Crash Course
The History of Life on Earth
The first life on Earth developed in the oceans. As an introduction to ecology, the video starts with the formation of the earth. It follows with the Archaean and Proterozoic Eons including protobionts, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes. It...
Crash Course
Pollution
An environmental science video covers natural and synthetic compounds and the impact they have on the environment. It includes carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, cyanide, mercury, sulfur, nitrogen dioxide, and endocrine disruptions.
Crash Course
The Hydrologic and Carbon Cycles: Always Recycle!
Introduce biogeochemical cycles and goes into detail about the hydrologic and carbon cycles. A scientific video engages learners and teaches them at the same time.
Crash Course
Community Ecology II: Predators
The first examples of mimicry we have found date back to before flowering plants. The video goes in depth on predators at the community ecology level. It includes discussions of herbivores, parasitism, adaptations, cryptic coloration,...
Crash Course
Population Ecology: The Texas Mosquito Mystery
While 80 percent of people with West Nile Virus show no symptoms, in severe cases, it causes death by infecting the membranes around the spinal cord and brain. The video starts by making population ecology relevant. It includes density...
Amoeba Sisters
Ecological Succession: Nature's Great Grit
Your science class may not enjoy ecology yet, but after this video series they are sure to be lichen it! An educational video explains ecological succession at the community level. It includes primary succession starting with...
TED-Ed
Why Wildfires Are Necessary
Are wildfires necessary for some forests? Get the answer to this burning question with a short video that examines the role of fire in forest growth and health.
TED-Ed
When Will the Next Mass Extinction Occur?
Normal background extinctions and mass extinction events are examined in this short video that suggests that environmental change, naturally occurring and change caused by humans, is the key factor in such events.
TED-Ed
Why Is Biodiversity So Important?
There are millions of plant and animal species on the planet, but why do we need so many? Follow along with this short video as it explains how biodiversity helps strengthen ecosystems, allowing them to adapt to change so that life...
Curated OER
Biomes : Freshwater
About 70% of the earth's surface is covered in water, but how much of this water is fresh? Show this video to introduce your conservationists to the freshwater biome and the species that live there.
Curated OER
Biomes : Wetlands
Can you guess which biome used to be considered useless? Because of our ignorance, we destroyed it for development and agricultural purposes. Wetlands were viewed as wastelands until recently, when preservationists started to realize the...
Curated OER
Alala Ð An Endangered Species
What is an Alala? It is a crow native to the Hawaiian Islands, and it's endangered. Learn about what the Alala eats, when it breeds, and the startling fact that there are only 12 left in the world.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Population Ecology
In the following video, Evan Seimann, PhD, defines key terms and concepts of ecology, basic characteristics of populations, population age structures and densities, and explains the dynamics of growth models within a population. [22:59]
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Crash Course Ecology: Human Population Growth
Hank is here to tell us the specifics of why and how human population growth has happened over the past hundred and fifty years or so, and how those specifics relate to ecology. [10:53]
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Crash Course Ecology: 5 Human Impacts on the Environment
Hank gives the run down on the top five ways humans are negatively impacting the environment and having detrimental effects on the valuable ecosystem services which a healthy biosphere provides. [10:37]
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Splash & Bubbles: Lu the Explorer
Splash takes his pals to go see his friend, Lu, a fearless explorer in the deep. He has met Lu in his travels, and she has been an inspiration for Splash. Lu turns out to be a female football fish (the "Lu" stands for "bio-LU-minescent")...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Kid Vision: A Day With a Marine Biologist
Miss Penny and the KidVision Kids visit Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to learn about the role of a Marine Biologist. Learn about protecting sea turtle nests, watch a sea turtle examination, and feed a stingray! Included are links to...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: American Experience: Building the Alaska Oil Pipeline
Short AMERICAN EXPERIENCE video tells the story of how environmentalists, Alaska Native peoples, and engineers concerned about the effects of permafrost challenged plans for the Alaska oil pipeline. [5:19]
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Humans Change Earth
Realize the many ways in which humans affect the Earth system, including other living things on Earth. [4:57]
Bozeman Science
Bozeman Science: Ecosystem Ecology
Paul Andersen explains how ecosystems function. He begins with a description of how life on the planet is ordered from large to small in biomes, ecosystems, communities, population, and individuals. He describes the major terrestrial and...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Environmental Concepts: Lesson 1
This lesson will define ecology, natural environment, ecosystem, and environmental deficit, while delineating the formula for calculating human impact on the environment. It is 1 of 3 in the series titled "Environmental Concepts."
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Biosphere 2
Audio story presents information on the Biosphere 2 project, an attempt to replicate the world's biospheres in a controlled environment. Includes a map of the facility.
Crash Course
Crash Course Ecology #4: Community Ecology: Feel the Love
Interactions between species are what define ecological communities, and community ecology studies these interactions anywhere they take place. Although interspecies interactions are mostly competitive, competition is pretty dangerous,...
TED Talks
Ted Ed: Feedback Loops: How Nature Gets Its Rhythms
Learn how positive and negative feedback loops work in nature and how they support the balance of an ecosystem. [5:10]