Name _________________Block______ Date________

EXPLORING LIFE IN THE FOREST CANOPY

(Biodiversity Research in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/iadventure/GSMNPiadventure

While you read through the above site, be sure to click on the words and links to other sites and the "Library". These links will open in new windows that can be closed by clicking on the box in the upper left of the window.

As you work through the site, you should be able to complete the following items.

1. Define "diversity" ________________________________________________

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Find "biodiversity". How are the two terms alike or different? ____________________

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2.What is a myxomycete? _______________________________________________

3. List all of the organizations that funded Dr. Keller's field research in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? ________________________________________________

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4. "Cryptogam" is a fancy word for what types of organisms? _____________________

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5. Click on the "previously unknown myxomycete" link to view a larger image of the new Diachea species that Melissa discovered while climbing trees for Dr. Keller. While there, take time to scroll down and click on image #5 to see a close-up of what to look for when trying to find tiny myxomycetes. They are called ______________________ tracks.

6. Define: biosphere __________________________________________________

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global warming ___________________________________________________

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invading species __________________________________________________

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7. The ATBI is a huge effort to inventory all life in the GSMNP. Click on the link to visit the site. Now scroll down to "Role of the ATBI". What are the two goals of the ATBI?

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8. The GSMNP is located in what states? ____________________________________

9. Kenny Snell taught the climbers how to tie knots. Click on his name to see a picture of him with Melissa and Buck Counts, a former Warrensburg student. They all worked with Dr. Keller in the Smokies in 2000 and 2001.

10. Dr. Joe Ely is a plant ecologist and statistician who helped develop the grant that has funded this research Define:

ecologist _______________________________________________________

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statistician ______________________________________________________

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11. Define "entomologist"________________________________________________

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12. What is one of the research questions suggested by Dr. Wilson at the pre-trip meeting? ____________________________________________________________

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13. Define:

bryophyte ______________________________________________________

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lichen _________________________________________________________

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14. What type of environmental data does the HOBO unit help the team collect? ___________________________________________________________________

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15. Dr. Tor Tønsberg is a lichenologist (studies lichens) from _______________ (what country?) that joins the team in the GSMNP.

16. What is a "voucher specimen" and what do you do with it? _____________________

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17. Compare diurnal vs. nocturnal. ________________________________________

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18. What happens to insects that fly into a canopy trap? ______________________

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Name ______________________

Block _________ Date _________

EXPLORING LIFE IN THE FOREST CANOPY

(Biodiversity Research in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

page 3

19. What about this site, and the research it describes, interests you the most?

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20. You will be working with your class to study lichens, myxomycetes, and insects over the next few weeks, but you will also be working, in more depth, on your own studies of one of these. Which of these organisms seems the most interesting to you? ________________________ Which would be second? ________________________