1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,767 PRESENTATION OF 2 00:00:01,801 --> 00:00:03,067 SCIENCE TREK ON IDAHO PUBLIC 3 00:00:03,067 --> 00:00:04,534 TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE 4 00:00:04,534 --> 00:00:05,801 THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF 5 00:00:05,801 --> 00:00:07,934 THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM 6 00:00:07,934 --> 00:00:09,100 FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO 7 00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:10,300 FULFILLING THE MOORE FAMILY 8 00:00:10,300 --> 00:00:11,701 LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT 9 00:00:11,701 --> 00:00:14,000 STATE OF IDAHO. 10 00:00:20,734 --> 00:00:21,734 JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN: IDAHO HAS 11 00:00:21,734 --> 00:00:23,200 FIVE DISTINCT ECOSYSTEMS. 12 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:24,467 WHAT KIND ECOSYSTEM YOU LIVE IN 13 00:00:24,467 --> 00:00:25,734 TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT THE 14 00:00:25,734 --> 00:00:27,567 ANIMALS AND PLANTS IN YOUR AREA. 15 00:00:27,567 --> 00:00:28,934 DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT 16 00:00:28,934 --> 00:00:30,300 IDAHO'S ECOSYSTEMS? 17 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:31,434 WELL, SCIENTISTS ARE STANDING BY 18 00:00:31,434 --> 00:00:32,734 WITH ANSWERS. 19 00:00:32,734 --> 00:00:33,667 STAY TUNED. 20 00:00:33,667 --> 00:00:35,234 SCIENCE TREK IS NEXT. 21 00:00:36,067 --> 00:00:43,901 (MUSIC) 22 00:00:44,367 --> 00:00:45,133 CARTAN-HANSEN: HI, I'M JOAN 23 00:00:45,133 --> 00:00:46,200 CARTANHANSEN, AND WELCOME TO 24 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:47,434 SCIENCE TREK . 25 00:00:47,434 --> 00:00:48,501 AND WELCOME TO THE IDAHO MUSEUM 26 00:00:48,501 --> 00:00:49,934 OF NATURAL HISTORY. 27 00:00:49,934 --> 00:00:51,000 SCIENTISTS ARE STANDING BY TO 28 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:52,501 ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. 29 00:00:52,501 --> 00:00:53,601 AND LATER IN THE SHOW WE'LL 30 00:00:53,601 --> 00:00:54,667 LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT 31 00:00:54,667 --> 00:00:56,300 THE BASE OF MOST ECOSYSTEMS, THE 32 00:00:56,300 --> 00:00:57,701 SOIL. 33 00:00:57,701 --> 00:00:58,734 BUT FIRST, LET'S LEARN A LITTLE 34 00:00:58,734 --> 00:01:02,167 BIT MORE ABOUT IDAHO ECOSYSTEMS. 35 00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:05,367 CARTAN-HANSEN: A HABITAT IS MADE 36 00:01:05,367 --> 00:01:06,367 UP OF FOUR THINGS THAT ALL 37 00:01:06,367 --> 00:01:09,100 ANIMALS NEED: FOOD, WATER, 38 00:01:09,100 --> 00:01:11,834 SHELTER, AND SPACE. 39 00:01:11,834 --> 00:01:17,033 (BAH BAH) 40 00:01:17,033 --> 00:01:18,300 WHEN AN ANIMAL 41 00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:19,834 LIVES IN A PLACE THAT HAS THE 42 00:01:19,834 --> 00:01:20,801 RIGHT AMOUNT OF ALL THESE 43 00:01:20,801 --> 00:01:22,100 THINGS, THEN IT'S LIVING IN A 44 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:23,567 HEALTHY HABITAT. 45 00:01:23,567 --> 00:01:24,968 LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. 46 00:01:24,968 --> 00:01:32,734 FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, AND SPACE. 47 00:01:32,734 --> 00:01:33,767 THE FIRST THREE ARE PRETTY EASY 48 00:01:33,767 --> 00:01:36,567 TO UNDERSTAND, RIGHT? 49 00:01:36,567 --> 00:01:40,601 YOU HAVE TO EAT, DRINK, AND HAVE 50 00:01:40,601 --> 00:01:43,701 A PLACE TO STAY. 51 00:01:43,701 --> 00:01:45,467 BUT WHAT ABOUT SPACE? 52 00:01:45,467 --> 00:01:48,334 DO YOU NEED SPACE? 53 00:01:48,334 --> 00:01:49,367 WE ALL NEED SPACE, ALTHOUGH SOME 54 00:01:49,367 --> 00:01:52,167 OF US REQUIRE MORE THAN OTHERS. 55 00:01:54,934 --> 00:01:56,300 A SPIDER WOULD ONLY NEED A SMALL 56 00:01:56,300 --> 00:01:57,767 AREA TO BUILD A WEB, MAYBE IN 57 00:01:57,767 --> 00:01:59,801 YOUR BACKYARD. 58 00:01:59,801 --> 00:02:02,167 BUT WHAT ABOUT A COUGAR? 59 00:02:02,167 --> 00:02:04,200 IT REQUIRES A LOT MORE SPACE 60 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,501 THAN A SPIDER, EVEN AS MUCH AS 61 00:02:06,501 --> 00:02:11,400 120 SQUARE MILES. 62 00:02:14,033 --> 00:02:15,834 THIS DESERT HAS A LOT OF SPACE 63 00:02:15,834 --> 00:02:18,734 BUT VERY LITTLE WATER. 64 00:02:18,734 --> 00:02:19,767 IN FACT, FOR AN AREA TO BE 65 00:02:19,767 --> 00:02:20,934 CONSIDERED A DESERT, IT MUST 66 00:02:20,934 --> 00:02:22,434 HAVE LESS THAN 10 INCHES OF 67 00:02:22,434 --> 00:02:24,667 MOISTURE A YEAR. 68 00:02:24,667 --> 00:02:25,968 THIS AFFECTS THE KINDS OF PLANTS 69 00:02:25,968 --> 00:02:27,234 THAT CAN GROW HERE, WHICH, IN 70 00:02:27,234 --> 00:02:28,701 TURN, AFFECTS THE TYPES OF 71 00:02:28,701 --> 00:02:31,067 ANIMALS THAT CAN ADAPT TO LIVING 72 00:02:31,067 --> 00:02:32,968 IN A DESERT. 73 00:02:32,968 --> 00:02:34,033 PLANTS THAT HAVE ADAPTED TO 74 00:02:34,033 --> 00:02:35,334 DESERT LIFE BY ALTERING THEIR 75 00:02:35,334 --> 00:02:36,501 PHYSICAL STRUCTURE ARE CALLED 76 00:02:36,501 --> 00:02:38,434 "XEROPHYTES." 77 00:02:38,434 --> 00:02:39,601 THEY USUALLY HAVE A SPECIAL WAY 78 00:02:39,601 --> 00:02:40,701 OF STORING WATER, LIKE THIS 79 00:02:40,701 --> 00:02:42,133 CACTUS THAT COLLECTS WATER IN 80 00:02:42,133 --> 00:02:44,234 ITS FAT STEM. 81 00:02:44,234 --> 00:02:45,300 SOME OTHER DESERT SHRUBS HAVE 82 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:46,567 ALSO ADAPTED BY REDUCING THE 83 00:02:46,567 --> 00:02:48,234 SIZE OF THEIR LEAVES TO 84 00:02:48,234 --> 00:02:49,901 ELIMINATE TRANSPIRATION, WHICH 85 00:02:49,901 --> 00:02:51,234 MEANS THE LOSS OF WATER TO THE 86 00:02:51,234 --> 00:02:52,868 AIR. 87 00:02:52,868 --> 00:02:53,968 DESERT WILDLIFE HAS ALSO 88 00:02:53,968 --> 00:02:55,200 ADAPTED. 89 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:56,300 MANY ANIMALS AVOID THE HEAT OF 90 00:02:56,300 --> 00:02:58,133 MIDDAY AND ONLY BECOME ACTIVE AT 91 00:02:58,133 --> 00:03:00,334 DUSK AND DAWN. 92 00:03:00,334 --> 00:03:01,501 THESE ANIMALS ARE SAID TO BE 93 00:03:01,501 --> 00:03:02,901 CREPUSCULAR. 94 00:03:02,901 --> 00:03:04,334 A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A CREPUSCULAR 95 00:03:04,334 --> 00:03:06,501 REPTILE IS THE RATTLESNAKE. 96 00:03:06,501 --> 00:03:10,100 (RATTLE) SOME DESERT ANIMALS, 97 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:12,501 LIKE THIS BAT YIKES GO ONE STEP 98 00:03:12,501 --> 00:03:14,267 FARTHER AND ONLY COME OUT IN THE 99 00:03:14,267 --> 00:03:16,501 COOL TEMPERATURES OF THE DARK 100 00:03:16,501 --> 00:03:17,734 NIGHT. 101 00:03:17,734 --> 00:03:18,834 THESE ARE CALLED "NOCTURNAL 102 00:03:18,834 --> 00:03:20,334 ANIMALS." 103 00:03:20,334 --> 00:03:21,634 OTHERS LIVE IN BURROWS BENEATH 104 00:03:21,634 --> 00:03:22,901 THE SOIL TO ESCAPE HIGH 105 00:03:22,901 --> 00:03:24,267 TEMPERATURES AT THE DESERT 106 00:03:24,267 --> 00:03:25,400 SURFACE. 107 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:26,968 AND ABOVE IT ALL SOAR THE BIRDS 108 00:03:26,968 --> 00:03:28,300 OF PREY. 109 00:03:28,300 --> 00:03:29,367 THEY FEED ON THE SMALL MAMMALS 110 00:03:29,367 --> 00:03:30,601 WHEN THEY EMERGE FROM THE 111 00:03:30,601 --> 00:03:32,100 GROUND. 112 00:03:32,100 --> 00:03:33,434 ALL HAVE ADAPTED TO EXTREME 113 00:03:33,434 --> 00:03:35,000 TEMPERATURES AND VERY LITTLE 114 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,467 WATER. 115 00:03:36,467 --> 00:03:38,200 WETLANDS, ON THE OTHER HAND, 116 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:39,667 HAVE LOTS OF WATER FOR AT LEAST 117 00:03:39,667 --> 00:03:41,267 PART OF THE YEAR. 118 00:03:41,267 --> 00:03:42,634 WATER DRIVES THE OTHER TWO 119 00:03:42,634 --> 00:03:43,834 THINGS THAT DEFINE A WETLAND, 120 00:03:43,834 --> 00:03:45,901 HYDROPHYTES AND HYDRIC SOIL. 121 00:03:45,901 --> 00:03:47,968 HYDRO MEANS "WATER," "PHYTES" IS 122 00:03:47,968 --> 00:03:50,167 THE WORD FOR PLANTS. 