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Species Diversity

butterflyLook around you. You are surrounded by life - some of it you can see, some of it you can't see. Species diversity is the variety of life forms found on earth.

Diversity of Life - There are millions of known and unknown species.

Ecosystems - Everything in the natural world is connected. An ecosystem is a community of living and nonliving things that work together.

Classifying Life - All the species of organisms on earth fall into one of five categories or kingdoms.

Classifying Mammals - Scientists have organized mammals into orders based on their characteristics and their structures.

Classifying the Bobcat - Find out how scientists classify one animal, the bobcat.

Plant Diversity - Learn about the over 300,000 plant species in the world.

Mosses and Liverworts - These types of plants have no roots, leaves  or stems.

Tracheophytes - This group of plants has roots, stems and leaves.

Ferns - Ferns don't have seeds. They have spores.

Conifers and Cycads - These plants are gymnosperms. They have seeds, but no flowers!

Angiosperms: Flowering Plants - There are over 250,000  species of angiosperms. Angiosperms are flowering plants. They make up around 80 percent of all the living plant species on  Earth.
Apiales Order
Asterales Order
Ericales Order
Fagales Order
Hamamelidales Order
Juglandales Order
Laurales Order
Magnoliales Order
Malvales Order
Papaverales Order
Piperales Order
Primulales Order
Ranunculales Order
Rosales Order
Salicales Order
Sapindales Order
Urticales Order

    Did You Know?
beetle...scientists have identified only a fraction of all the different species on Earth.

... one out of every five animal species is a type of beetle!

    What Do You Think?
Question MarksClick here to test your diversity knowledge.


    NatureFiles    

File FolderLearn more about these animals

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Monarch Butterfly  
    Teacher's Guide

AppleClick here to access the teacher's guide for this episode.

    View Online
In the first segment, Patrice looks at the wide variety of life found on earth. and the important role species diversity plays in maintaining a health environment. Next she and Dave sweep for insects in a field near the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center and see how many different kinds of insects they can find. In segment three we take an up-close look at life on the forest floor. Finally Morrisa and Octave join Susan Morse of Keeping Track and discover the diversity of animals where she lives by looking for their tracks. Watch Online >>





























 




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