The NSDL Scout Report for Life Sciences -- Volume 1, Number 6

April 5, 2002

A Publication of the Internet Scout Project
Computer Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison




In This Issue:

Research

Education

General

Topic In Depth




Research

Model Organisms for Biomedical Research
http://www.nih.gov/science/models/
The National Institute of Health provides this Web site as a clearinghouse of resources for biomedical research using model organisms. The site currently contains Web pages for two mammalian models, six non-mammalian animal models, and one plant model. Additional models may be added at a later date. The content includes research activities, publications, scientific meeting announcements, and funding opportunities. Some of the site's newest information includes opportunities for researchers to propose new organisms for genome sequencing or construction of bacterial artificial chromosome libraries. Scientists working with model organisms may find this a useful site or have information that they want to contribute. [AL]
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Bibliographia Nudibranchia
http://scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/indexes/mcdonald.html
Hosted by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Library, this bibliographical database is intended as a comprehensive list of all publications (other than textbooks and field guides) that mention nudibranchs (sea slugs). Several bibliographic resources were combined, along with references cited in major nudibranch articles. [AL]
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Mycologia Online
http://www.mycologia.org/
The online version of this printed journal from the Mycological Society of America has recently been launched. A free trial period is scheduled for the remainder of 2002, after which access will be by subscription only. The current issue is available in full-text, along with archives going back to January 2002. Users can browse abstracts or full-text articles for current and archived issues, or search this and other journals by author, keyword, or citation. [AL]
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Visible Human Server
http://visiblehuman.epfl.ch/
This Web site from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology allows users to view three dimensional models of human anatomy. A free registration allows users to log on and fully access the site, but there are some sample demonstrations available without registration. When visiting the site, you can view, rotate, and extract cross sections from the anatomical models, or build your own anatomic model by choosing the structures of interest. The site works best with Internet Explorer 5 and the latest version of Microsoft Java VM. The site provides how-to files that are extremely helpful for new users. This is certainly a site for those studying human anatomy, but it is a cool site that may also appeal to others. This site is also reviewed in the April 5, 2002 Scout Report. [AL]
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National Center for Biotechnology Information
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has had a Web site for some time now, but the site has recently become more user-friendly with this new About section. About NCBI explains NCBI's role in facilitating research and education specific to the "fundamental molecular and genetic processes that control health and disease." An introduction to NCBI databases and maps helps researchers select tools that may help them. A particularly helpful feature is entitled A Science Primer, which provides an easy-to-read introduction to many science topics relevant to NCBI's resources like bioinformatics, genome mapping, molecular modeling, and molecular genetics. This is an excellent site that should serve to orient both new users and those who have visited the NCBI site before. [AL]
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VirOligo Compilation Lab
http://viroligo.okstate.edu/
Coordinated through the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Oklahoma State University, this database project "collects virus-specific oligonucleotides for viral detection from published literature." The database includes a large number of viruses. Most recently, the Influenza virus, Foot-and-Mouth disease virus, smallpox, and cowpox viruses were added. Each virus record contains publication data and a variety of other information about the different strains. [AL]
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Antbase: The Social Insects Web
http://research.amnh.org/entomology/social_insects/
This site (last mentioned in the September 17, 1997 Scout Report for Science & Engineering) is maintained by Donat Agosti, a research scientist at the American Museum of Natural History. Since its last review, much has changed, including an updated Integrated Taxonomic Information System; access to a full-text database of primary systematics publications; and a link to FORMIS 2001, a composite of several ant literature databases. Continually updated, the Social Insect Web (SIWeb) Working Space includes links that have not yet been integrated into the site, but may prove useful to those studying ants and other social insects. [AL]
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Caterpillar Hostplants Database
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/hostplants/
This database from the Department of Entomology at the Natural History Museum, London contains information on worldwide caterpillar hostplants. It consolidates a large amount of data on plants that the 22,000 Lepidoptera species eat or otherwise interact with. Users can perform searches using scientific name of either the Lepidoptera or hostplant species, or perform a "drill-down" browse. Search results include the family, genus, and species names for both the Lepidoptera and hostplant; author of the primary literature; and additional information that includes location where the species is found and plant damage resulting from interaction. [AL]
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Education