123 00:03:50,167 --> 00:03:51,567 HYDROPHYTES, LIKE THIS CATTAIL, 124 00:03:51,567 --> 00:03:52,868 ARE PLANTS THAT HAVE ADAPTED TO 125 00:03:52,868 --> 00:03:54,667 WET CONDITIONS. 126 00:03:54,667 --> 00:03:56,334 THESE DON'T SUFFOCATE OR ROT IN 127 00:03:56,334 --> 00:03:58,968 WATERSOAKED OR HYDRIC SOIL. 128 00:03:58,968 --> 00:04:00,467 THAT SOIL IS COMPOSED OF ORGANIC 129 00:04:00,467 --> 00:04:01,901 MATERIALS, PLANTS THAT HAVE DIED 130 00:04:01,901 --> 00:04:03,634 AND BUILT UP WITHOUT BREAKING 131 00:04:03,634 --> 00:04:04,734 DOWN LIKE THEY DO IN DRIER 132 00:04:04,734 --> 00:04:06,801 SOILS. 133 00:04:06,801 --> 00:04:08,000 THESE SOILS WORK LIKE GIANT 134 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:09,567 SPONGES, ABSORBING WATER DURING 135 00:04:09,567 --> 00:04:11,133 FLOODS. 136 00:04:11,133 --> 00:04:12,734 THE PLANTS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY 137 00:04:12,734 --> 00:04:14,200 BY TRAPPING POLLUTANTS AND 138 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,133 SOAKING UP NUTRIENTS FROM ANIMAL 139 00:04:16,133 --> 00:04:18,000 WASTES AND FARM FERTILIZER. 140 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:19,767 WETLANDS PROVIDE FOOD, WATER, 141 00:04:19,767 --> 00:04:20,934 SHELTER, AND SPACE FOR BIRDS 142 00:04:20,934 --> 00:04:23,467 LIKE DUCKS AND SHORE BIRDS. 143 00:04:23,467 --> 00:04:24,601 THEY'RE ALSO IMPORTANT STOPOVER 144 00:04:24,601 --> 00:04:26,267 PLACES FOR MIGRATING BIRDS, LIKE 145 00:04:26,267 --> 00:04:28,767 THESE SNOW GEESE, STOPPING IN 146 00:04:28,767 --> 00:04:30,067 IDAHO ON THEIR WAY TO NESTING 147 00:04:30,067 --> 00:04:32,634 GROUNDS FARTHER NORTH. 148 00:04:34,033 --> 00:04:35,868 REMEMBER OUR DESERT HABITAT? 149 00:04:35,868 --> 00:04:37,033 SOME OF THE LESS OBVIOUS 150 00:04:37,033 --> 00:04:39,767 WETLANDS ARE PLACES LIKE THIS, 151 00:04:39,767 --> 00:04:41,167 THE THIN, GREEN LINES THAT WIND 152 00:04:41,167 --> 00:04:43,501 THROUGH THE DESERTS. 153 00:04:43,501 --> 00:04:44,801 THIS NARROW STRIP OF RELATIVELY 154 00:04:44,801 --> 00:04:46,834 LUSH VEGETATION IS THE LIFEBLOOD 155 00:04:46,834 --> 00:04:49,267 OF IDAHO'S DESERT WILDLIFE. 156 00:04:49,267 --> 00:04:50,934 BIGHORN SHEEP, FROGS, ANTELOPES, 157 00:04:50,934 --> 00:04:52,434 SONG BIRDS, AND OTHER SPECIES 158 00:04:52,434 --> 00:04:53,934 DEPEND ON THESE CRITICAL 159 00:04:53,934 --> 00:04:56,767 WETLANDS TO SURVIVE. 160 00:04:56,767 --> 00:04:57,801 FORESTS COMBINE SOME OF THE 161 00:04:57,801 --> 00:04:59,167 CHARACTERISTICS OF WETLANDS AND 162 00:04:59,167 --> 00:05:00,968 DESERTS. 163 00:05:00,968 --> 00:05:02,701 RAINFORESTS HAVE LOTS OF WATER. 164 00:05:02,701 --> 00:05:04,501 OTHER FORESTS ARE DRY. 165 00:05:04,501 --> 00:05:05,767 HERE IN IDAHO THE FORESTS OF THE 166 00:05:05,767 --> 00:05:07,167 PANHANDLE, CALLED "BOREAL 167 00:05:07,167 --> 00:05:09,000 FORESTS," ARE VERY WET; BUT THE 168 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:10,367 FORESTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE 169 00:05:10,367 --> 00:05:12,033 STATE ARE DRY OR TEMPERATE 170 00:05:12,033 --> 00:05:13,968 FORESTS. 171 00:05:13,968 --> 00:05:15,367 THE TALL TREES IN A FOREST ARE 172 00:05:15,367 --> 00:05:17,734 CALLED THE "OVERSTORY." 173 00:05:17,734 --> 00:05:19,167 THE WIND SPREADS THEIR SEEDS AND 174 00:05:19,167 --> 00:05:20,501 POLLEN. 175 00:05:20,501 --> 00:05:21,734 THE UNDERSTORY, THE SHRUBS AND 176 00:05:21,734 --> 00:05:23,334 GRASSES BENEATH THE TALL TREES, 177 00:05:23,334 --> 00:05:25,934 ARE DESIGNED TO GROW IN SHADE. 178 00:05:25,934 --> 00:05:27,000 THERE'S USUALLY LESS WIND IN THE 179 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:28,167 UNDERSTORY, SO THESE PLANTS HAVE 180 00:05:28,167 --> 00:05:30,434 ADAPTED BY USING ANIMALS TO 181 00:05:30,434 --> 00:05:34,968 DISPERSE THEIR SEEDS. 182 00:05:34,968 --> 00:05:37,100 (RAINFALL) IN A TEMPERATE FOREST 183 00:05:37,100 --> 00:05:38,534 PRECIPITATION MAY FALL 184 00:05:38,534 --> 00:05:40,167 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 185 00:05:40,167 --> 00:05:41,801 (WIND) 186 00:05:41,801 --> 00:05:42,901 HOWEVER, DURING THE 187 00:05:42,901 --> 00:05:44,200 WINTER MOISTURE IS LESS 188 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:45,901 AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT'S FROZEN. 189 00:05:45,901 --> 00:05:47,200 ANIMALS THAT LIVE IN THIS TYPE 190 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:48,501 OF FOREST MUST BE ABLE TO 191 00:05:48,501 --> 00:05:49,968 TOLERATE HOT SUMMERS, ADJUST TO 192 00:05:49,968 --> 00:05:52,033 COLD WINTERS BY EITHER 193 00:05:52,033 --> 00:05:53,901 HIBERNATING, MIGRATING, OR 194 00:05:53,901 --> 00:05:55,868 KEEPING ACTIVE. 195 00:05:55,868 --> 00:05:57,734 HIBERNATION GETS BLACK BEARS 196 00:05:57,734 --> 00:05:59,167 THROUGH THE WINTER. 197 00:05:59,167 --> 00:06:00,534 THEY FATTEN UP DURING THE WARM 198 00:06:00,534 --> 00:06:01,734 MONTHS ON INSECTS AND BERRIES, 199 00:06:01,734 --> 00:06:03,033 THEN HIBERNATE WHEN FOOD IS 200 00:06:03,033 --> 00:06:04,868 SCARCE. 201 00:06:04,868 --> 00:06:06,567 WHEN GRASSES AND SHRUBS BECOME 202 00:06:06,567 --> 00:06:07,767 BURIED IN SNOW MANY ANIMALS, 203 00:06:07,767 --> 00:06:10,167 LIKE DEER AND ELK, MIGRATE FROM 204 00:06:10,167 --> 00:06:11,367 MOUNTAINS TO LOWER ELEVATIONS 205 00:06:11,367 --> 00:06:14,300 WHERE FOOD IS MORE AVAILABLE. 206 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:15,400 IF A FOREST ANIMAL DOES NOT 207 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,033 HIBERNATE OR MIGRATE, IT MUST 208 00:06:17,033 --> 00:06:20,434 STAY ACTIVE TO SURVIVE THE COLD. 209 00:06:20,434 --> 00:06:21,801 THIS WOLVERINE REMAINS IN THE 210 00:06:21,801 --> 00:06:23,067 HIGH COUNTRY BUT SPENDS THE 211 00:06:23,067 --> 00:06:24,968 WINTER FEEDING ON DEAD ANIMALS, 212 00:06:24,968 --> 00:06:26,467 OFTEN THE DEER AND ELK THAT 213 00:06:26,467 --> 00:06:29,234 DON'T SURVIVE THE HARSH WEATHER. 214 00:06:29,234 --> 00:06:30,767 IN BOREAL FORESTS, THE SUMMERS 215 00:06:30,767 --> 00:06:31,834 ARE WET AND COOL. 216 00:06:31,834 --> 00:06:35,100 DEAD PLANTS DECOMPOSE SLOWLY, 217 00:06:35,100 --> 00:06:36,501 CREATING THE SAME HYDRIC SOILS 218 00:06:36,501 --> 00:06:38,601 THAT ARE FOUND IN WETLANDS. 219 00:06:38,601 --> 00:06:39,767 ANIMALS, LIKE THIS MOOSE, HAVE 220 00:06:39,767 --> 00:06:41,100 ADAPTED TO THIS WET, COOL 221 00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:42,968 CLIMATE. 222 00:06:42,968 --> 00:06:44,334 IN THE SUMMER MOOSE CAN BE FOUND 223 00:06:44,334 --> 00:06:45,567 FEEDING ON THE AQUATIC 224 00:06:45,567 --> 00:06:47,100 VEGETATION IN PONDS AND MARSHES 225 00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:48,934 TUCKED INTO THE FORESTS. 226 00:06:48,934 --> 00:06:50,267 DURING THE COLD, WET WINTERS 227 00:06:50,267 --> 00:06:52,801 THEY EAT WILLOWS AND SHRUBS. 228 00:06:52,801 --> 00:06:54,033 THEIR LONG LEGS MAKE IT POSSIBLE 229 00:06:54,033 --> 00:06:55,300 FOR MOOSE TO REACH THE TALL 230 00:06:55,300 --> 00:06:56,801 BRANCHES, AND THEIR BLACK COAT 231 00:06:56,801 --> 00:06:58,667 ABSORBS THE WARMING RAYS OF THE 232 00:06:58,667 --> 00:07:00,901 SUN. 233 00:07:00,901 --> 00:07:02,434 SO WHAT IS A GRASSLAND? 234 00:07:02,434 --> 00:07:04,200 LIKE A FOREST, GRASSLANDS CAN BE 235 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,701 EITHER WET OR DRY. 236 00:07:06,701 --> 00:07:08,067 IN IDAHO OUR GRASSLANDS ARE IN 237 00:07:08,067 --> 00:07:09,968 THE NORTH, NEAR MOSCOW. 238 00:07:09,968 --> 00:07:10,934 THIS AREA IS CALLED THE 239 00:07:10,934 --> 00:07:12,200 "PALOUSE." 240 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:13,400 IT'S ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED 241 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,734 ECOSYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES; 242 00:07:15,734 --> 00:07:18,501 ONLY 1 PERCENT REMAINS. 243 00:07:18,501 --> 00:07:20,234 THIS AREA IS RICH IN VOLCANIC 244 00:07:20,234 --> 00:07:22,200 SOILS, WHICH MAKE GOOD FARMLAND. 