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