The University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database (UM/BBD) contains "microbial biocatalytic reactions and biodegradation pathways primarily for xenobiotic, chemical compounds." A new microbial enzyme-catalyzed reactions has been posted for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid. 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is used in cultivated agricultural areas, rangeland and pastures, forests, and homes or gardens, and is "a chlorinated phenoxy compound [that] functions as a systemic herbicide and is used to control many types of broadleaf weeds." The degradation pathway map includes organisms which can initiate the pathway. The pathway map provides detailed information on each hyperlinked step, including graphics, product/substrate reactions, and external links to further information.

With over 100 years of service, the 4-H Organization is committed to helping "young people and their families gain the skills they need to be proactive forces in their communities and develop ideas for a more innovative economy." Their work includes outreach to agricultural communities, teen leadership programs, and many other initiatives. On the site's homepage, visitors will find four primary areas, including "About 4-H", "Programs", and "Resource Library". In the "Resource Library" area, visitors can learn about 4-H curriculum materials, volunteer resources, and grant opportunities. Moving on, the "Programs" area includes information about their youth research programs that address climate change, community leadership, and childhood obesity. Also, visitors can sign up for the "Power of YOUth News" updates and other news bulletins.

This resource introduces students to the Dry Valleys of Antarctica, the largest area on the continent that is not covered by ice. Materials include a map and some brief facts about Antarctica and the valleys, such as size, location and physical properties (temperature, precipitation and others), and an online journal in which participants in the Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project discuss what it is like to live and work there. The journal entries include descriptions of some of the organisms that inhabit the extreme environments of the valleys, physical features of the valleys, and the strange mummified bodies of animals such as penguins and seals that have been preserved in the cold, dry climate. There is also a glossary of acronyms used in the project and a set of links to other websites with additional information about the Dry Valleys.

The AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science Atlas of Population and Environment is an important analysis of the relationships between human population and the environment. Through text, maps, and diagrams, the Atlas illustrates how population affects the world's ecosystems and natural resources both in the short and long term. Using sophisticated mapping and graphic techniques, the Atlas provides quantitative analyses of the important links between such factors as human population density, rates of growth, migration, resource consumption, and technologies, and the state of the global environment. These links are explored across the content areas of natural resources, land use, the atmosphere, waste and chemicals, ecosystems, and biodiversity. The Atlas draws on research and data from a number of academic institutions and international organizations, including the United Nations, its specialist organizations and agencies; the World Resources Institute; the Center for International Earth Sciences Information Network; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; U.S. Geological Survey; and the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre. The Atlas was produced to provide a concise, science-based compendium of information on the population and environment topics so important to the realization of a sustainable future.

This special feature page from the American Chemical Society (ACS) showcases the up-and-coming field of "green chemistry," that is, the development of chemical products and processes that eliminate or reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances. A list of principles behind green chemistry, a searchable bibliography of green chemistry references, and green chemistry links (including conferences). This page comes from ACS's Green Chemistry Project, a three-year educational project to develop and disseminate green chemistry educational materials for graduate and undergraduate chemistry students.

As the carbon dioxide concentration of our atmosphere increases and our climate warms, the hay fever season seems to be getting longer and more severe. In this case study, students assume the a role of a public relations specialist contracted to communicate the link between climate change and pollen allergies. The activity focuses on the importance of scientific skills to careers outside science, and is most suitable for a lower-level introductory biology, human health, or environmental science course.

This website presents a great Water Molds activity-based lesson plan which is part of the American Phytopathological Society's K-12 Plant Path-Ways to Science website previously reported on in the September 6, 2002 issue of the NSDL Scout Report for the Life Sciences. This Water Molds lesson was developed by educators Gail L. Schumann and Claudia A. Jasalavich as "an introduction to an important group of soil and water organisms (the Oomycetes) and an opportunity to conduct some simple biodiversity exercises. This exercise can be used for all K-12 age groups and learning levels, but may be most useful for grades 7-12 in classrooms where dissecting and compound microscopes are available." The site is well laid-out with clear instructions, great photos, and sections on Purpose and Background Information, Materials and Methods, Diagrams For Class Use, and more.

ARKive is a collection of photographs, videos, and fact-files illustrating thousands of species of animals, with emphasis on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of endangered species, and on species found in Britain. For each animal there are approximately 10 minutes of video footage, 6-10 still photos, and sound recordings (where appropriate), creating a complete profile of the species' characteristic behavior and appearance. The images are accompanied by a page of facts, including taxonomy, a physical description, conservation status, geographic range, habitat, and other information. There are also links to other animals with related taxonomic families, habitats, or conservation status.