245 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,033 SO WHEN WHITE SETTLERS ARRIVED, 246 00:07:24,033 --> 00:07:25,334 THE NATIVE PLANTS WERE PLOWED UP 247 00:07:25,334 --> 00:07:27,167 TO SOW WHEAT. 248 00:07:27,167 --> 00:07:28,467 SUMMERS AND WINTERS ARE MILD IN 249 00:07:28,467 --> 00:07:30,033 OUR GRASSLANDS. 250 00:07:30,033 --> 00:07:31,467 THE RAINFALL IS EVENLY 251 00:07:31,467 --> 00:07:33,667 DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 252 00:07:33,667 --> 00:07:34,734 THAT MEANS IT'S JUST AS WET IN 253 00:07:34,734 --> 00:07:36,734 THE SUMMER AS THE WINTER. 254 00:07:36,734 --> 00:07:37,868 BECAUSE OF THAT, THE PLANTS 255 00:07:37,868 --> 00:07:39,534 DON'T NEED THE LONG TAPROOTS 256 00:07:39,534 --> 00:07:41,367 DESERT PLANTS NEED TO REACH 257 00:07:41,367 --> 00:07:43,934 WATER. 258 00:07:43,934 --> 00:07:45,000 AND WHAT ARE GRASSLAND PLANTS? 259 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,601 GRASSES, OF COURSE, PLUS SPECIAL 260 00:07:46,601 --> 00:07:48,934 WILD FLOWERS LIKE CAMAS. 261 00:07:48,934 --> 00:07:50,567 GRASSLANDS CAN BE BLUSTERY 262 00:07:50,567 --> 00:07:52,000 PLACES BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT 263 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,434 MANY TREES TO SLOW THE WIND. 264 00:07:54,434 --> 00:07:55,534 THE LONG, NARROW LEAVES OF THE 265 00:07:55,534 --> 00:07:57,901 GRASSES HELPS REDUCE EVAPORATION 266 00:07:57,901 --> 00:08:00,000 BY THE WIND. 267 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,100 WILDLIFE THAT LIVES IN 268 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:02,634 GRASSLANDS OFTEN SEEKS SHELTER 269 00:08:02,634 --> 00:08:04,033 IN THE GROUND. 270 00:08:04,033 --> 00:08:05,634 NO TREES, RIGHT? 271 00:08:05,634 --> 00:08:07,033 ANIMALS LIKE POCKET GOPHERS, 272 00:08:07,033 --> 00:08:08,667 SKUNKS, AND RED FOXES ARE 273 00:08:08,667 --> 00:08:10,133 ADAPTED TO BURROW INTO THE 274 00:08:10,133 --> 00:08:11,734 GROUND. 275 00:08:11,734 --> 00:08:13,501 SO IF YOU WERE A WILD ANIMAL, 276 00:08:13,501 --> 00:08:14,767 WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE? 277 00:08:14,767 --> 00:08:15,734 IN A FOREST? 278 00:08:15,734 --> 00:08:16,734 A WETLAND? 279 00:08:16,734 --> 00:08:17,767 DESERT? 280 00:08:17,767 --> 00:08:19,767 OR GRASSLAND? 281 00:08:22,100 --> 00:08:22,968 CARTAN-HANSEN: AND JOINING ME 282 00:08:22,968 --> 00:08:24,067 NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS 283 00:08:24,067 --> 00:08:25,734 ABOUT IDAHO ECOSYSTEMS ARE 284 00:08:25,734 --> 00:08:26,968 ROSEMARY SMITH, PROFESSOR OF 285 00:08:26,968 --> 00:08:28,000 BIOLOGY AT IDAHO STATE 286 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:29,701 UNIVERSITY, AND LEIF TAPANILA, 287 00:08:29,701 --> 00:08:31,234 DIRECTOR OF THE IDAHO MUSEUM OF 288 00:08:31,234 --> 00:08:32,968 NATURAL HISTORY. 289 00:08:32,968 --> 00:08:34,601 THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US. 290 00:08:34,601 --> 00:08:35,634 ROSEMARY SMITH: THANK YOU. 291 00:08:35,634 --> 00:08:36,667 LEIF TAPANILA: PLEASURE TO BE 292 00:08:36,667 --> 00:08:37,801 HERE. 293 00:08:37,801 --> 00:08:38,801 CARTAN-HANSEN: OKAY. 294 00:08:38,801 --> 00:08:40,434 LET'S GO TO YOUR QUESTIONS. 295 00:08:40,434 --> 00:08:43,267 (MUSIC) 296 00:08:43,267 --> 00:08:44,234 AMBER: HI, MY NAME IS 297 00:08:44,234 --> 00:08:45,234 AMBER, AND I GO TO WHITE PINE 298 00:08:45,234 --> 00:08:46,300 ELEMENTARY, AND I HAVE A 299 00:08:46,300 --> 00:08:47,701 QUESTION ABOUT ECOSYSTEMS. 300 00:08:47,701 --> 00:08:50,400 WHAT IS AN ECOSYSTEM? 301 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:51,834 SMITH: AN ECOSYSTEM IS ALL OF 302 00:08:51,834 --> 00:08:53,000 THE LIVING AND NONLIVING 303 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:54,734 ORGANISMS THAT INTERACT WITH ONE 304 00:08:54,734 --> 00:08:56,734 ANOTHER IN A SPECIFIC LOCATION. 305 00:08:56,734 --> 00:08:58,033 THERE ARE MANY KIND OF 306 00:08:58,033 --> 00:08:59,601 ECOSYSTEMS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE 307 00:08:59,601 --> 00:09:01,801 DISTINCT BORDERS. 308 00:09:01,801 --> 00:09:03,567 HANNAH: HI, MY NAME IS HANNAH. 309 00:09:03,567 --> 00:09:05,367 I GO TO DALTON ELEMENTARY. 310 00:09:05,367 --> 00:09:06,934 AND MY QUESTION IS: DOES IDAHO 311 00:09:06,934 --> 00:09:12,634 HAVE MORE THAN THREE ECOSYSTEMS? 312 00:09:12,634 --> 00:09:13,801 TAPANILA: SURE, IDAHO HAS WAY 313 00:09:13,801 --> 00:09:16,067 MORE THAN THREE ECOSYSTEMS. 314 00:09:16,067 --> 00:09:19,067 IF WE THINK FROM THE TOP TO THE 315 00:09:19,067 --> 00:09:20,367 BOTTOM, WE GO FROM THE ALPINE 316 00:09:20,367 --> 00:09:22,167 ECOSYSTEM, DOWN TO FORESTED 317 00:09:22,167 --> 00:09:23,434 ECOSYSTEMS, THROUGH THE 318 00:09:23,434 --> 00:09:25,667 GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS. 319 00:09:25,667 --> 00:09:27,734 WE HAVE DESERT ECOSYSTEMS. 320 00:09:27,734 --> 00:09:30,100 AND THEN AT THE VERY LOW POINTS 321 00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:31,334 WE HAVE OUR WATERY RIPARIAN 322 00:09:31,334 --> 00:09:33,267 ECOSYSTEMS. 323 00:09:33,267 --> 00:09:35,200 REBECCA: HI, MY NAME IS REBECCA, 324 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,367 AND I GO TO GALILEO STEM 325 00:09:37,367 --> 00:09:38,300 ACADEMY. 326 00:09:38,300 --> 00:09:39,467 MY QUESTION IS HOW DO THE 327 00:09:39,467 --> 00:09:42,234 DIFFERENT IDAHO ECOSYSTEMS WORK 328 00:09:42,234 --> 00:09:44,968 TOGETHER? 329 00:09:44,968 --> 00:09:46,033 SMITH: WELL, ALL ECOSYSTEMS WORK 330 00:09:46,033 --> 00:09:47,467 TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S A 331 00:09:47,467 --> 00:09:49,868 FINITE AMOUNT OF, FOR EXAMPLE, 332 00:09:49,868 --> 00:09:51,267 CARBON AND NITROGEN AND WATER ON 333 00:09:51,267 --> 00:09:53,000 THE EARTH. 334 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:54,367 AND THERE'S CONSTANTLY EXCHANGE 335 00:09:54,367 --> 00:09:56,033 BETWEEN LIVING ORGANISMS AND THE 336 00:09:56,033 --> 00:09:57,934 NONLIVING WORLD BETWEEN ALL OF 337 00:09:57,934 --> 00:09:59,601 THE DIFFERENT CHEMICALS THAT WE 338 00:09:59,601 --> 00:10:01,434 NEED TO SUPPORT LIFE. 339 00:10:01,434 --> 00:10:02,834 SO EVERY NO ECOSYSTEM HAS 340 00:10:02,834 --> 00:10:03,868 CONTROL OF ALL OF THOSE 341 00:10:03,868 --> 00:10:05,334 MOLECULES, AND SO THEY'RE 342 00:10:05,334 --> 00:10:06,400 CONSTANTLY CHANGING THEM FROM 343 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,667 ONE FORM TO ANOTHER, BETWEEN 344 00:10:08,667 --> 00:10:11,467 LIVING AND NONLIVING FORMS. 345 00:10:11,467 --> 00:10:12,634 AND THIS HAPPENS ACROSS THOSE 346 00:10:12,634 --> 00:10:14,234 ECOSYSTEMS. 347 00:10:14,234 --> 00:10:15,300 AS I SAID EARLIER, ECOSYSTEMS 348 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:16,501 DON'T HAVE BORDERS, AND SO 349 00:10:16,501 --> 00:10:17,767 THEY'RE ALWAYS CHANGING AND 350 00:10:17,767 --> 00:10:21,234 INTERACTING WITH ONE ANOTHER. 351 00:10:21,734 --> 00:10:22,868 CARTAN-HANSEN: JOHN ASKS: "WHAT 352 00:10:22,868 --> 00:10:26,167 DOES INLAND WETLAND MEAN?" 353 00:10:26,167 --> 00:10:27,734 TAPANILA: AN INLAND WETLAND IS 354 00:10:27,734 --> 00:10:29,334 ANY ECOSYSTEM THAT'S NOT NEXT TO 355 00:10:29,334 --> 00:10:30,801 THE OCEAN. 356 00:10:30,801 --> 00:10:32,033 SO YOU CAN THINK OF A FRESHWATER 357 00:10:32,033 --> 00:10:33,767 ECOSYSTEM LIKE A RIVER SYSTEM OR 358 00:10:33,767 --> 00:10:36,000 A LAKE. 359 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:37,200 ELIZABETH: HI, MY NAME IS 360 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,200 ELIZABETH, AND I GO TO JEFFERSON 361 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,400 ELEMENTARY. 362 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:42,534 MY QUESTION IS: WHAT KIND OF 363 00:10:42,534 --> 00:10:47,701 PLANTS ARE IN THE WETLAND? 364 00:10:47,701 --> 00:10:48,834 SMITH: LOTS AND LOTS. 365 00:10:48,834 --> 00:10:50,234 THERE'S OVER HUNDREDS OF SPECIES 366 00:10:50,234 --> 00:10:51,767 THAT LIVE IN WETLANDS. 367 00:10:51,767 --> 00:10:52,868 ONES THAT MIGHT BE FAMILIAR TO 368 00:10:52,868 --> 00:10:54,634 YOU MIGHT BE CATTAILS, WILLOWS, 369 00:10:54,634 --> 00:10:58,033 BULRUSHES, SEDGES, MOSSES, AND 370 00:10:58,033 --> 00:11:00,868 SOME FERNS. 