Kids' Korner
http://www.darwinfoundation.org/misc/kids/kids.html
The Charles Darwin Foundation provides this Web page for kids that focuses on the extraordinary biological diversity found in the Galapagos Islands. The site gives a brief introduction to the Galapagos, how they were formed, and the biological importance of these diverse ecosystems. Students are introduced to species distribution, natural selection, and "Lonesome George" and the idea of extinction. The site illustrates some difficult concepts with easily understood language and examples. This resource is most useful as a supplement to evolution and biodiversity lessons. [AL]
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Environment Canada: National Wildlife Week
http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/wildweek/intro-e.html
April 7-13, 2002, is Canada's National Wildlife Week. The week, a tribute to conservation pioneer Jack Miner, is an opportunity for citizens to "celebrate wildlife and take action to protect wild plants and animals." In addition to a calendar of events across Canada, the celebration's home page features 20 things that anyone can do to protect wildlife, as well as games, activities, and fact sheets focused on this year's theme -- Climate Change. [AL]
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Crocodilians
http://www.crocodilian.com
Created by crocodile expert Dr. Adam Britton, this educational Web site provides all you need to know about crocodiles. A species list provides an overview of all 23 crocodile species, with information like taxonomy, location, habitat, and distribution. The Crocodilian Biology Database provides more detailed information on biological topics common to all crocodiles. Visitors can also listen to crocodile sounds, find other online crocodile resources, or learn about the care of captive crocodiles. This is a great site for anyone with an interest in crocodiles. [AL]
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Acres of Insects
http://insected.arizona.edu/acres.html
The University of Arizona Center for Insect Science Education Outreach has developed this new resource for high school teachers. Using insects as model organisms, the Web site examines a range of complexities involved with the world's food supply. There are currently two lesson sequences: Great Gravidity, a population ecology lesson, and The Enforcers, a lesson on predator-prey relationships that focuses on biological control of insect pests. Both lessons include introductory activities that prepare students for a long-term (3-4 week) research project, as well as including data analyses and optional activities. These substantial lesson plans have an interactive and interdisciplinary focus, making them appealing to a wide range of high school students. [AL]
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The Living Skeleton: A Tour of Human Bones
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/xrays/
Access Excellence at the National Health Museum provides this Web site as an educational tool for learning about the human body. X-ray images and bone photos of the human skeleton are organized into eight body area categories, viewable with or without explanatory labels. Both normal bones and those having fractures or other medical conditions are included, along with links to explanations of some of the conditions. The site may be useful to those studying medicine, anatomy, or anyone who is interested in images of the human body. [AL]
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Orangutan Curriculum for Teachers [.pdf]
http://www.orangutan.com/index.htm
The education section of this Web site from the Balikpapan Orangutan Society-USA, a non-profit organization devoted to orangutan conservation, is a week-long curriculum introducing students to orangutans of Indonesia. The lessons focus on topics that include animal behavior, ecology, geography, Indonesian culture, species distribution, biodiversity, and conservation. Lessons are divided into 5 days, with each day's materials including notes to inform teacher lectures, suggested discussion points, fact sheets for students, and activities. These lessons are fairly advanced and are best suited for high school students. The rest of the site, focusing on orangutans and the Balikpapan Orangutan Society's work to protect them, is also worth a visit. Because the site uses frames, users should note that they need to click on the Education link on the left navigation bar in order to access the educational materials. [AL]
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The Search for Ancient Sharks [Quicktime, Real Player]
http://www.discovery.com/exp/prehistoricsharks/prehistoricsharks.html
This Web site from the American Museum of Natural History and Discovery.com explores the fossil remains and evolutionary history of prehistoric sharks. Students can read about the paleontologists involved in an expedition to the Falkland Islands to search for fossils of the ancient shark Pucapampella. Although the expedition has been completed, daily dispatches are still online, along with an opportunity to learn about the Falkland Islands. Other sections, like the prehistoric shark gallery and tour of the ancient seas, provide information, images, and videos that should be interesting to shark lovers and fossil hunters of all ages. [AL]
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Field Trips: Online Education Inside the Classroom and Out
http://www.field-trips.org/
This site offers a number of virtual field trips to provide an opportunity for students to interact and explore places they would not otherwise visit. These Web-based trips focus on a variety of subjects, many relating to the natural world. Some of the topics include deserts, dinosaurs, natural wonders, rainforest, and salt marshes. Each trip includes a Teacher Resources section with background information and lesson plans. Students can navigate through the field trips at their own pace, exploring different offshoots of the main trip. This site offers a unique approach to learning about these interesting subjects. [AL]
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General

