WETLAND, FOREST & OTHER BIOMES

BIOMES: "A major community of living or-
ganisms; a complex of climax communities
of plants and animals in a major region."
"A major life zone, biotic formation."
"A major ecological community type."

FLORIDA'S EVERGLADES & MANGROVES
Florida's famous wetlands, their native and exotic plants and animals, their history and special environmental threats. 3 programs. 105 slides and extensive texts.
EP #105X SLIDES
$129.95

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SAVE OVER $35.00 ON 3 SET SLIDE BUNDLE ORDER EP #105X.............$129.95
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ECOLOGY OF THE EVERGLADES Order #105........$42.50

Unlike many of our famous national parks which are unique because of their
geological formations, the Everglades is alive, a fragile, living ecosystem--a sea of grass
in a slow flowing river--dependent upon a constant inflow of fresh water for its existence.
Small changes in water flow drastically alter this environment of hummock, slough,
mangrove swamp and sawgrass marsh.

The mixing of fresh and salt waters in the Everglades provides a rich food source
for myriad birds, fish, reptiles, molluscs, insects and plants. Many are illustrated and
discussed in this program, their interrelations detailed, their unique needs and adapta-
tions explained, and the threats to their continued existance outlined. 20 slides, guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 11665 Mangroves line the hundreds of miles of narrow, twisting
creeks and rivers near the coast. This is wonderful canoe country. The roots stretch out into the
water from the base of the trees and also reach down from the overhanging branches. As you can
guess, these trees growing closely together form an impenetrable, dense forest.

The mangrove area of the Everglades is often called the "vital zone," for it is here in
these sheltered creeks that a nursery area exists for young marine life. The large predatory fish
of both salt and fresh water do not penetrate this brackish zone and so juveniles can grow up
here before they put out to sea.

REVIEWS: "...was pleased and impressed to see the fine job you have done...It so
beautifully sums up the Everglades." J.C.R., Superintendent, Everglades National Park.
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THE EVERGLADES Slides order # SS-1085S............$79.95

The community types found in the Everglades, their importance to the overall
ecology of the area, and the importance of fire in some of these communities are
described, along with some of the ways in which the inhabitants of the area have
adapted to the alternating wet and dry seasons. The magnificent wildlife of the area,
including some rare and endangered species, is featured. 65 frames. 21 mins. Slides or
filmstrip and guide. (Filmstrip #SS-1085F...... .$49.95.)

CONTENT SAMPLE: 19. If we look closely into the water, we see a grayish,
rather shapeless mass that seems to be everywhere. These are actually masses of microscopic
algae of many species, collectively called periphyton. The grayish material covering these
masses is calcium carbonate, precipitated from the water by the metabolic activities of the
algae. The periphyton is a vitally important part of the ecology of the sawgrass community. Not
only is it the basis of the food chain here, providing food for the smaller aquatic creatures, but
without it, many of the aquatic organism could not survive the dry season. Many of these
organisms deposit their eggs in the masses of periphyton at the onset of the dry season. The
periphyton holds just enough moisture through the dry season to permit the eggs to survive. With
the return of the wet season, the eggs hatch and quickly repopulate the waters of the sawgrass
community.
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THE TREE THAT WALKS IN THE SEA--THE RED MANGROVE Order #253........$42.50

The history and life story of this unique, land-building tropical evergreen and the
many brackish water life forms that shelter and reproduce among its sturdy prop roots.
Pictures include trees, radical, roots, molluscs, algae, fish and birds. 20 slides, guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 20245 As the mangrove root system grows, it becomes more
tangled, extensive and almost impenetrable. It acts like a sieve and bits of driftwood, shell
fragments, seaweeds, grasses, dead organisms and leaves--practically anything that can be
carried by water--collects and gets trapped. At the same time, the trees, the roots and the
trapped debris provide food and dwelling places for various bacteria, fungi and algae. Spring and
summer rains falling upstate and storms from the Caribbean move in silts, mud and organic
detritus that gets trapped as well, so that there is a gradual build-up of nutrient rich soils and
sediments, and land is built around the mangrove roots.

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RELATED PROGRAMS WORTH NOTING
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A CLOSER LOOK AT PONDLIFE---CD-ROM Order #CDR-1565....$79.95
Lab Pack of 5 Order #CDR-1566....$159.95
Library Pack of 20 Order #CDR-1567....$559.95
Network Version (single server, one building) Order #CDR-1567N....$239.95

New 1999
Combined IBM/MAC Format

Through the wonders of close-up photography, this unique CD-ROM brings
students face-to-face with the inner workings of a freshwater pond, the myriad creatures
and plants that reside there, and the dynamic interactions that go on beneath the surface.
This disk features a library of reference information, images, illustrations, clip art, video
clips and more!