371 00:11:00,868 --> 00:11:03,167 EVAN: HI, MY NAME IS EVAN, AND 372 00:11:03,167 --> 00:11:05,834 I'M FROM DALTON ELEMENTARY. 373 00:11:05,834 --> 00:11:07,200 AND MY QUESTION IS: HOW DID THE 374 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,968 DESERTS GET CREATED? 375 00:11:09,968 --> 00:11:11,100 TAPANILA: WELL, A DESERT IS ALL 376 00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:12,868 ABOUT WATER. 377 00:11:12,868 --> 00:11:14,167 AND IF YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF 378 00:11:14,167 --> 00:11:15,234 RAIN OR A LOT OF SNOW, THEN IT'S 379 00:11:15,234 --> 00:11:16,567 REALLY DRY. 380 00:11:16,567 --> 00:11:18,334 AND THAT'S WHAT A DESERT IS. 381 00:11:18,334 --> 00:11:19,300 AND WE HERE IN IDAHO LIVE IN A 382 00:11:19,300 --> 00:11:20,634 DESERT. 383 00:11:20,634 --> 00:11:22,467 IT'S A VERY, VERY DRY PLACE. 384 00:11:22,467 --> 00:11:24,534 AND SO OUR ANIMALS AND PLANTS 385 00:11:24,534 --> 00:11:27,467 HAVE ADAPTED TO LEARN HOW TO 386 00:11:27,467 --> 00:11:28,734 LIVE IN THESE PLACES. 387 00:11:28,734 --> 00:11:30,701 SMITH: YEAH, JUST TO ADD TO 388 00:11:30,701 --> 00:11:32,033 THAT, A COUPLE FEATURES THAT CAN 389 00:11:32,033 --> 00:11:33,367 ADD TO DESERTS ARE SOMETHING 390 00:11:33,367 --> 00:11:34,834 CALLED THE "RAIN SHADOW." 391 00:11:34,834 --> 00:11:36,133 SO WE'RE IN THE RAIN SHADOW OF 392 00:11:36,133 --> 00:11:37,834 THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS THAT ARE 393 00:11:37,834 --> 00:11:39,767 IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON. 394 00:11:39,767 --> 00:11:41,133 AND SO WATER FALLS THERE. 395 00:11:41,133 --> 00:11:42,167 YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD THAT 396 00:11:42,167 --> 00:11:43,267 WASHINGTON AND OREGON CAN BE 397 00:11:43,267 --> 00:11:44,400 VERY RAINY PLACES. 398 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:45,734 BUT ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE 399 00:11:45,734 --> 00:11:46,901 MOUNTAINS IS VERY, VERY DRY 400 00:11:46,901 --> 00:11:48,267 BECAUSE THE RAIN HAS ALREADY 401 00:11:48,267 --> 00:11:50,400 FALLEN IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON. 402 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,234 SO AS THEY REACH IDAHO, USUALLY, 403 00:11:52,234 --> 00:11:53,467 THOSE CLOUDS HOLD MUCH LESS 404 00:11:53,467 --> 00:11:54,400 WATER. 405 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:55,734 AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS 406 00:11:55,734 --> 00:11:57,033 THAT, ESPECIALLY, THE PARTS OF 407 00:11:57,033 --> 00:11:58,367 FARWESTERN IDAHO AND NORTHERN 408 00:11:58,367 --> 00:12:00,367 IDAHO ARE MUCH DRIER. 409 00:12:00,367 --> 00:12:02,367 BUT AS THEY HIT AS THOSE SAME 410 00:12:02,367 --> 00:12:03,767 CLOUDS HIT IDAHO MOUNTAINS, THEY 411 00:12:03,767 --> 00:12:06,033 ACTUALLY ALSO RAIN. 412 00:12:06,033 --> 00:12:07,167 AND SO OUR MOUNTAINS AND OUR 413 00:12:07,167 --> 00:12:08,267 CONIFEROUS FORESTS ARE SUPPORTED 414 00:12:08,267 --> 00:12:10,334 BY A LITTLE BIT MORE RAIN. 415 00:12:10,334 --> 00:12:11,901 AND THEN MONTANA GETS THE DRY 416 00:12:11,901 --> 00:12:14,801 SIDE OF AND WYOMING GET THE DRY 417 00:12:14,801 --> 00:12:16,767 SIDE FROM THE RAIN SHADOW OF 418 00:12:16,767 --> 00:12:18,367 IDAHO'S MOUNTAINS. 419 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:19,968 MICAH: HI, MY NAME IS MICAH. 420 00:12:19,968 --> 00:12:21,000 I GO TO JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY. 421 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,200 AND MY QUESTION IS: I KNOW THAT 422 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:23,567 THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF 423 00:12:23,567 --> 00:12:24,901 FORESTS, SO I'M CURIOUS IF THERE 424 00:12:24,901 --> 00:12:28,634 ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DESERTS? 425 00:12:29,367 --> 00:12:30,467 TAPANILA: OH, ABSOLUTELY, THERE 426 00:12:30,467 --> 00:12:32,501 ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DESERTS. 427 00:12:32,501 --> 00:12:33,667 AND PART OF IT IS, AGAIN, 428 00:12:33,667 --> 00:12:35,267 RELATED TO A DESERT BEING ABOUT 429 00:12:35,267 --> 00:12:37,701 WATER, HOW MUCH WATER YOU GET. 430 00:12:37,701 --> 00:12:39,534 BUT DIFFERENT DESERTS COME FROM 431 00:12:39,534 --> 00:12:42,601 DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD 432 00:12:42,601 --> 00:12:43,701 WHERE THE CLIMATE MIGHT BE A 433 00:12:43,701 --> 00:12:45,000 LITTLE WARMER AND DRIER THAN 434 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:46,567 OTHERS. 435 00:12:46,567 --> 00:12:47,901 AND SO SOME OF THE FAMOUS 436 00:12:47,901 --> 00:12:49,701 DESERTS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF IN 437 00:12:49,701 --> 00:12:52,100 NORTH AMERICA ARE THE SONORAN 438 00:12:52,100 --> 00:12:54,801 DESERT THE GREAT BASIN DESERT. 439 00:12:54,801 --> 00:12:56,067 BUT AROUND THE WORLD WE HAVE THE 440 00:12:56,067 --> 00:12:57,601 GOBI DESERT, IN MONGOLIA, WE 441 00:12:57,601 --> 00:13:00,100 HAVE THE SAHARAN DESERT, IN 442 00:13:00,100 --> 00:13:01,834 NORTHERN AFRICA. 443 00:13:01,834 --> 00:13:03,000 AND THE LARGEST DESERTS IN THE 444 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,567 WORLD ARE ACTUALLY AT THE NORTH 445 00:13:04,567 --> 00:13:07,100 POLE AND THE SOUTH POLE. 446 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:08,901 CARTAN-HANSEN: LEIF, WHY DID YOU 447 00:13:08,901 --> 00:13:10,100 WANT TO STUDY ABOUT IDAHO'S 448 00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:12,234 ECOSYSTEMS? 449 00:13:12,234 --> 00:13:13,300 TAPANILA: WELL, I'M FASCINATED 450 00:13:13,300 --> 00:13:16,534 ABOUT HOW OUR PLANET CHANGES AND 451 00:13:16,534 --> 00:13:17,567 OUR ENVIRONMENT CHANGES OVER 452 00:13:17,567 --> 00:13:19,067 TIME. 453 00:13:19,067 --> 00:13:20,200 AND THAT'S WHY I STUDY THE 454 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:21,300 ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE 455 00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:23,701 ECOSYSTEMS IN IDAHO. 456 00:13:23,701 --> 00:13:25,434 I'M A PALEONTOLOGIST, SO I STUDY 457 00:13:25,434 --> 00:13:28,133 FOSSILS, AND I STUDY HOW IDAHO 458 00:13:28,133 --> 00:13:32,300 USED TO BE UNDERWATER AND PART 459 00:13:32,300 --> 00:13:34,634 OF THE OCEAN A LONG TIME AGO AND 460 00:13:34,634 --> 00:13:36,033 THEN BECAME MOUNTAINS, AND THEN 461 00:13:36,033 --> 00:13:38,501 IT BECAME WHAT IT IS TODAY, WITH 462 00:13:38,501 --> 00:13:39,801 ALL OF ITS DIVERSE MODERN 463 00:13:39,801 --> 00:13:42,200 ECOSYSTEMS. 464 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:43,868 AND SO I'M FASCINATED IN 465 00:13:43,868 --> 00:13:46,968 LEARNING ABOUT ANCIENT ANIMALS 466 00:13:46,968 --> 00:13:48,234 AND HOW THEY INTERACTED WITH 467 00:13:48,234 --> 00:13:49,934 THEIR ENVIRONMENT, HOW THEY 468 00:13:49,934 --> 00:13:52,000 COPED WITH CHANGE, OF HOW 469 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:53,934 EXTINCTIONS HAPPENED AND HOW 470 00:13:53,934 --> 00:13:55,534 ORGANISMS RECOVER AFTER 471 00:13:55,534 --> 00:13:57,734 EXTINCTION EVENTS. 472 00:13:57,734 --> 00:13:58,934 OF COURSE, THIS IS ANCIENT 473 00:13:58,934 --> 00:14:00,234 HISTORY, BUT IT TELLS US A LOT 474 00:14:00,234 --> 00:14:01,868 ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY AND 475 00:14:01,868 --> 00:14:04,267 ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND BY USING 476 00:14:04,267 --> 00:14:06,901 THE PAST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR 477 00:14:06,901 --> 00:14:09,133 CURRENT SITUATION IS ON THE 478 00:14:09,133 --> 00:14:10,934 PLANET AND PERHAPS GIVE US A WAY 479 00:14:10,934 --> 00:14:13,601 TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR FUTURE 480 00:14:13,601 --> 00:14:16,367 MIGHT BE ON OUR PLANET. 481 00:14:16,367 --> 00:14:22,000 (MUSIC) 482 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:22,801 CARTAN-HANSEN: 483 00:14:22,801 --> 00:14:24,200 ECOSYSTEMS ARE ONE WAY WE DEFINE 484 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:25,701 OUR WORLD. 