ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS

Succinct presentations on a variety of
present threats to the environment, with
special emphasis on those associated with
fuel production, transportation and
consumption.

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST DESTRUCTION
Home to our familiar migratory birds and the source of valuable products and med- icines--being destroyed even before we understand it. 2 pgms. 20 slides & 1 video.
EP #249X SLI/VID
$74.95

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SAVE OVER $25.00 ON SLIDE/VIDEO BUNDLE ORDER EP #249X.............$74.95
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TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS UNDER FIRE Video order #FV-1132V..........$59.95

by World Wildlife Fund and Garden Club of America

Details what we are losing as tropical rain forests are destroyed. These
mutilayered biological treasure houses are the source of some of our most widely used
and useful products--rubber, cocoa, quinine, curare--and wintering ground for many of our
favorite migratory birds. Yet tropical rain forests are being decimated, the web of
biological diversity is being sundered, and species are being lost before we are even able
to discover them. 116 frames, 32 page guide with many teaching resources. Video or
filmstrip. (Filmstrip order FS 1132F.....$49.95.)

CONTENT SAMPLE:

53. The superficial riches of the tropical rain forest have been discovered and
exploited,

54. but scientists estimate that only 15% of the plant and animal species in the rain
forest have been discovered.

55. What new medicines, new foods and new products could the rain forest yield?

56. But before we can understand what new products these unknown forests may
yield, we need to understand more about rain forest ecology.

REVIEWS:

Award for CREATIVE EXCELLENCE U.S. Industrial Film Festival

****RECOMMENDED FOR PURCHASE WITHOUT RESERVATION Media Review.

“...thoughtfully conceived and carefully constructed...handsomely illustrated with superb
color photography...will lead students into myriad relevant topics...” Media Review.

“...informative...realistic...factual, accurate, relevant, and very well organized.” Choice.

“...does an excellent job...” Recommended Science Books & Films.

“Fine script...materials are outstanding.” Library Journal.
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THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST Order #249...........$42.50

Rain forests are the climax vegetation in areas where a warm and equable
climate and abundant rainfall provide ideal conditions for plant growth. This set details
the stratification of the rain forest, the unique characteristics and adaptations of its life
forms, and representative plant and animal life of this biome. 20 slides and guide.

CONTENTS SAMPLE: 21698 The relatively shallow root systems of the trees are
apparently associated with excessive moisture that prevents aeration of the soil to any great
depth. The tendency of the trees to form above-ground supporting structures seems very logical,
considering the soil conditions and the shallow root systems. Both stilt roots and plank
buttresses, which are common, result from extra secondary growth on the top of the largest
lateral roots. They may radiate out from the tree as much as 10 m (30 ft.). Note how the
buttresses dwarf the people in the photo. Several of these highly developed lateral roots provide
support around the enormous trunk, which does not have the massive tap root so often found in
large trees of temperate forests.

REVIEWS: "A good introduction to the ecology of a Panamanian tropical rain forest..."
Previews.

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RELATED PROGRAMS WORTH NOTING
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ECOLOGY OF THE NORTHEAST FOREST Order #106.............$42.50

Introduces the rich variety of plant and animal life of the typical mixed conifer-
hardwood forest. Includes maples, pines, beeches, black cherry, fungi, lichens, mosses,
grubs, pinesaps, strawberries, bracken fern, bee balm, bobcat, beetle, and seasonal
changes. 2O slides and guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 11561 At the other extreme of the wildlife are the small things.
The northeastern forest is home to hundreds of kinds of insects, spiders and miscellaneous
invertebrate animals. This one is a longhorned pine sawyer beetle. It is quite common in the
white pine forest areas.

The larvae of this beetle feed on pine--usually freshly cut pine that is on the ground. The
adults are large, over an inch long and males may have antennae twice as long as they are. They
fly noisily and when they alight near you, you cannot long remain unaware of them.

This beetle is representative of the whole host of little creatures whose home is the
forest, who feed there, usually on the plant life, and whose inconspicuous lives are important in
the overall health and balance of the forest.
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THE MONTANE FOREST BIOME Order #121............$42.50

Below the alpine tundra is our last wilderness, a cool, moist region dominated
by the large evergreens which provide the bulk of our timber. Detailed information on
plant utilization and succession, Douglas fir, western larch, quaking aspen, plant decay,
puffball mushrooms, yellow skunk cabbage, fairy slippers, wakerobin, Indian pipe, flying
squirrel, darkeyed junco, Stellar's jay, blue grouse, great gray owl, black bear, and
moose. 20 slides and detailed guide.

CONTENT SAMPLE: 20516 The montane forest, or any forest, is a fantastically intri-
cate community. A natural catastrophe like a forest fire, will seriously disrupt all life in a forest,
but nature in time mends itself. What cannot be as easily overcome is man’s continuous assault
on this complex but delicate ecosystem. From the days when the first settlers came to this
continent, the forest became “an endangered species.” Today, under greater economic pressures
than ever, we look to our remaining rich forests with envy and greed.

Indiscriminate logging is potentially more destructive than fire, however. Roads and
heavy machinery, which are necessary to logging, disturb and compact soil, further increasing
the chances of serious erosion and interfering with regeneration. The most profitable logging
removes for use as much of the tree as possible. The nutrients tied up in the useable wood are
therefore not recycled to the next stand of vegetation. Whereas in the old days loggers took only
what could be used for lumber, today’s advanced, sophisticated technology can make use of the
whole tree, from the ground to the topmost twig. Today, not only is lumber harvested, but wood
pulp, mulch material and fuel as well, leaving little to return to the soil. But the danger is now
apparent even to the logging industry.

REVIEWS: "Accompanying notes are wonderfully detailed.....Recommended." Previews.
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CONIFER COLLECTION Order #255X........$72.50

Conifers are among the world's most commercially significant trees, and
include some of the largest trees as well. They cover the northern part of North
America, northern Europe and northern Asia. These programs differentiate conifers
from broadleafed, evergreen from deciduous trees. Pictured are white, pitch, Scotch,
ponderosa, whitebark, lodgepole, pinyon and Caribbean pines; redwood and bald
cypress; white, black, Colorado blue, Englemann and red spruce; spruce gall; tamarack;
hemlock; Douglas fir; balsam fir; Rocky Mountain juniper; common juniper; eastern red
cedar, and white cedar. 4O slides, 2 guides.

CONTENT SAMPLE: Introduction: The coniferous forest of the taiga zone was huge,
dark and lush long before man ever knew of it. This is the northern forest shown on many plant
distribution maps. It has a short growing season surrounded by low temperatures that last well
into the summer and return early in fall. In its northernmost areas the conifers are joined by birch
and willows. Further south, where climate is less harsh, many beautiful hardwood trees mingle
with the dark conifers.

This huge expanse of pines, spruces, firs, hemlocks, and larch, growing often in nearly
pure stands, was irresistible to the loggers and lumber industry. As early as the 1600’s extensive
logging began in the white pine forests of the East and moved gradually westward, leaving
desolate havoc behind. Gradually the forest has come back where the land is not used for
farming, but it has yet to recover its virgin magnificence.
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~1080-03~ Three toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus). photo by Charles R. Belinky, Ph.D.

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