Section One provides a general overview of ecosystems in general and the pond
ecosystem in particular, and introduces the various life forms that reside there. These
include emergent and submerged rooted water plants, microscopic and small
macroscopic animals, aquatic insects, molluscs, amphibians, reptiles, birds and
mammals. Spring and fall overturns are explained and numerous links lead students to
images and text that round out their understanding.

Section Two delves into microscopic pond life in great detail, covering: the
different types of cells, eubacteria, cyanobacteria, euglenoids, diatoms, desmids,
dinoflagellates, flagellates, amoebas, ciliates, suctorians and green protists. Eye
stopping photographs of many examples accompany detailed information.

Section Three presents pond plants and information about how they grow and
reproduce, an what lives on and among them: larch, weeping willow, paper birch, poplar,
alder, jewelweed, ferns, mosses, phragmites, aromatic water lily, variable pond weed,
floating heart, submergent rooted plants, cardinal flower, sundew.

With more striking close-up photographs, Section Four presents the small
invertebrate life that is so plentiful amid the shallow water vegetation and pond sediments:
rotifers, gastrotrichs, hydras, flatworms, nematodes, bryozoans, microannelids,
cladocerans (water fleas), and microcrustaceans. Again, numerous links connect these
creatures to other members of the pond community.

Section Five introduces food chains and trophic levels, photosynthesizers,
herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and decomposers. In the process, the numerous pond
vertebrates—fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals—are reintroduced and
presented in depth, along with the microlife forms previously covered. Life styles, feeding
behavior, mating and reproduction, as well as their dependence on other pond life are
presented for the vertebrates.

Section Six provides Field Trip and Laboratory tips. Various classroom and field
projects, ways to collect and preserve specimens, how to calculate a diversity index,
safety considerations, etc.

Section Seven is a unique curriculum section that provides the means to link the
vast library of resources to key, curriculum-based science topics.

Can be used with either Windows or Mac. Color printer recommended.
System Requirements:
Windows 95 or higher, 16MB RAM. Sound card recommended.
Mac 7.5 or higher, 16MB RAM.
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EXPLORING FRESHWATER COMMUNITIES--CD-ROM Order #CDR-1550.........$99.95
Lab Pack of 5 Order #CDR-1550-5.........$199.95

Combined IBM/MAC Format

This indispensable interactive CD-ROM is a complete resource for studying
freshwater biomes.

It provides a fascinating survey of the ecology of swamps, bogs, marshes,
wetlands, streams, ponds, lakes and the Everglades. There is even an introduction to
fish restoration and water pollution.

It also explores the various organisms commonly found associated with these
waters--fish, plankton, protozoa, aquatic insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and plants,
and emphasizes their special adaptations, feeding habits and the complex interactions
among them.

This program is an instant curriculum-oriented encyclopedia, augmented with
printable diagrams and illustrations, superb photographs, video clips, informative text, lab
activities, and a Protists Culture Database--all on one CD-ROM.

The extensive library of illustrations and diagrams supplements those found in
textbooks.

The Protist Culture Database makes it easy to find over 125 protist genera, and
iIncludes morphologic characteristics, culture parameters and media formulations.

Printable lab activities and laboratory activity tips at the end of each section
help make your ecology labs and field trips more successful than ever before.

Recommended for use with popular biology texts such as Holt: Modern Biology,
Chapter 49, and Prentice Hall: Biology, Chapter 47.

CONTENT SAMPLE:

There are four major types of wetlands: marsh, swamp, fen and bog. Exact classification
is not always possible, since characteristics of more than one type often occur together. In fact,
wetland ecologists sometimes disagree on exactly what these names mean. Before looking at a
bog, in detail, let's briefly consider these four types of wetlands.

A marsh is defined as a wet, open, grassy area with a fluctuating, but always shallow,
water level. The water is either standing or slowly moving. The substratum, or bottom, consists
of mineral soils with or without organic matter.

Both dissolved oxygen and mineral nutrients in the water are present in ample supply.
As a result, marshes can support an abundance of living organisms. Dominant vegetation in
marshes consists of rushes, reeds, reedgrasses, and numerous floating and, in areas of open
water, submerged aquatic plants.

Trees and shrubs are present only near the edges and on small islands of land within the
marsh.

The Everglades region of Florida is a well-known wetland primarily marsh in character.