485 00:14:25,701 --> 00:14:26,801 PLANT COMMUNITIES FIT WITHIN 486 00:14:26,801 --> 00:14:28,100 HABITATS THAT FITS WITHIN 487 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:29,934 ECOSYSTEMS THAT EXISTS WITHIN A 488 00:14:29,934 --> 00:14:32,534 LARGER AREA CALLED A "BIOME." 489 00:14:32,534 --> 00:14:33,567 ECOSYSTEMS CAN BE AS LARGE AS 490 00:14:33,567 --> 00:14:35,133 HUNDREDS OF SQUARE MILES OR AS 491 00:14:35,133 --> 00:14:38,000 SMALL AS A POND. 492 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:42,901 (MUSIC) 493 00:14:42,901 --> 00:14:43,767 CLAY: HI, MY NAME IS 494 00:14:43,767 --> 00:14:45,133 CLAY, AND I GO TO WHITE PINE 495 00:14:45,133 --> 00:14:46,501 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 496 00:14:46,501 --> 00:14:47,434 AND MY QUESTION IS: WHAT IS AN 497 00:14:47,434 --> 00:14:50,033 INVASIVE PLANT? 498 00:14:50,033 --> 00:14:51,067 SMITH: AN INVASIVE PLANT IS A 499 00:14:51,067 --> 00:14:52,534 PLANT THAT'S NOT NATIVE TO ITS 500 00:14:52,534 --> 00:14:53,934 REGION, THAT HAS A TENDENCY TO 501 00:14:53,934 --> 00:14:56,234 SPREAD RAPIDLY, SO IT HAS LOTS 502 00:14:56,234 --> 00:14:58,501 OF SEEDS, AND IS ABLE TO LIVE 503 00:14:58,501 --> 00:14:59,834 ESPECIALLY IN DISTURBED 504 00:14:59,834 --> 00:15:01,367 HABITATS. 505 00:15:01,367 --> 00:15:03,067 AND USUALLY IT HAS TO BE ABLE TO 506 00:15:03,067 --> 00:15:04,300 CAUSE SOME KIND OF ECONOMIC OR 507 00:15:04,300 --> 00:15:05,968 DETRIMENTAL DAMAGE TO HUMANS OR 508 00:15:05,968 --> 00:15:07,567 THEIR LIVELIHOODS, LIKE 509 00:15:07,567 --> 00:15:09,667 AGRICULTURE. 510 00:15:09,667 --> 00:15:10,667 SAWYER: HELLO, MY NAME IS 511 00:15:10,667 --> 00:15:11,934 SAWYER, AND I GO TO WHITE PINE 512 00:15:11,934 --> 00:15:13,267 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 513 00:15:13,267 --> 00:15:14,667 I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU ABOUT 514 00:15:14,667 --> 00:15:16,133 ECOSYSTEMS: HOW DO NONNATIVE 515 00:15:16,133 --> 00:15:19,601 PLANTS GET HERE? 516 00:15:19,601 --> 00:15:20,734 SMITH: SO NONNATIVE PLANTS GET 517 00:15:20,734 --> 00:15:22,968 HERE BY LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS. 518 00:15:22,968 --> 00:15:24,167 PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON IS 519 00:15:24,167 --> 00:15:25,434 ACTUALLY THROUGH OUR 520 00:15:25,434 --> 00:15:27,501 AGRICULTURAL SEED. 521 00:15:27,501 --> 00:15:28,968 SO WHEN FARMERS PLANT SEEDS, 522 00:15:28,968 --> 00:15:30,267 SOME OF THOSE SEEDS, THOSE BAGS 523 00:15:30,267 --> 00:15:31,434 OF SEEDS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING 524 00:15:31,434 --> 00:15:32,667 OUT TO PLANT, ARE CONTAMINATED 525 00:15:32,667 --> 00:15:34,667 WITH WEED SEEDS. 526 00:15:34,667 --> 00:15:36,067 AND SO BECAUSE THOSE WEED SEEDS 527 00:15:36,067 --> 00:15:38,234 PRETEND THAT THEY ARE THEY LOOK 528 00:15:38,234 --> 00:15:39,634 LIKE MAYBE A WHEAT SEED OR A 529 00:15:39,634 --> 00:15:42,367 MILLET SEED OR A LENTIL SEED, 530 00:15:42,367 --> 00:15:43,901 AND SO THEN THEY GROW AS PART OF 531 00:15:43,901 --> 00:15:45,400 THE FARMER'S CROPS. 532 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,167 SO MANY OF OUR WEEDS ARE 533 00:15:47,167 --> 00:15:48,434 INTRODUCED THROUGH FARMING 534 00:15:48,434 --> 00:15:49,467 PRACTICES. 535 00:15:49,467 --> 00:15:50,601 THEY CAN ALSO COME IN ON 536 00:15:50,601 --> 00:15:52,400 VEHICLES. 537 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,334 THEY CAN BE STUCK ONTO VEHICLES 538 00:15:54,334 --> 00:15:55,968 OR DIFFERENT FORMS OF FARMING 539 00:15:55,968 --> 00:15:56,734 EQUIPMENT. 540 00:15:56,734 --> 00:15:57,968 AND THEY CAN ALSO JUST BLOW IN. 541 00:15:57,968 --> 00:15:59,133 MANY WEED SEEDS HAVE THE ABILITY 542 00:15:59,133 --> 00:16:00,501 TO TRAVEL GREAT DISTANCES BY 543 00:16:00,501 --> 00:16:03,234 WIND. 544 00:16:03,234 --> 00:16:04,434 JUSTIN: HI, MY NAME IS JUSTIN, 545 00:16:04,434 --> 00:16:05,601 AND I'M FROM WHITE PINE 546 00:16:05,601 --> 00:16:07,100 ELEMENTARY. 547 00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:08,300 AND I HAVE A QUESTION: WHERE ARE 548 00:16:08,300 --> 00:16:11,601 MOST INVASIVE PLANTS SPECIES 549 00:16:11,601 --> 00:16:13,000 LOCATED, AND HOW CAN WE STOP 550 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,400 THEM FROM SPREADING? 551 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:17,601 TAPANILA: WELL, SOME OF THE MOST 552 00:16:17,601 --> 00:16:19,033 INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES YOU'VE 553 00:16:19,033 --> 00:16:20,934 PROBABLY SEEN BEFORE. 554 00:16:20,934 --> 00:16:22,367 WE HAVE THISTLES, WE HAVE 555 00:16:22,367 --> 00:16:24,834 CHEATGRASS, WE HAVE KNAPWEED. 556 00:16:24,834 --> 00:16:26,300 THESE ARE SOME OF THE PLANTS 557 00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:27,767 THAT ARE ASSOCIATED ESPECIALLY 558 00:16:27,767 --> 00:16:29,801 WITH AGRICULTURAL LANDS, THE 559 00:16:29,801 --> 00:16:32,167 PLACES WHERE WE GROW OUR FOOD. 560 00:16:32,167 --> 00:16:33,367 SO A COUPLE OF WAYS THAT WE CAN 561 00:16:33,367 --> 00:16:35,100 CONTROL THEM IS MAKING SURE THEY 562 00:16:35,100 --> 00:16:36,667 DON'T GET PLANTED IN THE FIRST 563 00:16:36,667 --> 00:16:38,534 PLACE. 564 00:16:38,534 --> 00:16:40,167 BUT IF THEY DO, THEN WE CAN 565 00:16:40,167 --> 00:16:41,467 SIMPLY REMOVE THEM JUST BY 566 00:16:41,467 --> 00:16:43,501 PULLING THEM OUT OR WE CAN USE 567 00:16:43,501 --> 00:16:47,701 CHEMICALS TO KILL THEM OFF. 568 00:16:47,701 --> 00:16:49,367 MAX: HI, MY NAME IS MAX. 569 00:16:49,367 --> 00:16:51,234 I GO TO GALILEO STEM ACADEMY. 570 00:16:51,234 --> 00:16:52,601 AND I AM WONDERING WHERE IS THE 571 00:16:52,601 --> 00:16:55,534 BOTTOM OF THE FOOD CHAIN? 572 00:16:55,534 --> 00:16:56,767 SMITH: SO THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOD 573 00:16:56,767 --> 00:16:57,868 CHAIN IS PROBABLY THE MOST 574 00:16:57,868 --> 00:16:59,133 IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE FOOD 575 00:16:59,133 --> 00:17:00,300 CHAIN. 576 00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:01,767 ORGANISMS THERE, MOSTLY PLANTS, 577 00:17:01,767 --> 00:17:03,801 ARE GOING TO TAKE CARBON, THAT'S 578 00:17:03,801 --> 00:17:05,033 IN THE AIR IN THE FORM OF CARBON 579 00:17:05,033 --> 00:17:06,434 DIOXIDE, AND WITH THE USE OF 580 00:17:06,434 --> 00:17:08,567 SUNLIGHT LINK TOGETHER DIFFERENT 581 00:17:08,567 --> 00:17:10,367 CARBON MOLECULES. 582 00:17:10,367 --> 00:17:11,434 AND THAT FORMS THE BASIS OF THE 583 00:17:11,434 --> 00:17:12,868 FOOD CHAIN BECAUSE THOSE 584 00:17:12,868 --> 00:17:14,234 MOLECULES ARE THE MOLECULES THAT 585 00:17:14,234 --> 00:17:16,000 ALL OTHER ORGANISMS NEED TO 586 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:17,567 SURVIVE. 587 00:17:17,567 --> 00:17:19,133 SO THAT'S OUR FOOD. 588 00:17:19,133 --> 00:17:20,701 SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S FOOD FOR 589 00:17:20,701 --> 00:17:21,801 PLANTS, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER 590 00:17:21,801 --> 00:17:23,267 ANIMALS. 591 00:17:23,267 --> 00:17:24,834 SO PLANTS WOULD BE THE BASE OF 592 00:17:24,834 --> 00:17:26,968 THE FOOD CHAIN. 593 00:17:26,968 --> 00:17:29,601 JOHN: HELLO, MY NAME IS JOHN, 594 00:17:29,601 --> 00:17:30,734 AND I GO TO GALILEO STEM 595 00:17:30,734 --> 00:17:32,234 ACADEMY. 596 00:17:32,234 --> 00:17:33,868 AND MY QUESTION TODAY IS: IS THE 597 00:17:33,868 --> 00:17:35,901 BUMBLEBEE AN IMPORTANT PART OF 598 00:17:35,901 --> 00:17:38,667 IDAHO? 599 00:17:38,667 --> 00:17:39,601 SMITH: YES. 600 00:17:39,601 --> 00:17:40,667 THERE ARE MANY SPECIES OF 601 00:17:40,667 --> 00:17:42,000 BUMBLEBEES IN IDAHO, AND THEY 602 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,133 ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT. 603 00:17:43,133 --> 00:17:44,501 BUMBLEBEES ARE IMPORTANT 604 00:17:44,501 --> 00:17:45,667 POLLINATORS OF OUR FLOWERING 605 00:17:45,667 --> 00:17:47,267 PLANTS. 