parasite (PAIR-uh-site) noun. organism that lives and feeds on another organism. ‘Tis the season . . . to kiss beneath a parasitic plant? While sprigs of mistletoe adorn doorways around the world, most people probably don’t know that the plant is a parasite. Parasites live and feed on other organisms. In the case of mistletoe, the plant lives on the branches of trees. Its roots … Continue reading What is Mistletoe, Anyway?
ENVIRONMENT Oil from a wrecked tanker is creating a disaster in the waters of Bangladesh’s Sundarbans, the largest contiguous tidal mangrove forest in the world and a haven for a spectacular array of species, including rare dolphins and the endangered Bengal tiger. (Nat Geo News) Use this activity to help students model an oil spill’s impact on mangrove trees. Teachers, scroll down for a short list … Continue reading Bangladesh Braces for Oil Spill Impact
Guest blogger Dayne Weber is a social media contractor with National Geographic Education. She is a former National Geographic Geography Intern who loves maps and water, and believes geography is an important subject because it informs every interaction we have with each other and the world. On March 28-29 the National Park Service, National Geographic Society, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the Presidio Trust … Continue reading BioBlitz 2014: One for the Record Books
It’s time to get out and explore! The 2014 Bioblitz is this Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29 in several national parks, including Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, and locations in Golden Gate National Recreation Area including the Giacomini wetlands, Muir Beach, the Marin Headlands, Crissy Field, the Presidio, Mori Point, and Rancho Corral de Tierra. A BioBlitz is a 24-hour … Continue reading It’s Finally Here—BioBlitz 2014!
ENVIRONMENT A new study has found that cities supported far fewer species of birds and plants compared with similar areas of undeveloped land. However, it also showed the vast majority of flora and fauna in a city reflected an area’s “unique biotic heritage.” (BBC) Use our resources to better understand biodiversity. Discussion Ideas This fascinating new study has a “good news/bad news” quality. What is … Continue reading Study Records Biodiversity in Cities