Copyright (c) MCMXCVI
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FLORIDA BAY AND THE EVERGLADES: LOWER FLORIDA'S
EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL LIFE Video order #FV-1022V.......$79.95

Blessed by a warm tropical climate, abundant water and located at the meeting
grounds of a number of diverse biomes, lower Florida boasts an extremely diverse and
readily visible animal and plant population. This is especially true in the warm, shallow,
clear, saline waters of Florida Bay which teem with a wide variety of fish, reptiles, birds
and invertebrates, and in the lush green-and-water vastness of the Everglades, with its
highly diverse plant cover and unique animal life. Video or 2 filmstrips and cassettes.
Detailed 30 page guide. (Filmstrips order FS-1022F.........$59.95.)

CONTENT SAMPLE:

1O. The climate here is subtropical, with wet, humid summers

11 and cool, dry winters. Everglades life is tuned to this seasonal rhythm of flood and
droughts. This has been true for the thousands of years that there has been an Everglades.

12. The Indians who lived here called this sawgrass prairie Pa-hay-okee, meaning
grassy waters. The Everglades is a river of grass, a huge shallow river over 100 miles long and 50
to 75 miles wide.

REVIEWS:

“...packed with excellent pictures and interesting information...” The Book Report.

“...has a dual mission--to introduce us and to warn us that the ecosystem of this
wilderness is sensitive and fragile...will give students an excellent start in examining some of
these problems and controversies.” Media Review.

“...vast supplementary material...will be welcome...” Booklist.
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MANATEES: A LIVING RESOURCE Video order #FV-1135V ...........$59.95

The definitive presentation by a leading expert on these engaging, endangered
marine mammals. Presents details of their mammalian characteristics, bodily
adaptations to an aquatic habitat, food habits, migrations, social and maternal behaviors,
deaths and injuries caused by man, population surveys, refuges, and vocalizations.
96 frames, 21 min., detailed teachers' guide. (Filmstrip order FS-1135F......$49.50.)

CONTENT SAMPLE:

11. Here we see a manatee breathing at the surface of the water. When manatees are
swimming, playing, or eating, they usually come to the surface and breathe every three or four
minutes. When they are resting, they can stay underwater for over twenty minutes.

12. Manatees have two nostrils at the end of their noses. The arrows in this picture
point to the manatee’s nostrils, which are used for breathing. When manatees are underwater,
small flaps cover their nostrils and keep water out of them.

REVIEWS: "The photography is well done and the narration is appropriate....Overall, the
information is accurate, and the technical quality is good." Science Books and Films.
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THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR Video order #FV-1392V.........$59.95

The American alligator is an indelible part of the fabric of Florida lore, history and
current affairs. Its fight for survival in shrinking wetlands, near-extinction and remarkable
comeback sits at the heart of Florida's environmental crisis. A clear and concise portrait
of these amazing animals, from Precolombian times through today's environmental
headlines. (Filmstrip order FS 1392F........$49.50.)

CONTENT SAMPLE:

12. Alligators are found on the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, and up the East Coast
of the United States as far as North Carolina.

13. Thousands of years before Columbus discovered America, prehistoric Indians
hunted alligators. They ate their meat, used the skin for clothing and made jewelry from bones
and teeth.
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RETURN OF THE DRAGON Video order #EV-2236V.........$79.95

Recounts the story of the American alligator, our largest native reptile. Once
threatened with extinction because of poaching and habitat destruction, but now plentiful
because of the protection it received under the Endangered Species Laws, alligators
have made such a comeback in the wild that they are now dangerous pests in some
regions. Live action video.
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ECOLOGY OF A SWAMP Order #122........$42.50

An introduction to the ecosystem of the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. A
photographic exploration of the world of millions of singing creatures--insects, reptiles,
amphibians, birds--and a garden of spectacular flower displays. Text details the
significant and unusual characteristics of the animals and plants presented and provides
insights into their valuable and unique wetland biome.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 20961 Despite fire and logging, there are still 400 year old
bald cypresses in the swamp, some over 36 m (120 ft.) tall. Few trees can match its value for
lumber, for the wood is light, straight-grained, durable, resistant to warping, and practically
decay-proof.

Its wide, flaring base gives it a low center of gravity and, with its widespread root system,
helps stabilize it in its shifting, watery substrate. The roots throw up protuberances, commonly
called "knees," but more formally known as pneumatophores, which project above the water
surface. They look like supporting buttresses and are thought to be a means whereby additional
oxygen is supplied to the submerged roots.

REVIEWS: "...a very good program..." J.R.E. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
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~1050-086~ Mangrove canal. photo by Educational Images Ltd.

Copyright (c) MCMXCVII Educational Images Ltd., Elmira, NY, USA. All rights reserved.

EDUCATIONAL IMAGES LTD.

P.O.Box 3456 Westside Station

Elmira, N.Y., USA, 14905-0456

Telephone: 800-527-4264; 607-732-1090

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