606 00:17:47,267 --> 00:17:48,501 AND YOU MIGHT NOT THINK THAT 607 00:17:48,501 --> 00:17:49,801 THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT 608 00:17:49,801 --> 00:17:51,267 FLOWERING PARTS PLANTS ARE PART 609 00:17:51,267 --> 00:17:52,934 OF THAT BASE OF THE ECOSYSTEM, 610 00:17:52,934 --> 00:17:54,400 IN TERMS OF PRODUCING THE SEEDS 611 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:55,634 AND THE PLANTS THAT ARE 612 00:17:55,634 --> 00:17:57,000 NECESSARY FOR ALL THE OTHER 613 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:58,167 ORGANISMS IN IDAHO AND OTHER 614 00:17:58,167 --> 00:18:00,767 ECOSYSTEMS, AS WELL. 615 00:18:00,767 --> 00:18:01,968 MINJIN: HI, MY NAME IS MINJIN, 616 00:18:01,968 --> 00:18:03,100 AND I'M FROM WHITE PINE 617 00:18:03,100 --> 00:18:04,567 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I HAVE A 618 00:18:04,567 --> 00:18:05,968 QUESTION. 619 00:18:05,968 --> 00:18:07,601 HOW DO THE PEOPLE IN IDAHO 620 00:18:07,601 --> 00:18:09,367 NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE ANIMALS 621 00:18:09,367 --> 00:18:11,701 AROUND THEM? 622 00:18:11,701 --> 00:18:13,734 TAPANILA: WELL, WE HAVE TO THINK 623 00:18:13,734 --> 00:18:15,267 OF OURSELVES AS BEING PART OF 624 00:18:15,267 --> 00:18:17,000 OUR ECOSYSTEM, RIGHT? 625 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:18,200 AND WE SHARE THIS ECOSYSTEM WITH 626 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:20,501 ALL SORTS OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 627 00:18:20,501 --> 00:18:22,300 AND WE ALL TAKE UP OUR SPACE. 628 00:18:22,300 --> 00:18:23,701 AND WE ALL TAKE UP THE ENERGY IN 629 00:18:23,701 --> 00:18:26,067 THE SYSTEM THAT'S AROUND. 630 00:18:26,067 --> 00:18:27,367 THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ENERGY AND 631 00:18:27,367 --> 00:18:28,467 SO MUCH SPACE IN OUR 632 00:18:28,467 --> 00:18:30,634 SURROUNDINGS, AND IF WE THINK 633 00:18:30,634 --> 00:18:32,100 ABOUT HOW WE SHARE THOSE 634 00:18:32,100 --> 00:18:34,801 DIFFERENT THINGS AND PLACES WITH 635 00:18:34,801 --> 00:18:37,601 OTHERS, THEN WE WILL HELP REDUCE 636 00:18:37,601 --> 00:18:40,067 OUR NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THOSE 637 00:18:40,067 --> 00:18:42,801 ANIMALS AND PLANTS AROUND US. 638 00:18:43,567 --> 00:18:47,000 (MUSIC) 639 00:18:47,501 --> 00:18:48,467 CARTAN-HANSEN: SOIL IS THE TOP 640 00:18:48,467 --> 00:18:49,601 LAYER OF THE EARTH. 641 00:18:49,601 --> 00:18:51,167 WITHOUT SOIL OUR PLANET WOULD BE 642 00:18:51,167 --> 00:18:52,234 REALLY DIFFERENT. 643 00:18:52,234 --> 00:18:53,467 SO LET'S LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE 644 00:18:53,467 --> 00:18:55,434 ABOUT SOIL. 645 00:18:57,133 --> 00:18:58,200 SOIL IS THE TOP LAYER OF THE 646 00:18:58,200 --> 00:18:59,734 EARTH. 647 00:18:59,734 --> 00:19:01,067 IT'S MADE OF AIR AND GAS, BITS 648 00:19:01,067 --> 00:19:02,767 OF ROCK, MINERALS, WATER, 649 00:19:02,767 --> 00:19:04,901 DECAYING PLANTS, AND TINY 650 00:19:04,901 --> 00:19:06,868 MICROBES. 651 00:19:06,868 --> 00:19:08,133 SOIL FORMS IN DIFFERENT LAYERS 652 00:19:08,133 --> 00:19:09,868 ON THE EARTH. 653 00:19:09,868 --> 00:19:11,000 WHEN SOIL SCIENTISTS STUDY 654 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:12,167 LAYERS OF SOIL, THEY CALL IT 655 00:19:12,167 --> 00:19:14,467 STUDYING THE SOIL PROFILE. 656 00:19:14,467 --> 00:19:16,167 TOPSOIL IS THE LAYER YOU SEE, 657 00:19:16,167 --> 00:19:18,100 THE LAYER YOU TYPICALLY WALK ON. 658 00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:19,801 IT CONTAINS DARK ORGANIC 659 00:19:19,801 --> 00:19:21,767 MATERIAL, WHICH IS MADE UP OF 660 00:19:21,767 --> 00:19:24,434 DECAYED PLANT AND ANIMAL MATTER. 661 00:19:24,434 --> 00:19:26,834 TOPSOIL CAN BE ABOUT 6 INCHES 662 00:19:26,834 --> 00:19:28,434 THICK. 663 00:19:28,434 --> 00:19:30,534 UNDER TOPSOIL IS SUBSOIL. 664 00:19:30,534 --> 00:19:31,701 IT'S FROM SEVERAL INCHES TO 665 00:19:31,701 --> 00:19:33,400 SEVERAL FEET THICK. 666 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:34,701 IT LOOKS LIGHTER BECAUSE IT 667 00:19:34,701 --> 00:19:36,400 CONTAINS LESS HUMUS, IS MORE 668 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:37,601 TIGHTLY PACKED AND HAS SLIGHTLY 669 00:19:37,601 --> 00:19:39,934 BIGGER PIECES OF ROCK. 670 00:19:39,934 --> 00:19:41,033 NEXT IS THE FRAGMENTED ROCK 671 00:19:41,033 --> 00:19:43,501 LAYER OR PARENT MATERIAL. 672 00:19:43,501 --> 00:19:45,634 NOTHING GROWS AT THIS LAYER. 673 00:19:45,634 --> 00:19:47,067 IT'S MADE OF ROCK PARTICLES, 674 00:19:47,067 --> 00:19:48,400 SAND, CLAY, SALTS, AND MINERALS. 675 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:50,534 AT THE DEEPEST LEVEL IS SOLID 676 00:19:50,534 --> 00:19:52,834 BEDROCK. 677 00:19:52,834 --> 00:19:53,934 THIS IS THE LAYER OF ROCK FROM 678 00:19:53,934 --> 00:19:56,000 WHICH SOIL BEGINS TO FORM. 679 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:57,734 SOIL IS CREATED OVER LOTS OF 680 00:19:57,734 --> 00:20:00,801 TIME. 681 00:20:00,801 --> 00:20:01,901 ROCKS FORM WHEN VOLCANOES ERUPT 682 00:20:01,901 --> 00:20:05,234 OR WHEN SANDS GET COMPRESSED. 683 00:20:05,234 --> 00:20:06,534 WEATHERING FROM WIND, ICE, AND 684 00:20:06,534 --> 00:20:08,067 RAIN, BREAKS ROCKS INTO SMALLER 685 00:20:08,067 --> 00:20:10,100 PARTS. 686 00:20:10,100 --> 00:20:11,367 PLANTS GROW IN THE CRACKS CAUSED 687 00:20:11,367 --> 00:20:13,100 BY EROSION, CREATING MORE HOLES 688 00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:15,534 FOR AIR AND WATER. 689 00:20:15,534 --> 00:20:16,701 THEY ALSO DROP LEAVES, WHICH 690 00:20:16,701 --> 00:20:18,367 DECAY. 691 00:20:18,367 --> 00:20:19,367 ANIMALS LEAVE WASTE PRODUCTS 692 00:20:19,367 --> 00:20:20,934 BEHIND. 693 00:20:20,934 --> 00:20:22,167 BACTERIA AND FUNGI HELP BREAK 694 00:20:22,167 --> 00:20:24,100 DOWN DEAD PLANT AND ANIMAL 695 00:20:24,100 --> 00:20:26,868 MATERIALS INTO SMALLER PIECES. 696 00:20:26,868 --> 00:20:28,033 THESE COMBINE WITH ROCK 697 00:20:28,033 --> 00:20:30,367 PARTICLES TO MAKE SOIL. 698 00:20:30,367 --> 00:20:31,367 NOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES 699 00:20:31,367 --> 00:20:33,133 OF SOIL. 700 00:20:33,133 --> 00:20:34,200 THE TYPE DEPENDS UPON THE 701 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:35,767 ORIGINAL PARENT MATERIAL, HOW 702 00:20:35,767 --> 00:20:37,367 BIG THE ROCK PARTICLES ARE, THE 703 00:20:37,367 --> 00:20:38,934 CLIMATE, AND WHAT ELSE IS IN THE 704 00:20:38,934 --> 00:20:40,934 MIXTURE. 705 00:20:41,601 --> 00:20:42,367 STUDENT 1: CLAY IS THE SMALLEST 706 00:20:42,367 --> 00:20:45,367 SOIL PARTICLE. 707 00:20:45,367 --> 00:20:47,634 CLAY CLUMPS BECAUSE IT CAN HOLD 708 00:20:47,634 --> 00:20:50,033 WATER BETTER THAN SOME OTHER 709 00:20:50,033 --> 00:20:52,467 TYPES OF SOIL. 710 00:20:52,467 --> 00:20:53,601 STUDENT 2: SILT IS POWDERY AND 711 00:20:53,601 --> 00:20:55,167 SOFT TO THE TOUCH AND RETAINS 712 00:20:55,167 --> 00:20:57,367 WATER WELL. 713 00:20:57,367 --> 00:20:58,434 STUDENT 3: SAND IS THE LARGEST 714 00:20:58,434 --> 00:20:59,734 SOIL PARTICLE. 715 00:20:59,734 --> 00:21:00,601 IT IS THE LEAST RESISTANT TO 716 00:21:00,601 --> 00:21:02,534 WEATHERING. 717 00:21:02,534 --> 00:21:03,634 STUDENT 4: LOAM HAS THE BEST 718 00:21:03,634 --> 00:21:05,100 SOIL FOR GROWING PLANTS. 719 00:21:05,100 --> 00:21:06,267 IT IS AN EVEN COMBINATION OF 720 00:21:06,267 --> 00:21:09,200 SAND, SILT, AND CLAY PARTICLES 721 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,033 WITH ORGANIC MATERIALS. 722 00:21:13,033 --> 00:21:14,234 CARTAN-HANSEN: THERE ARE OVER 723 00:21:14,234 --> 00:21:16,300 25,000 DIFFERENT NAMED SOILS IN 724 00:21:16,300 --> 00:21:18,734 THE UNITED STATES. 725 00:21:18,734 --> 00:21:19,767 SOIL SCIENTISTS ARE TRAINED TO 726 00:21:19,767 --> 00:21:21,133 BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT 727 00:21:21,133 --> 00:21:22,567 TYPES OF SOIL AND WHAT THEY MEAN 728 00:21:22,567 --> 00:21:24,868 FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. 