Biodiversity is a central concept in understanding ecosystem functioning. Students explore how biodiversity is measured, impacted and can shift due to environmental changes to develop their understanding. Based off of the Microbial biogeography studies that Dr. Byron Crump is doing in the Arctic and around the world.
Objectives
* Understand the role and importance of biodiversity in
The report is written by teacher participants upon return from their field expedition portion of the PolarTREC program. It summarizes the benefit of the expedition to the teacher, a description of activities, and a summary of how teachers plan to link this experience in classrooms and communities. This is a public document that will be posted in teacher portfolios and
The Loretto Earth Network News e-pub newletter features a recap of Lauren Watel's expedition to Toolik Field Station. Access the online archive in the LEN News - Summer 2014, page 7.
Article from The Shorthorn - University of Texas at Arlington's student newspaper detailing PI Laura Gough's participation in a PolarTREC Live from IPY! Event. Laura is working with PolarTREC teacher Cathy Campbell at Toolik Station, Alaska this summer.
Online version of The News & Observer news paper article highlighting Gerty Ward's participation in a PolarTREC expedition on the Beaufort Sea. Gerty will be working with Rick Krishfield and other scientists on a Canadian icebreaker studying ocean currents and more!
This website has tables and graphs to show length of day for locations throughout the world, including Antarctica and the Arctic. Additional weather information is also included.
(permission to link and use the site was granted by Matt Tukianen, the site creator, on July 9, 2008)
This website provides information on the Arctic ground squirrel including facts and pictures explaining the adaptations the squirrel has to survive the harsh Arctic winters.
This web site, managed by the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service, tracks lightning strikes and fires in Alaska caused by lightning all the way back to 1939. See if you can find the lightning strike that caused the big fire of 2007.
A great resource that includes content and lessons for all grades. You can sign up to receive seeds that have either been in space or on Devon Island plus seeds that have not been exposed to harsh conditions. Students will be able to participate in a blind study to see if they can determine which seeds are the harsh environment
WHOI is the world's largest private, nonprofit ocean research, engineering and education organization. This site has information on oceans from climate to ocean life to ships and technology.