Biodisc CD-ROMS on Ecology

Biodisc offers over 90 educational biology CD-ROMs for teaching concepts in cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, anatomy, ecology, oceanography, anthropology and archaeology.

The Ecology educational CD-ROMs section explores survival of wildlife versus natural resource development, the biosphere, air and water pollution, wetlands, rain forests and endangered ecosystems.

E-1	CORAL KINGDOM (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 99
	This simulation software is designed for inquiry learning of ecological principles. Controlling variables include animal feeding adaptations by analyzing specialization, energetics by creating a food web, animal interrelationships (competition, habitat, symbiosis, survival strategies) and human impacts on complex ecosystems. Learn basic principles of ecology in a meaningful and interesting way by using coral reefs as the vehicle of study in this educational CD-ROM. Principles are taught through 'missions' where the students dive, collect and analyze data from a reef to write a report on their findings. There is a complete catalog of all species for students to use in writing reports and each mission explores a different ecological principle.
E-2	INVESTIGATING LAKE ILUKA (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 110
	An interactive educational multimedia tool, Lake Iluka captures students' imaginations while developing their critical thinking and problem solving skills. It has been called "Simply the best product in its category." Using video, graphics and sound to simulate a lake environment, students investigate ecosystems; make physical, chemical and biological measurements; collect animal and plant life information; view news footage and consult experts; take electronic notes on their findings and put together a multimedia final report.
E-3	TASK FORCE ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS (Set of two Hybrid Educational CD-ROMs)	$ 165
	'Task Force' provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of the hydropower system on salmon populations. The issues here are complex and many of the proposals for salmon restoration are highly controversial. Using the two volume CD-ROM library, worksheets and on-line investigations, students will experience first hand the complexity of conflict between those who wish to preserve the environment and those who wish to develop natural resources. Finding a solution that puts salmon back on the road to recovery while satisfying the interests of industry will help students develop essential critical thinking skills that will help them make informed decisions in the future.
E-4	ECOSYSTEMS (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 110
	'Ecosystems' explores the principles of ecosystem concepts, energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem modeling and human impacts. Movies, animation, updates and activities are featured with forums and exploration on the web.
E-5	THE BIOSPHERE (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 110
	Through the use of a user-friendly interface, vivid diagrams, animations, photographs, and accompanying narratives, 'The Biosphere' introduces students to the structural zones of Earth and life within each. The program covers the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, as well as organization of organisms, biotic interrelationships in ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles (nitrogen, carbon, water and phosphorus cycles) and ecological succession. This educational CD-ROM includes a pre-test, post-test, a set of interactive tutorial exercises that reinforce concepts plus an online glossary of key terms and definitions.
E-7	AIR POLLUTION (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 75
	Become actively involved with causes, effects and control of carbon monoxide in 'Pollution City.' Students may change variables affecting carbon monoxide levels, check health effects, use worse case analysis and determine safety margins. Extensive visuals on the sources and effects of air pollution are included with computer models.
E-8	WATER POLLUTION (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 75
	This interactive simulation of water pollution offers students realistic problems in four different water environments. Students may vary the water temperature, waste type, dumping rate and treatment method. This educational CD-ROM includes extensive visuals on the properties of water, the water cycle and the effects of water pollution.
E-9	HOTHOUSE PLANET (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 85
	Students may vary the greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, chloro-fluorocarbons and nitrogen oxides) to see their potential effects on temperature and sea level. Volcanic activity and solar irradiance can also be varied locally and globally with results assessed.
E-10	OUR OZONE CRISIS (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 85
	Interactive exercises in this program develop awareness of changes in the Earth's atmosphere plus their causes and effects. The disc features ozone information, video of an ozone hole and prediction of future ozone levels. Information on chloro-fluorocarbons, skin cancer and ultraviolet protection are included.
E-11	THE WETLANDS EXPLORER (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 70
	Hidden life of streams, ponds and wetlands is investigated with adaptations, feeding methods, reproductive strategies and interrelationships in bacteria, protists and micro-invertebrates.
E-12	THE DIGITAL FIELD TRIP TO THE WETLANDS (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 110
	Students visit a bog to learn principles of wetland ecology with videos, animation, photographs, narration and a comprehensive workbook. Five modules are integrated into one fully interactive learning tool: Field Trip, Study of a Bog, Wetlands Types, Mechanisms of a Wetland and Our Endangered Wetlands.
E-13	EARTHSCAPES IN TIME (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 55
	Ever-changing properties of our planet are fully annotated with high-resolution NASA satellite photos of matching landscapes taken decades apart and superimposed. Navigation is easy from the drying Aral Sea to the receding Brazilian Rain Forest, terrain changes in the Mississippi River Delta and much more. A highly detailed Hammond world relief map, in the same scale as satellite images, provides a reference to each area you are observing.
E-14	THE DIGITAL FIELD TRIP TO THE RAIN FOREST (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 110
	Students visit a rain forest in Belize with videos, animation, photographs, narration and a comprehensive workbook. Principles of rain forest ecology are taught in five modules: Field Trip, Study of a Rain Forest, Rain Forest Types, Mechanisms of a Rain Forest and Our Endangered Rain Forests.
E-15	INTERACTIVE BIRDS (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 145
	More than an educational CD-ROM full of pretty pictures, this program explores the evolution, structure and adaptations of birds in an extensive and insightful manner. Excellent narratives that will keep the viewer's interest are incorporated with numerous photographs, drawings, detailed illustrations and animations. Program topics include: classification of birds, birds relation to dinosaurs, flight, feathers, wing types, migration, Darwin's finches, adaptation and beaks plus adaptation and feet. Anatomy of the digestive, excretory, respiratory, reproductive and nervous systems are covered.
E-16	INTERACTIVE FOOD CHAINS & WEBS (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 99
	Learn how organisms within a biological community depend on each other for food and survival. Concepts of autotrophs, heterotrophs, niches in a community, food chains, food webs and energy pyramids are explored. With dazzling interactions, this disc provides a complete multimedia experience.
E-17	POPULATION ECOLOGY (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 110
	Explore patterns in population growth, why populations grow or stop growing plus trends in human population. Main categories include: defining a population, characteristics of populations, types of populations, growth rate of populations, strategies of reproduction, limiting factors, age structure of populations and interactions between populations (including endangered species). Animated graphs and diagrams vividly depict core population concepts including: the lag phase, exponential growth, J curve, dynamic equilibrium and carrying capacity.
E-18	EXPLORING ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 110
	An abundance of graphics and photographs enable users to visit some of the world's most threatened locales: Amazonian Rain Forest, Arctic Tundra, Columbia River Basin, Coral Reefs, Florida Everglades, Great Lakes, Greater Salmon Selway, Himalayas, Madagascar, Northern Forest, Okabango Delta, Prairie Potholes and Sonoran Desert. Biodiversity, environmental concerns about specific ecosystems and endangered species are also covered in this educational CD-ROM.
E-19	HUMAN IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT (Hybrid Win/Mac Educational CD-ROM)	$ 120
	Students are stimulated to think about the causes, effects and solutions to environmental problems. Major topics include: human history and the environment, population growth, environmental compartments, ozone depletion, global warming, smog, acid deposition, water pollution, pollution control, habitat destruction, natural resource exploitation, biodiversity, extinction, conservation biology and solutions.