729 00:21:24,868 --> 00:21:26,667 SOIL IS VERY MUCH ALIVE. 730 00:21:26,667 --> 00:21:28,200 ONE TABLESPOON OF SOIL CONTAINS 731 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:30,567 MORE MICROBES THAN THERE ARE 732 00:21:30,567 --> 00:21:32,834 HUMANS ON EARTH. 733 00:21:32,834 --> 00:21:34,167 INSECTS, BACTERIA, EARTHWORMS, 734 00:21:34,167 --> 00:21:35,801 AND OTHER CREATURES LIVE IN 735 00:21:35,801 --> 00:21:37,367 SOIL. 736 00:21:37,367 --> 00:21:38,901 LARGER ANIMALS DO, TOO, LIKE 737 00:21:38,901 --> 00:21:40,968 BADGERS AND SNAKES. 738 00:21:40,968 --> 00:21:42,667 SOIL FILTERS OUR WATER, HOLDING 739 00:21:42,667 --> 00:21:43,968 BACK CONTAMINANTS AND TAKING OUT 740 00:21:43,968 --> 00:21:45,734 IMPURITIES. 741 00:21:45,734 --> 00:21:47,467 SOIL IS USED IN CONSTRUCTION AND 742 00:21:47,467 --> 00:21:48,701 PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION UPON 743 00:21:48,701 --> 00:21:50,234 WHICH OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES 744 00:21:50,234 --> 00:21:52,067 ARE BUILT. 745 00:21:52,067 --> 00:21:53,400 AND, IMPORTANTLY, PLANTS NEED 746 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:54,767 SOIL TO PROVIDE THEM WITH 747 00:21:54,767 --> 00:21:57,033 MINERALS AND NUTRIENTS. 748 00:21:57,033 --> 00:21:58,400 SOIL SCIENTISTS HELP FARMERS 749 00:21:58,400 --> 00:21:59,868 UNDERSTAND WHAT PLANTS TO GROW 750 00:21:59,868 --> 00:22:01,934 AND HOW TO IMPROVE THE SOIL TO 751 00:22:01,934 --> 00:22:04,701 INCREASE THEIR CROP YIELDS. 752 00:22:04,701 --> 00:22:05,868 STUDENT: SOIL IS AN ESSENTIAL 753 00:22:05,868 --> 00:22:07,167 NATURAL RESOURCE. 754 00:22:07,167 --> 00:22:08,567 IT'S FOOD FOR SOME ANIMALS, HOME 755 00:22:08,567 --> 00:22:10,501 FOR OTHERS. 756 00:22:10,501 --> 00:22:12,100 SOIL CLEANS OUR WATER, PROVIDES 757 00:22:12,100 --> 00:22:14,234 NUTRIENTS FOR PLANTS AND GIVES 758 00:22:14,234 --> 00:22:16,501 US A PLACE TO LIVE. 759 00:22:16,501 --> 00:22:18,868 SO LEARN ABOUT SOIL! 760 00:22:18,868 --> 00:22:21,400 DIG IN! 761 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:25,367 (MUSIC) 762 00:22:25,934 --> 00:22:26,901 NATHAN: HI, MY NAME IS NATHAN 763 00:22:26,901 --> 00:22:28,067 FROM WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY 764 00:22:28,067 --> 00:22:29,934 SCHOOL, AND I HAVE A QUESTION. 765 00:22:29,934 --> 00:22:32,000 HOW DOES EROSION AFFECT IDAHO 766 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:33,868 ECOSYSTEMS, AND HOW CAN WE 767 00:22:33,868 --> 00:22:35,968 RESTORE WHAT EROSION HAS TAKEN 768 00:22:35,968 --> 00:22:38,634 WAY? 769 00:22:38,634 --> 00:22:39,934 TAPANILA: WELL, EROSION IS A 770 00:22:39,934 --> 00:22:42,167 NATURAL PROCESS ON THE SURFACE 771 00:22:42,167 --> 00:22:44,334 OF THE LAND, BUT IT CAN CARVE 772 00:22:44,334 --> 00:22:46,167 AWAY VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT 773 00:22:46,167 --> 00:22:48,300 STABILIZE ECOSYSTEMS. 774 00:22:48,300 --> 00:22:49,601 WE CAN THINK OF SOILS THAT 775 00:22:49,601 --> 00:22:51,300 SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF ALL SORTS 776 00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:52,968 OF PLANT LIFE AND ANIMALS AS 777 00:22:52,968 --> 00:22:55,400 GETTING ERODED AWAY BY 778 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,801 RAINSTORMS AND RUNOFF. 779 00:22:57,801 --> 00:22:59,467 SO ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN 780 00:22:59,467 --> 00:23:01,200 PREVENT THAT IS BY MAKING SURE 781 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,234 THAT VEGETATION AND PLANTS ARE 782 00:23:03,234 --> 00:23:04,868 GROWING IN AREAS AND THAT IF A 783 00:23:04,868 --> 00:23:07,200 FIRE OCCURS AND WIPES OUT THESE 784 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:09,300 PLANTS, WE COULD REPLACE THEM SO 785 00:23:09,300 --> 00:23:11,501 THAT THE SOILS DON'T GET ERODED 786 00:23:11,501 --> 00:23:13,200 AWAY. 787 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:14,200 THE OTHER THING THAT WE CAN 788 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,200 THINK ABOUT IS WHERE THAT SOIL 789 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:16,501 ENDS UP. 790 00:23:16,501 --> 00:23:18,000 IF THEY END UP IN RIVERS AND 791 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:19,801 LAKES, IT CLOUDS THE WATER, AND 792 00:23:19,801 --> 00:23:23,133 THAT CAN AFFECT ORGANISMS, ALSO. 793 00:23:23,133 --> 00:23:24,300 ADAM: HI, MY NAME IS ADAM, AND I 794 00:23:24,300 --> 00:23:26,100 GO TO WHITE PINE ELEMENTARY. 795 00:23:26,100 --> 00:23:27,434 AND MY QUESTION IS: WHAT IS 796 00:23:27,434 --> 00:23:29,400 IDAHO'S MOST USEFUL BIOME FOR 797 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,133 ANIMALS? 798 00:23:32,133 --> 00:23:33,267 SMITH: SO THAT'S ANOTHER REALLY 799 00:23:33,267 --> 00:23:34,501 HARD QUESTION, BECAUSE 800 00:23:34,501 --> 00:23:35,634 USEFULNESS TO HUMANS MIGHT BE 801 00:23:35,634 --> 00:23:36,734 REALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANSWERING 802 00:23:36,734 --> 00:23:39,067 THE QUESTION FROM A PLANT OR AN 803 00:23:39,067 --> 00:23:40,834 ANIMAL'S POINT OF VIEW. 804 00:23:40,834 --> 00:23:42,200 SO IF YOU WERE A PLANT, A MOST 805 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:43,334 USEFUL BIOME WOULD BE ONE THAT 806 00:23:43,334 --> 00:23:44,534 HAD JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF 807 00:23:44,534 --> 00:23:45,868 SUNLIGHT, JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT 808 00:23:45,868 --> 00:23:47,067 OF WATER, AND JUST THE RIGHT 809 00:23:47,067 --> 00:23:49,133 AMOUNT OF NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL. 810 00:23:49,133 --> 00:23:50,334 AND THAT MIGHT VARY FROM PLACE 811 00:23:50,334 --> 00:23:51,634 TO PLACE AND FROM PLANT TO 812 00:23:51,634 --> 00:23:52,601 PLANT. 813 00:23:52,601 --> 00:23:53,701 SAME FROM AN ANIMAL'S POINT OF 814 00:23:53,701 --> 00:23:54,567 VIEW. 815 00:23:54,567 --> 00:23:56,167 IMAGINE THAT YOU WERE A MOUSE, 816 00:23:56,167 --> 00:23:57,734 THERE MIGHT BE CERTAIN BIOMES 817 00:23:57,734 --> 00:23:59,067 THAT WOULD BE BEST FOR A MOUSE, 818 00:23:59,067 --> 00:24:00,367 BUT MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T BE AS 819 00:24:00,367 --> 00:24:01,834 GOOD FOR A SNAKE OR A LIZARD. 820 00:24:01,834 --> 00:24:03,033 SO DIFFERENT BIOMES HAVE 821 00:24:03,033 --> 00:24:04,601 DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF BIOTIC 822 00:24:04,601 --> 00:24:06,767 AND ABIOTIC FACTORS. 823 00:24:06,767 --> 00:24:08,100 AND SO THIS QUESTION REALLY 824 00:24:08,100 --> 00:24:09,300 CAN'T BE ANSWERED. 825 00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:10,400 IF YOU'RE ANSWERING IT FROM A 826 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:11,567 HUMAN'S PERSPECTIVE, THERE MIGHT 827 00:24:11,567 --> 00:24:12,767 BE BIOMES THAT ARE BEST, FOR 828 00:24:12,767 --> 00:24:14,467 EXAMPLE, FOR OUR AGRICULTURE, 829 00:24:14,467 --> 00:24:16,334 SUCH AS GRASSLANDS. 830 00:24:16,334 --> 00:24:17,534 AND CERTAINLY, WE WOULD DO MUCH 831 00:24:17,534 --> 00:24:19,033 BETTER IN FARMING IN A GRASSLAND 832 00:24:19,033 --> 00:24:20,133 ECOSYSTEM THAN WE WOULD IN A 833 00:24:20,133 --> 00:24:21,400 FOREST ECOSYSTEM, BUT WE 834 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:22,868 WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET ANY WOOD 835 00:24:22,868 --> 00:24:24,367 TO BUILD OUR HOUSES. 836 00:24:24,367 --> 00:24:25,601 AND SO IF WE WANT LUMBER, THEN A 837 00:24:25,601 --> 00:24:28,000 FORESTRY ECOSYSTEM WOULD BE THE 838 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,100 MOST VALUABLE FOR US. 839 00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:32,067 SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT ANIMAL 840 00:24:32,067 --> 00:24:33,167 YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT, WHAT 841 00:24:33,167 --> 00:24:34,267 PLANT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT, OR 842 00:24:34,267 --> 00:24:35,534 MAYBE THE ANIMAL THAT YOU'RE 843 00:24:35,534 --> 00:24:37,200 THINKING ABOUT IS A HUMAN. 