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 Basics of Biodiversity:
6 Science DVD Programs
  
Kingdom Plantae: Builders of Biomes science DVD - Starts by
looking at the watery origins of modern land plants before looking at
the adaptations that have evolved in plants and enabled them to spread
to nearly every corner of the Earth. These adaptations include: roots,
which anchor plants and absorb water and nutrients from the soil;
vessels, that conduct water and nutrients throughout a plant; lignin,
which stiffens and supports plants enabling them to grow taller;
pollen, which frees plants from a dependence on water for reproduction;
and fruits, which entice animals to unwittingly spread a plants seeds
far and wide.
Protists: The Origins of Eukaryotic Diversity science DVD -
Explores the evolutionary history of eukaryotes while examining the
incredible diversity that exists in kingdom Protista reflected in
organisms such as Euglena which have both animal and plant-like
qualities. The program then looks at animal-like zooflagellates,
sarcodines, ciliates, and sporozoans; fungus-like slime molds, and
plant-like dinoflagellates, diatoms, and englenoids. Multicellular red,
brown and green algae are examined and why modern biology places all
three in kingdom Protista rather than kingdom Plantae explained.
Kingdom Animalia: The Invertebrates science DVD - Looks at the
evolutionary trends such as cephalization, segmentation, changes in
body symmetry, increases in locomotive efficiency and the development
of increasingly complex tissues and organs that occur as one goes from
the sponges of phylum Porifera to the octopuses of class Cephalogoda.
Structural, functional, and behaviorial adaptations unique to members
of each of the invertebrate phyla including: Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes,
Nemotoda, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata are discussed
in detail.
Fungi: Decomposers and Parasites science DVD - Begins by
describing hyphae - the filamentous, thread-like fungal cells that
intertwine to form interwoven masses called mycelium which are usually
only visible when differentiated into sexual structures such as
mushrooms, puffballs, and powdery molds. How fungi obtain nutrients
either through parasitic or mutualistic relationships or decomposing
dead bodies is examined before looking at their economic, ecological,
and health impacts. The major divisions of fungi are then examined and
some of the unique adaptations found in kingdom Fungi discussed.
Kingdom Animalia: The Vertebrates science DVD - Begins by looking
at the evolutionary origins of vertebrates before going on to examine
primitive aquatic vertebrates such as jawless hagfish and lampreys and
the more sophisticated sharks and rays of class Chondrichthyes and the
"bony" fish of class Osteichthyes. The program then studies
evolutionary adaptations such as: changes in skeletal structure, skin
and eggs resistant to evaporation, control of body temperature, and
increased circulatory and cognitive capacity that one sees going from
class Amphibia to classes Reptilia and Aves and on to class Mammalia.
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