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."

PRAIRIE PLANTS, WILDLIFE & HISTORY
Comprehensive coverage of grasses, unique plants, ecotonal characteristics, large and small animals, human usage and history. 3 pgms. 60 slides and texts.
EP #124X SLIDES
$99.95

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SAVE OVER $27.00 ON 3 SLIDE SET BUNDLE ORDER EP #124X.....$99.95
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THE DECIDUOUS FOREST--TALL GRASS PRAIRIE ECOTONE Order #124....$42.50

A detailed, comprehensive presentation of the edge area where tall grass prairie
and deciduous forest have met and interpenetrated. The original conditions of this unique
habitat are detailed, as well as the changes that have occurred through the agency of
man. Illustrations include deciduous trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers, moths, birds
and mammals typical of this habitat. 20 slides and guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 21152 The disappearance of the wolf eventually had an impact on
two related species, the red fox (Vulpes fulva) shown here and the coyote (Canis latrans). Both
being high order consumers, they easily moved into the niche left vacant by the destruction of the
wolf. Both are adaptable and quite capable of exploiting several habitats, including grassland and
open forest. Where there was once tall grass prairie along with oaks and hickories, today there is
more often than not pasture, cropland and perhaps a second growth woodlot, and the place of the
wolf has been taken by the red fox.

In less crowded areas, where greater open spaces still occur, the coyote has prospered
and has come to fill the niche once occupied by the wolf. The coyote has also inherited the full
force of man’s venom, however, and is under constant attack--man seems determined to
exterminate this predator also.

The passing of the elk and wolf from the ecotone is synonymous with the shrinking of
the ecotone itself. Except where natural conditions have discouraged settlement, or where
government has established protected areas, the ecotone no longer exists as it once did.

Most of the region was settled more than 100 years ago. The prairie was cultivated and
the original trees cut. Factors such as wild fires which influenced the very existence of the
ecotone have been eliminated, altering the forest edge association. While there are still forest
patches along the historical forest-prairie boundaries, there are extremely few prairies, and the
forests are almost entirely second- and third growth trees, not necessarily reflecting either
placement, density or species type that characterized the original forest cover. Most of the
region where tall grasses and deciduous trees waged their relentless war of dominance is now
used for agriculture and residential developments.

Changing conditions have changed the nature of the ecotone. Perhaps in time and
under more favorable circumstances a newer ecotonal zone will establish itself in a form more
nearly similar to that which has passed.

REVIEWS: "...the slides are all very well done, and the text contains a great deal of
good background information about each slide and valuable introductory comments.
Recommended." Previews.
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THE ECOLOGY OF THE PRAIRIE Order #125..........$42.50

Surveys the various types of prairie (short grass, mixed grass and tall grass),
and the various conditions presented by each. Topographic features, major grass types,
typical plants, birds and mammals characteristic of the prairies are presented. 20 slides
and detailed guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 21373 This is virgin tall grass prairie in eastern Kansas. This
photograph was taken in June, and such tall grasses as big bluestem, cordgrass and Indian
grass do not reach their full height until late summer, yet the prairie here is obviously lush,
nourished by rainfall on the order of 90 cm (35 in.) per year.

It is difficult today, with less than one percent remaining, to imagine the original expanse
of the tall grass prairies--over one million square kilometers (400,000 square miles).

Some ecologists think of the tall grass prairie as the "true" prairie, presumably because
the native American grasses reached their greatest productivity here. Big bluestem reached
heights of 2 to 2.5 m (6 to 8 ft.), and cordgrass (sloughgrass) grew taller than a man on
horseback.

Even within the tall grass prairie, as within the whole mid-continent prairie, there were
variations in plant associations. Each hill or depression resulted in the growth of different plants.
And, on a larger scale, as one traveled west or south in the tall grass community, there were
additional variations. For example, many of the showy forbs that brighten the green tall grass
prairies of southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois are unknown in the rocky tall grass prairies of
the Kansas Flint Hills.

REVIEWS: "...excellent slides...presents an unusual visual lecture...Highly
recommended." Previews.
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THE BISON AND THE PRAIRIE Order #472..........$42.50

A look at the history of the American bison on the Great Plains since the days of
the Plains Indians. Covers its life history, origin of the prairie, prairie ecology and other
prairie animals. In addition to bison, photographs include prairie grasses, prairie birds
and such mammals as pronghorn, and prairie dog. 20 slides and guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 21387 It was the bison that established the special character of
the American grasslands. It is the largest land mammal in North America and was certainly the
most numerous. A full grown bison bull weighs between 625 and 1,100 kg (1,400 and 2,400 lbs.)
and reaches a height of 2 m (6.5 ft.) at the shoulder and a length of 3.5 m (11.5 ft.). The cow is
smaller, weighing from 340 to 550 kg (750 to 1,200 lbs.), reaching a height of 1.7 m (5.5 ft.) at the
shoulder and measuring less than 3 m (10 ft.) in length. She has a smaller hump and her horns
are finer.

The size of the male is also accentuated by the shaggier hair on the forelegs, throat,
chin, crown and forehead, the sizes of which are considered to be dominance indicators. In a
prime male, the longest masses of hair, those between the horns and on the forehead, can grow
to a length of 55 cm (22 in.). These long hairs must also serve effectively to cushion the jarring
impacts when two fighting bulls butt heads. The forepart of the body is covered by the longest
and darkest hair. Shorter and lighter brown hair covers the posterior two thirds of the body.
Towards spring the hair becomes lighter as it is bleached by the sun. During the annual spring
molt the animals look very ragged, for the hair sloughs off in clumps.

REVIEWS: “...beautiful photographs of the buffalo and its natural surroundings...” J.H.,
National Buffalo Assn.
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~0070-096~ American bison (Bison bison). photo by Lynn M. Stone

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