844 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:38,667 AND THEN THAT BIOME REALLY WOULD 845 00:24:38,667 --> 00:24:39,767 DEPEND ON WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING 846 00:24:39,767 --> 00:24:42,300 TO GET OUT OF THAT BIOME. 847 00:24:42,300 --> 00:24:43,667 AVA: HI, MY NAME IS AVA, AND I 848 00:24:43,667 --> 00:24:45,701 GO TO JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY. 849 00:24:45,701 --> 00:24:46,901 MY QUESTION IS: WHAT TYPE OF 850 00:24:46,901 --> 00:24:49,834 PLANTS GROW IN A DESERT? 851 00:24:49,834 --> 00:24:51,534 TAPANILA: SAGE. 852 00:24:51,534 --> 00:24:53,067 SAGE LOVES DESERTS. 853 00:24:53,067 --> 00:24:55,133 AND WE ALSO GET CACTUS AND MY 854 00:24:55,133 --> 00:24:57,567 FAVORITE TREE, THE JUNIPER. 855 00:24:57,567 --> 00:24:59,434 THESE ARE ALL PLANTS THAT ARE 856 00:24:59,434 --> 00:25:00,634 TOLERANT OF VERY, VERY DRY 857 00:25:00,634 --> 00:25:02,300 CONDITIONS. 858 00:25:02,300 --> 00:25:04,067 THEY CAN DEAL WITH VERY WARM 859 00:25:04,067 --> 00:25:05,634 TEMPERATURES. 860 00:25:05,634 --> 00:25:06,634 BUT THEY ALSO KNOW HOW TO KEEP 861 00:25:06,634 --> 00:25:09,767 THEY'RE MOISTURE DURING THE DAY. 862 00:25:10,801 --> 00:25:11,868 CARTAN-HANSEN: VALERIE WOULD 863 00:25:11,868 --> 00:25:13,234 LIKE TO KNOW: "HOW CAN I CREATE 864 00:25:13,234 --> 00:25:16,434 AN ECOSYSTEM?" 865 00:25:16,434 --> 00:25:17,501 SMITH: SO, ACTUALLY, YOU MIGHT 866 00:25:17,501 --> 00:25:19,167 BE CONSIDERED AN ECOSYSTEM. 867 00:25:19,167 --> 00:25:20,334 YOUR BODY, ACTUALLY, IT COULD BE 868 00:25:20,334 --> 00:25:21,667 CONSIDERED A COMPLETE ECOSYSTEM 869 00:25:21,667 --> 00:25:23,334 ALL TO ITSELF. 870 00:25:23,334 --> 00:25:24,501 YOU HAVE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS, 871 00:25:24,501 --> 00:25:25,601 IF NOT BILLIONS, OF BACTERIA 872 00:25:25,601 --> 00:25:27,334 THAT ARE LIVING ON YOUR SURFACE 873 00:25:27,334 --> 00:25:29,734 AND IN YOUR GUTS, AND THOSE 874 00:25:29,734 --> 00:25:31,033 WOULD BE CONSIDERED PART OF YOUR 875 00:25:31,033 --> 00:25:32,801 OWN LITTLE BIOME. 876 00:25:32,801 --> 00:25:35,033 SOMETIMES IT'S CALLED A 877 00:25:35,033 --> 00:25:35,934 "MICROBIOME." 878 00:25:35,934 --> 00:25:37,100 AND WITHIN THAT YOU HAVE LIVING 879 00:25:37,100 --> 00:25:38,200 AND NONLIVING COMPONENTS THAT 880 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:39,467 CYCLE ALL THE TIME. 881 00:25:39,467 --> 00:25:40,434 THERE'S WATER AND NUTRIENTS 882 00:25:40,434 --> 00:25:41,501 MOVING AROUND. 883 00:25:41,501 --> 00:25:42,667 SO, ACTUALLY, YOU ALREADY HAVE 884 00:25:42,667 --> 00:25:43,767 CREATED AN ECOSYSTEM BY BEING 885 00:25:43,767 --> 00:25:45,167 ALIVE. 886 00:25:45,167 --> 00:25:46,133 ANOTHER WAY, THOUGH, IF YOU WANT 887 00:25:46,133 --> 00:25:47,467 TO CREATE AN ECOSYSTEM IN YOUR 888 00:25:47,467 --> 00:25:48,701 CLASSROOM, MAYBE START WITH A 889 00:25:48,701 --> 00:25:50,000 TERRARIUM OR AN AQUARIUM. 890 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:51,234 IN THERE YOU COULD PUT FOOD AND 891 00:25:51,234 --> 00:25:53,234 WATER AND SOILS AND GASES, ALL 892 00:25:53,234 --> 00:25:54,567 OF WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR 893 00:25:54,567 --> 00:25:57,567 RECYCLING OF NUTRIENTS BETWEEN 894 00:25:57,567 --> 00:25:59,434 THE DIFFERENT TROPHIC LEVELS OR 895 00:25:59,434 --> 00:26:01,501 FOOD LEVELS. 896 00:26:01,501 --> 00:26:02,834 SO BETWEEN THE PLANTS AND THE 897 00:26:02,834 --> 00:26:05,467 ANIMALS AND THE SOILS. 898 00:26:05,467 --> 00:26:06,501 CARTAN-HANSEN: ROSEMARY, IF 899 00:26:06,501 --> 00:26:07,767 SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN IDAHO 900 00:26:07,767 --> 00:26:09,033 ECOSYSTEMS AND WANTS TO GET A 901 00:26:09,033 --> 00:26:10,334 JOB, WHAT SHOULD HE OR SHE STUDY 902 00:26:10,334 --> 00:26:13,133 IN SCHOOL? 903 00:26:13,133 --> 00:26:14,634 SMITH: THEY SHOULD STUDY ENGLISH 904 00:26:14,634 --> 00:26:16,300 AND WRITING AND COMMUNICATION. 905 00:26:16,300 --> 00:26:17,701 THEY SHOULD STUDY MATHEMATICS, 906 00:26:17,701 --> 00:26:19,400 AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. 907 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:20,801 AND THEY SHOULD STUDY ALL OF THE 908 00:26:20,801 --> 00:26:22,701 NATURAL SCIENCES, GEOLOGY, LIFE 909 00:26:22,701 --> 00:26:24,534 SCIENCES, AND ANY KIND OF OTHER 910 00:26:24,534 --> 00:26:27,100 SCIENCE COURSES THAT THEY CAN 911 00:26:27,100 --> 00:26:29,200 TAKE, THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES, AS 912 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:30,601 WELL. 913 00:26:30,601 --> 00:26:31,701 BUT, REALLY, WHAT YOU WANT TO 914 00:26:31,701 --> 00:26:33,534 HAVE IS GOOD THINKING SKILLS. 915 00:26:33,534 --> 00:26:35,100 SO THOSE YOU MIGHT LEARN BY, FOR 916 00:26:35,100 --> 00:26:36,400 EXAMPLE, READING A COMPLICATED 917 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:37,634 BOOK AND THEN LEARNING TO WRITE 918 00:26:37,634 --> 00:26:38,968 ABOUT IT. 919 00:26:38,968 --> 00:26:39,968 OR, PERHAPS, WRITING YOUR OWN 920 00:26:39,968 --> 00:26:42,167 STORY. 921 00:26:42,167 --> 00:26:43,767 ALL OF THESE KINDS OF WAYS OF 922 00:26:43,767 --> 00:26:45,200 THINKING CAN BE REALLY IMPORTANT 923 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:46,434 FOR DEVELOPING YOUR ABILITY TO 924 00:26:46,434 --> 00:26:47,801 BE A SCIENTIST AND TO STUDY 925 00:26:47,801 --> 00:26:52,300 IDAHO ECOSYSTEMS. 926 00:26:52,300 --> 00:26:53,334 CARTAN-HANSEN: I'M SORRY, WE'VE 927 00:26:53,334 --> 00:26:54,334 RUN OUT OF TIME. 928 00:26:54,334 --> 00:26:55,400 I'D LIKE TO THANK ROSEMARY AND 929 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:56,534 LEIF FOR ANSWERING STUDENTS 930 00:26:56,534 --> 00:26:57,634 QUESTIONS. 931 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DEWITT'S CLASS AT WILDER 959 00:27:33,033 --> 00:27:34,501 MIDDLE SCHOOL. 960 00:27:34,501 --> 00:27:35,701 SO TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT IDAHO'S 961 00:27:35,701 --> 00:27:37,100 ECOSYSTEMS, HOW TO SEND IN YOUR 962 00:27:37,100 --> 00:27:38,300 QUESTIONS, AND HOW TO WIN, GO TO 963 00:27:38,300 --> 00:27:40,434 THE SCIENCE TREK WEBSITE. 964 00:27:40,434 --> 00:27:41,534 AND EACH WEEK CHECK OUT MY BLOG 965 00:27:41,534 --> 00:27:42,767 FOR THE LATEST SCIENCE NEWS FOR 966 00:27:42,767 --> 00:27:44,067 KIDS. 967 00:27:44,067 --> 00:27:45,801 YOU'LL FIND IT ALL AT 968 00:27:45,801 --> 00:27:47,834 IDAHOPTV.ORG/SCIENCETREK. 969 00:27:47,834 --> 00:27:49,133 THANKS FOR JOINING US. 970 00:27:49,133 --> 00:27:50,501 WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON 971 00:27:50,501 --> 00:27:52,100 SCIENCE TREK . 972 00:27:52,100 --> 00:28:10,000 (MUSIC) 973 00:28:11,868 --> 00:28:12,868 NARRATOR: PRESENTATION OF 974 00:28:12,868 --> 00:28:14,267 SCIENCE TREK ON IDAHO PUBLIC 975 00:28:14,267 --> 00:28:16,133 TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE 976 00:28:16,133 --> 00:28:17,901 THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF 977 00:28:17,901 --> 00:28:19,234 THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM 978 00:28:19,234 --> 00:28:21,334 FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO 979 00:28:21,334 --> 00:28:23,334 FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS 980 00:28:23,334 --> 00:28:24,601 FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE 981 00:28:24,601 --> 00:28:30,167 GREAT STATE OF IDAHO. 982 00:28:30,167 --> 00:28:31,767 BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC 983 00:28:31,767 --> 00:28:32,901 TELEVISION AND BY THE 984 00:28:32,901 --> 00:28:34,400 CORPORATION OF PUBLIC 985 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:35,467 BROADCASTING. 986 00:28:36,234 --> 00:28:37,234 CARTAN-HANSEN: IF YOU WANT TO 987 00:28:37,234 --> 00:28:38,300 LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC OR 988 00:28:38,300 --> 00:28:39,601 WATCH OUR VIDEOS, CHECK OUT THE 989 00:28:39,601 --> 00:28:40,734 SCIENCE TREK WEBSITE AT 990 00:28:40,734 --> 00:28:44,400 IDAHOPTV.ORG/SCIENCETREK.