Fauna Links

We interact with fauna every day. They are our pets, our livestock, our protected species, our prey, and occasionally, our predators. Sometimes animals catch our attention because they are in trouble, as with beached whales and endangered species. Sometimes they attract us by their sheer numbers, like flocks of migratory birds or swarms of locusts. They may inspire fear or respect, reminding us that most animals can't be tamed.

Use these links to support Unit 4: Historical Geology in Prentice Hall Earth Science:

• Fossils in Amber (text page 343): Amber: Window to the Past
• Cretaceous Extinctions (text page 381): Chicxulub Crater

Try these Planet Diary Fauna Activities:

• Nowhere to Run: Impact of Climate Change on Wildlife
  Take a look at how global climate change is affecting wildlife around the world.
• Sonar and Marine Mammals
  Explore the possible links between underwater sonar tests and marine mammal strandings.
• Invasive Species Case Study
  This activity looks at the impact of invasive species via a case study of the spread of zebra mussels in the United States.
• Endangered Species in Your State
  Find out about endangered and threatened animals in your state and explore the reasons for their decline.
• The World's Coral Reefs
  Learn about the biodiversity of coral reefs and examine some of the problems facing the reefs.

Animal Diversity Web
Find out all about the various phyla of the animal kingdom. This great resource includes detailed information on body structure and classification.

WWF Global Network
Learn more about WWF's efforts to protect the world's wildlife.

National Wildlife Federation
This site has the latest info on protecting wildlife in North America.

NOAA's Ark
Check out NOAA's photo library of animals for a "virtual boatload of fins, fur, and feathers."

Vertebrate Hotlist
The Franklin Institute Online offers complete information on 100 popular vertebrates, and lots more.

The Why Files
This fantastic site has tons of wildlife articles on topics such as animal behavior, biodiversity, invasive species, migrations, and lots more.

The Electronic Zoo
You are almost sure to find information on any animal you can think of at this enormous resource from Washington University in St. Louis.

Endangered Species Program
Visit this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service site for the latest information about endangered and threatened species.

Endangered Species.Com
Another great resource for info on endangered species.

The Shark Research Program
This site is full of facts and news about shark species, shark attacks, and shark conservation.

Amphibian Malformations
Where have amphibian malformations been reported? What do they look like? Learn more about malformed amphibians at this website of the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey.

A Thousand Friends of Frogs
Student art and writing, as well as frog facts, are featured here at this Minnesota site, a project of the Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University Graduate School.

Journey North
Follow birds, mammals, and insects as they migrate across North America. Visit this site for weekly updates on selected migratory species or contribute your own sightings.

Northern Prairie Biological Resources
A wonderful source for regional distribution data on everything from earthworms to wolves. Although the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center concentrates on states of the Great Plains, several resources show national and regional data.

Marine Mammal Stranding Center
The center lists places to call if you discover a marine mammal strandings.

How to Create a Haven for Hummingbirds
Learn how to build your own hummingbird feeder at the Journey North Web site. This site also lists the favorite flowers of hummingbirds.

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration
Younger students can participate in this cross-cultural exchange by sending paper butterflies to a Children's Museum in Mexico City this November. The 1996–1997 exchange involved 80,000 students in three North American countries.