Maintained by the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Remote Sensing and Modeling Lab, the ARS Pesticide Properties Database "is a compendium of chemical and physical properties of 324 widely used pesticides." The database, organized alphabetically, focuses on "16 of the most important properties" affecting pesticide transport and degradation characteristics under different soil and weather conditions. For each pesticide, users will find information on CASRN, Molecular formula, Molecular weight, Physical state, Boiling point, Melting point, Decomposition point, Heat of vaporization, Rate Constants-Hydrolysis (Photolysis), Vapor pressure, Water solubility, Organic solubility, Henry's Law, Octanol/ water partitioning, Acid dissociation, Soil sorption, Field dissipation, and Soil halflife (aerobic, anaerobic). Also provided are several sections describing the properties and units of pesticide parameters, a Coden list, and links to a few related sites.

In this video adapted from ATETV, learn how Bristol Community College promotes internships and co-ops to prepare students for work in technology-related careers.

This organization promotes sustainable agriculture. Their website provides publications on production practices, alternative crop and livestock enterprises, innovative marketing, and organic certification, and highlights of local, regional, USDA and other federal sustainable ag activities.

In this activity (page 11 of the PDF), learners investigate how quickly water moves through various materials. They measure and compare the permeability of gravel, sand, and soil. Although this was created as a post-visit activity for a workshop about earth processes, it also makes an excellent stand alone activity.

This two-day lesson helps students understand abiotic and biotic factors. Once the concept has been grasped, they can trace the interactions of these factors within a system.

The COSEE network promotes a better understanding of the key role the ocean plays in global environmental cycles and processes. COSEE activities highlight the contributions ocean-science researchers make to scientific knowledge in these important areas. Each COSEE represents one or more ocean science research institution, an informal science education organization, and at least one affiliate organization representing the formal education community.

Children learn how seasonal weather changes affect everything, from the behavior of animals to the way we dress and play.

Green plants make their own food by a process called photosynthesis. They also use nutrients and water from the soil to grow. Primary consumers (insects, chipmunks, mice and deer) eat green plants.

This learning activity from the Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) provides students with the opportunity to use analytical meters and instruments and perform acid deposition sampling. Students will collect samples from various sources over a period of time, then measure pH and develop graphs or charts. Users must download this resource for viewing, which requires a free log-in. There is no cost to download the item.

Add acidity to a healthy lake and see what happens to the plants and animals in this interactive activity adapted from EcoKids. ***Access to Teacher's Domain content now requires free login to PBS Learning Media.

In this video, an environmental technologist visits an abandoned coal mine in Kentucky to talk about how a remediation system (a series of settling ponds and treatment cells) is neutralizing the acid drainage flowing from the mine and keeping it from damaging a creek downstream.

This lesson plan was provided by the National Park Service Air Resources Division and prepared as a part of The Uplands Field Research Laboratory, Volunteer in Parks, and Interpretation of Science Project. The site includes lesson goals, background information (including the Definition of Acid Rain, Sources of Acid Rain, and Pollution Control Measures), and five coordinating lessons. There are also figures provided to go along with the activities to further illustrate the lesson.

This National Park Service (NPS) web-site contains lessons about acid rain. These lessons are designed to teach students about what acid rain is, what it does, why we should be concerned about it and how it is measured. The activities contain procedures, materials, time needed and follow-up questions for students to answer. The topics covered include gases contributing to acid rain, acids and bases, the pH scale, monitoring acid rain in the US and weather maps. There are maps, data, figures and worksheets to complement the lessons. Each lesson can be viewed individually or the entire plan can be downloaded as a whole.

For years, our oceans have been hard at work absorbing the carbon dioxide that humans create through burning fossil fuels. Find out what effect that extra CO2 is having on our seas.

In this article an unusual ecology laboratory/field exercise is described in which students imagine themselves as a group of indigenous woodland people attempting to gather food stores that will carry them through the winter. In doing so, they grapple with issues of human energetics, foraging strategy, carrying capacity, and experimental design.

In this outdoor game, learners play the roles of gray or red squirrels gathering and storing a supply of food in "fall" and recovering enough of them to survive the "winter." Learners carry bags representing their cheek pouches for carrying food. Learners investigate the advantages and disadvantages of how these two kinds of squirrels store food differently.

There are many websites dedicated to providing the public with information about the biological sciences, but ActionBioScience.org may be one of the best around. Started in 2000 by a group of concerned scientists and educators, the site provides articles by scientists, science educators and students on issues related to seven primary areas, including genomics, biotechnology, evolution, and biodiversity. All of the pieces on the site go through a peer-review process and are written with a keen eye towards providing information in a way that is largely jargon-free and highly accessible. From the homepage, visitors can look for articles in one of seven thematic areas, look for materials in Spanish, and peruse materials created just for educators. The site can also be browsed topically in the larger categories of Biodiversity, Environment, Genomics, Biotechnology, Evolution, and New Frontiers or from the "topic directory" which alphabetically lists all the bioscience subjects covered on the site.

