p. 600 The Paleozoic Era
The Paleozoic Era
Visit this site by the Museum of Paleontology, University of California,
Berkeley to learn more about the Paleozoic Era. You can learn about
stratigraphy, ancient life, localities, and tectonics of the Paleozoic
by clicking on any of the buttons at the bottom of the page. Click on
localities to see where to find Paleozoic fossil sites. At which site
can you trace the early evolution of vertebrate animals?
When Life Exploded
Go to this site to read an article about the Cambrian explosion. This
comprehensive article about the explosion of species and phyla in the
Cambrian period appeared in Time magazine on December 4, 1995.
Why did the appearance of Cambrian organisms seem to explode out of
nowhere?
The
Cambrian Explosion
At this site you can learn more about the development of modern
phyla of organisms during the Cambrian period. It is interesting to
note that all modern phyla that exist today came about during the Cambrian
explosion. Why is the Cambrian known as biology’s big bang?
The Mass Extinctions: Introduction
At this site by the BBC you can learn more about the mass extinctions
that have occurred throughout geologic time. Click on late Cambrian
to see what happened to most life forms at the end of the Cambrian period.
Then click on conodonts. What kind of animal did fossil conodonts come
from?
p. 611 Present-day Extinctions
Confirming
the Global Extinction Crisis
Go to this site by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) to read a
news release about the number of species on Earth threatened with extinction.
The IUCN has members from 181 countries worldwide who provide information
on threatened and endangered species. The IUCN publishes lists of these
species periodically. How many primate species are now listed as threatened?
Report:
After century of survival, many primates face extinction
At this Cable News Network (CNN) site you can find out about primate
species that are in danger of becoming extinct. Most of the endangered
monkeys, apes, and lemurs live in areas with rich biological diversity.
These environments also are subject to habitat destruction. What is
the primary cause for the decline of most primate species?
WorldWatch
Report: Fastest Mass Extinction in Earth History
Go to this Environmental News Network (ENN) site to read a report
from WorldWatch Institute on the mass extinctions occurring today. The
mass extinctions presently occurring appear to be caused by human activities.
What kinds of activities bring about extinction of species?
The
Sixth Extinction
Visit this site for an article by anthropologist Dr. Richard Leakey.
Dr. Leakey states that a sixth mass extinction is underway right now,
a mass extinction caused by humans. What percentage of species alive
today does Dr. Leakey think will become extinct over the next 100 years?
p. 620 Drugs Derived from Plants and Animals
Rainforest
Resources/Facts
Visit this site by the Rainforest Alliance to learn about the rainforest
plants that have been used to provide drugs and medicines to combat
everything from diabetes to heart disease. How many plants have been
identified as having anti-cancer properties?
Clinical
Research Abstracts
Go to this site to find a list of all the rainforest plants that
have been tested for use in treatment of illnesses. Click on Brazil
Nut to see several abstracts of articles on the use of this plant to
treat cancer.
Medicinal Plants
and Herbal Medines
Visit this site to learn more about medicinal plants and herbal
medicine. Discover what types of plants are used to treat different
diseases. In your Science Journal, make a table that describes this.
