tropical forests only constitute about 7% of the Earth's surface, they account for 50-80% of the world's plant species.
North-eastern Australia is very diverse because it is jam packed full of very close, but very different, ecosystems and their smaller vegetation communities; coral reefs, sea grass communities, mangroves, beaches, rocky shores, wet schlerophyll forest, tropical open forests and woodlands. The terrestrial part of north-eastern Queensland is known as the 'Wet Tropics', with one of Australia's most beautiful towns, Cairns, at it's centre. The 'Wet Tropics' has, as the name suggests, Australia's highest rainfall and thus supports the continent's main tropical rainforest.
Freshwater Ecology
National Estuarine Research Reserves
They protect and study 25 estuarine reserves in the USA. The site describes the importance of estuaries, national programs, reserves in your state, and critical issues, such as polluted runoff, restoration science, invasive species and environmental stewardship.
History, origins, wildlife, geology, ecological problems and more.
Water on the Web is a site for teaching high school and first-year college students science and math concepts through lessons on limnology, or the study of lakes, rivers, and streams. A 21-page primer covers topics such as lake formation, food webs, and eutrophication (nutrient overload). It also explains such basics as the seasonal turnover of lake waters and a device, called the Secchi disk, used to measure water clarity.
The Water Research Network lists freshwater research projects from around the world. The studies range from estimating flood volumes to limiting non-point source pollution and to the social impact of dams.
Grasslands
Throughout the world, grasslands are known by many different names. In North America they are known as "prairie", in Asia "steppe", in South America the "pampas" and in South Africa a "veldt".
Grazing of domestic livestock may be the most pervasive and persistent human impact on the grasslands and shrublands of the Colorado Plateau.
The Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois
Prairies are a type of grassland, a landscape dominated by herbaceous plants, especially grasses; trees are either absent or only widely scattered on the landscape. Grasslands occur in many regions, such as the llanos of Venezuela, the pampas of Argentina, the cerrado and campos of Brazil, the steppes of central Asia, the veldt and savannas of Africa, and the grasslands of Australia.
Marine Ecosystems and Conservation
Promoting sustainable use of the hard-pressed oceans is this new online encyclopedia from the United Nations. Provides up-to-date data on human uses of the ocean and environmental issues, such as pollution, food security, and global climate change.
The Battle for West Africa's Fish
Stocks in these rich fishing grounds are plummeting. But the Europeans need to access more than ever now because most of Europe's own waters are already overfished. See also a follow-on story: West Africa's delicate fishing balance.
Coelecanth: The Fish Out of Time
Once thought to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs, the Coelacanth was "discovered" alive and well in 1938. Read all about it - including the latest efforts to protect the creature.
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Hopkins Marine Station - Monterey Bay Aquarium - Tuna Research and Conservation The Tuna Research and Conservation Center is a joint collaboration between Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station and The Monterey Bay Aquarium. The mission of the Tuna Research and Conservation Center is to promote cooperative ventures that educate the public about the conservation and biology of tunas. |
Marine Biology, Coral Reefs & Rainforests, Etc.
It's an unusual Web site that packs tarantulas, astronomy, paleoclimate, and coral reefs onto the same server. But all those and more interest Hays Cummins, a biological oceanographer in the department of--what else, interdisciplinary studies--at Miami University in Ohio. The result is a great trove of links, especially for teaching.
New Source Of Natural Fertilizer Discovered In Oceans
This discovery points to how little we know about the organisms that drive ocean biogeochemical processes," says Phil Taylor, director of NSF's biological oceanography program. "It may have profound influences on our thinking about and modeling of the global ocean nitrogen and carbon cycles."
Shark Research Program at the University of Florida Museum of Natural History
Shark attack files, population studies, conservation programs.
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National Marine Sanctuaries, Live Events, Expedition Reports, News |
Mountain Ecology
Mountain Forest Ecology Research
The mission of the Mountain Forest Ecology Group is to further our understanding of the structure and function of forest ecosystems in mountain areas, with a particular focus on the European Alps
The Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) is an independent not-for-profit mountain research and education center established in 2002 in Silverton, Colorado.
Understanding the Ecoogy of the Rocky Mountains
In the Rockies, like everywhere else, everything is connected. The rocks form the foundation upon which plant communities spring. Wildlife populations are, in turn, governed by the mixture of landscape and available food sources.
Savannah Ecology
The main difference between savannahs and grasslands is that savannahs are found in tropical regions.
The Savanna biome is characterized by an extensive cover of grasses with scattered trees. The savanna biome is a transitional biome between those dominated by forests and those dominated by grasses.
Savannah Biomes @ BluePlanetBiomes.com
A savanna is a rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and isolated trees, which can be found between a tropical rainforest and desert biome. Not enough rain falls on a savanna to support forests. Savannas are also known as tropical grasslands. They are found in a wide band on either side of the equator on the edges of tropical rainforests.
Invasive Species
This site provides a compiled national list of invasive plants infesting natural areas throughout the U.S., background information on the problem of invasive species, illustrated fact sheets that include plant descriptions, native range, distribution and habitat in the U.S.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Citrus Canker, TSE in Vermont Sheep, Plum Pox Virus, Asian Longhorned Beetle and West Nile Virus are just some of the hot topics here.
Sun-starved tourists aren't the only outsiders flocking to the Mediterranean. Hundreds of exotic creatures have wandered in from the Atlantic, sneaked through the Suez Canal, or been introduced by people. One invader, the pushy Caulerpa alga, is smothering native species in many spots across the Mediterranean, but the effects of most exotics are unknown.
California Exotic Pest Plant Council
All over California, natural wildlands and parks are under attack from invasive pest plants. The CalEPPC is finds solutions to problems caused by non-native pest plant invasions.
The silent invasion of Hawaii by insects, disease organisms, snakes, weeds, and other pests is the single greatest threat to Hawaii's economy, natural environment and public health.
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Comprehensive data on exotic plant names and weed distribution records for five states in the NW United States. Noxious weed listings are provided for all states and six Canadian provinces. |
America's forests and other ecosystems are threatened by invasions of alien species of insects, disease pathogens, and plants. Already, insects, fungi, and disease pathogens introduced from Europe and Asia have damaged 70% of the 165 million acres of forest in the Northeast and Midwest.
Like uninvited party guests, hundreds of foreign animals and plants have made themselves at home in U.S. waters, where they can wreak havoc on native ecosystems. The site's database can be used to generate a U.S. map of an invader's range and list introduced species found in any state or watershed. The aliens run from high-profile nuisance species such as the zebra mussel, bighead carp, and green crab to plants such as giant salvina, a fern choking many Southeast ponds and streams.
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Wildland Invasive Species Program Provides detailed information on the use of manual and mechanical techniques, grazing, prescribed fire, biocontrol, and herbicides, to help control undesirable invasive plants. |
Further Reading on Invasive species |
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