Members of the public health community and those from the world of urban planning have teamed up to create the Active Living By Design program, and by extension, this fine website. With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and an academic home at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, the program was created ’˘Î—Γto increase physical activity through community design, public policies and communications strategies.’˘Î—Ν On the site’˘Î—ÎČs homepage, visitors can browse through sections that include information on ’˘Î—ΓActive Living Essentials’˘Î—Ν, ’˘Î—ΓActive Living Programs’˘Î—Ν, and ’˘Î—ΓActive Living Resources’˘Î—Ν. The ’˘Î—ΓEssentials’˘Î—Ν section is a good place to start as visitors can learn about the organization’˘Î—ÎČs major fields, which include information on the links between physical activity, urban design, and health. Visitors who are looking to learn about the specific ’˘Î—Γon the ground’˘Î—Ν programs will want to look over the ’˘Î—ΓCommunity Partnerships’˘Î—Ν area, as it contains information on initiatives in Chicago, Nashville, Orlando, and Cleveland.

This document provides several activities that show how desert plants and animals are well-adapted to life in the desert and thrive on little moisture and high temperatures. There are extension lessons as well as a drawing activity.

Hear about how respect for Earth can help us attain a more sustainable lifestyle in the face of climate change in this video segment adapted from United Tribes Technical College.

The adult frog now lives on land and has nostrils and lungs to breathe air. It also has front and hind legs to hop around on. This frog can start the life cycle over again by laying eggs and reproducing.

Once milkweed bugs have grown into adults, they can mate and lay eggs. They tend to lay eggs on soft, protective material.

The Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) provides a wide range of environmental and energy technology learning resources for students, teachers, and technicians; the Center does this, in part, through their electronic Environmental Resources Library (eErl) digital library. The Center's objective is the "advancement of environmental technology education through curriculum development, professional development, and program improvement in the nation's community colleges and high schools." ATEEC is housed at Scott Community College (Bettendorf, Iowa) and was established by National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technology Education (ATE) Center funds.

This activity (on page 2 of the PDF) is a full inquiry investigation into aerial imagery. Learners will use the internet to gather free aerial imagery of nearby points of interest (or use laminated images prepped by educator). Then, they will imagine they are traveling in a spaceship to visit Earth for the first time and explore how their view changes as they approach Earthäóťs surface. Relates to linked video, DragonflyTV GPS: Earthquakes.

When a city is built, habitat and most organisms living in it are killed or forced to flee. Cities use a lot of energy and water and create a tremendous amount of waste and runoff. Development is the biggest source of pollution.

Fire is a natural factor that maintains the pinelands and other natural communities in South Florida. The frequency of these fires is influenced by large-scale climate cycles, particularly El Nino Southern Oscillations. Fires are more prevalent during the drier La Nina phase than during the wetter El Nino phase. This photograph originally appeared on the cover of Ecology (84:12) in December of 2003.

An aerial view of the eastern border of the Parque Nacional Soberania in central Panama following a fire. The park borders on an extensive monoculture of the invasive grass Saccharum spontaneum. The fire was severe enough to kill small remnant patches of trees that remained in the monoculture, but not severe enough to enter the contiguous forest of the national park. Experimental plantings of native trees also escaped the fire and are visible in the upper right of the photograph. This photograph originally appeared on the cover of Ecological Applications (17:5) in July of 2007.

Aerial view of the upper Willamette River, Oregon. Although some off-channel features and riparian forest remain, particularly in upper reaches as illustrated here, overall the Willamette River has lost about 50% of its off-channel alcoves and 80% of its bottomland forest since 1850. Much of the valley has been converted to agriculture and urban and rural development. The Willamette River Basin covers 13% of the area of Oregon, supports almost 70% of the state's population, and produces 45% of Oregon퉌Ís agricultural market value. The basin also contains the richest native fish fauna in Oregon, as well as several species listed under the Endangered Species Act. The number of people in the basin is expected to nearly double in the next 50 years, placing tremendous demands on limited land and water resources, and creating major challenges for land- and water-use planning and management. This photograph originally appeared on the cover of Ecological Applications (14:2) in April of 2004.

This radio broadcast discusses the findings of a conservationist who flew over of most of the continent of Africa in a small plane at low altitude, photographing the ground below every 20 seconds, to form a grid map. The flyover was intended to evaluate human impacts on African ecosystems, including wildlife, vegetation, and soil. The researcher, Dr, Michael Fay, points out that humans have penetrated very deeply into every single ecosystem in Africa that was visited, exhausting soils, vegetation, and water systems. He also discusses the need for greater natural resource management to locate the places where humans have already exceeded what the ecosystem can sustain. The broadcast is 7 minutes and 45 seconds in length.

Multiple activity, comprehensive lesson plan includes background information, grading rubric, information on associated learning standards and assessment, as well as links to additional external resources. Activity explores the concepts of a hurricane's impact on the environment, society, and economics of a given community. Students map the potential storm surge and flooding on a topographic map and locate and report on past hurricanes in a specific geographical region.