Marine Flatworms of the World [.pdf]
http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~bu6/flatintr.htm
This Web site devoted to the study of Polyclad flatworms is full of images and data on these colorful marine invertebrates. A substantial introduction page (that can be viewed online or downloaded in Adobe Acrobat) gives visitors a robust introduction to the biology of these unique creatures, complete with diagrams and photos. The site also hosts a recently updated gallery of images of marine flatworms from all over the world. The gallery include data on species, size, location, and depth where the image was taken. Anyone interested in learning about marine invertebrates will find this site beneficial. [AL]
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The US National Arboretum: Gardening
http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/gardeningr.html
The US National Arboretum provides this Web page to assist the nearly 60 million people who garden. Some particularly useful site features are the Q&A section answered by Arboretum experts, a glossary of plant terminology, basic plant requirements, and an introduction to Integrated Pest Management. The site is a collection of practical information; it is likely that almost any gardener will find something of interest. [AL]
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Focus On Tuberculosis: Ancient Enemy, Present Threat
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/newsroom/focuson/tb02/tb.htm
With March 24, 2002, as World Tuberculosis Day, this Web site from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is focused on the fight against this deadly infection. About 6,000 people worldwide die each day from tuberculosis, many in less developed countries. This Web site details the disease throughout history, the present threat, and medical research focused on various strategies for fighting tuberculosis. [AL]
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Kodak Birdcam 2002
http://birdcam.kodak.com/
For the past few years, a pair of Peregrine falcons have nested atop of the Kodak Tower in Rochester, NY. The previously endangered species has made a remarkable comeback and are often found nesting on tall buildings in urban areas. Again this year, Kodak has placed a series of cameras near the nest box to document the nesting, incubation, hatching, and maturation of this year's anticipated clutch. The image is refreshed every minute, and galleries of significant events are kept for future viewing. This is a great site for anyone who wants to learn about and observe these powerful predators. [AL]
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Insect Answers [.pdf]
http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/insctans/
This new page from Texas A&M University's entomology extension program is a consolidated body of information on insects. Links to a number of extension service documents are grouped by their association with households, lawns and gardens, agriculture, humans, and animals. There are also links to documents written in Spanish, insects in the news, and resources for identifying insects. This Web site is most useful for a general audience of home or garden owners, as well as anyone concerned about a pest problem. [AL]
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Organic Food Production
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/ofp/
The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) is a specialized segment of the National Agricultural Library. AFSIC provides this Web site as a collection of resources and information on organically produced foods. The site provides links to numerous government agencies and other organizations aimed at supporting organic agriculture. An assortment of AFSIC publications includes tips for searching for organic agriculture information, as well as compiled lists of resources on topics like organic gardening, marketing organic foods, and nutritive content of organically produced foods. This is a beneficial resource for those pursuing detailed information on organic food production. [AL]
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Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 14: Nutrient Lists [.pdf]
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR14/wtrank/wt_rank.html
A recent addition to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service's Nutrient Database for Standard Reference is a report of nutrient lists. For each of the 30 nutrients, a list is provided, both sorted alphabetically and by nutrient content, of the amount of that nutrient found in each of 1,147 selected food items. What makes these lists particularly helpful is that the nutrient content data is provided in common portion measures. This is a great source of information, presented in an easy-to-use format. Anyone interested in increasing their intake of a certain nutrient can search these lists to assist their food choices. [AL]
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Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain Terrestrial Wildlife Research Summaries [.pdf]
http://alaska.usgs.gov/BSR-2002/usgs-brd-bsr-2002-001.html
This recently released 90-page report by the US Geological Survey and the US Fish and Wildlife Service is a summary of previously reported and currently updated research on the potential biological impacts of petroleum exploration and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). After a 1987 report to Congress recommending opening the refuge to "an orderly oil and gas leasing program," but cautioning that "adverse effects to some wildlife populations were possible," scientists continued to study potential impacts on caribou, polar bear, and muskox populations and habitat. This update includes new information about impacts that potential development may have on the Porcupine Caribou Herd. Although the report is written for a technical audience, the current congressional debate about petroleum development in ANWR may make this report of interest to a general audience. [AL]
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Topic In Depth

Endangered Species
1. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources: 2000 Red List of Threatened Species
http://www.redlist.org/
2. World Wildlife Fund International: Species Programme
http://www.panda.org/species/
3. US Fish and Wildlife Service: The Endangered Species Program
http://endangered.fws.gov/
4. Traffic
http://www.traffic.org/
5. US Acts to Shrink Endangered Species Habitats
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/20/politics/20HABI.html
6. Listening for the Call of a Vanished Bird
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/05/science/life/05WOOD.html
7. Tigers In Crisis
http://www.tigersincrisis.com/
8. Animal Planet: Meet the Pandas
http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/pandas/pandas.html
This week's Topic in Depth focuses on a variety of themes related to endangered species around the world.

The first Web site from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (1) includes a searchable database of threatened and endangered species worldwide. The World Wildlife Fund International Species Programme Web site (2) details biology, habitat, and threats to a number of highlighted species. The next is the home page for the US Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program (3) (last mentioned in the January 3, 1997 Scout Report), which includes a new campaign with the US Marine Corps to recognize conservation by Marines. Traffic (4) is an international wildlife trade monitoring network with a mission of ensuring "that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature." The first article from the New York Times (5) touches on some of the issues surrounding the regulations to protect endangered species in the US, while the other (6) describes how remote audio sensing is being used to search for a bird that is classified as extinct. Tigers In Crisis (7) is an educational site that focuses on the five remaining subspecies of tigers and the problems they face. Finally, this Animal Planet site (8) focuses on the Giant Pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, at the National Zoo. [AL]
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From The NSDL Scout Report for Life Sciences, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2002. http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/

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Copyright Susan Calcari and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 1994-2002. The Internet Scout Project (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/), located in the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides information about the Internet to the U.S. research and education community under a grant from the National Science Foundation, number NCR-9712163. The Government has certain rights in this material. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the entire Scout Report provided this paragraph, including the copyright notice, are preserved on all copies.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or the National Science Foundation.




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