Streaming

The term "protist" covers a wide range of microscopic organisms formerly clumped into "Kingdom Protista." New molecular analyses show that the protistan lines of evolution go so far back in time they can be considered as different kingdoms of life.

The diversity of rotifers is stunning, and this program shows many different species. Planktonic rotifers have special adaptations for open water life. Nematodes (round worms) include a number of important human parasites, seldom seen but easily found. Thirteen common rotifer species illustrated this diverse group. Tree moss, leaf litter, and compost piles swarm with nematodes.

This program shows the structure, behavior, and life cycles of planarians and their free-living relatives (class Turbellaria). It illustrates the bizarre life cycles of flukes (class Trematoda) and tapeworms (class Cestoda) with detailed animations and revealing images of these parasites in action.

Phylum Arthropoda is the most luxuriant branch on the tree of life. This program covers phylum characteristic and three major arthropod classes: Crustaceans (copepods, waterfleas, branchiopods, decapods, and barnacles), Chelicerates (scorpions, pseudoscorpions, spiders, ticks, and mites), Uniramians (centipedes, millipedes, and insects).

Worms with segmented bodies make up the Phylum Annelida.

Phylum Mollusca is the second most diverse phylum of animals, with over 100,000 know species. First examined are the basic characteristics of the phylum – a soft body, muscular foot, mantle cavity with gill, and hard calcified shell.

Branches on the Tree of Life: Fungi explores the structure, life cycles, ecology, classification, and evolutionary relationships of four major lines of fungi: Chytrids, Zygomycetes (various molds), Ascomycetes (yeasts, cup fungi,

The term algae is a catchall for several evolutionary lines of photosynthetic organisms: dinoflagellates: red algae (plastids with chlorophyll A); diatoms, yellow-brown algae and brown algae (chlorophylls A and C); and green algae (chlorophylls A and B). This program explores the diversity, structure, ecological roles and modern classification of these vital primary producers.

This program demonstrates techniques for using a student microscope to achieve spectacular images. Emphasis is on correct lighting procedures and the techniques required for viewing living cells.

Imagine an animal with no mouth, no digestive system, no excretory or circulatory organs, no brain nor nervous system, and no movement as an adult. In spite of their simple nature, sponges are actually one of the most fascinating animal phyla, when viewed in developmental, ecological, and evolutionary terms.

The Phylum Chordata includes tunicates, sea lancelets, hagfish, and all familiar vertebrate animals. This program explores how these seemingly diverse animals evolved and how the group is unified by four characteristic structures: a hollow dorsal nerve chord, a supportive notochord, gill slits, and a post-anal tail.

Echinoderms are one branch of the deuterostome line of animal evolution, the branch to which Chordates also belong. Modules cover phylum characteristics and key biological details for five classes: sea stars; brittle stars and basket stars; sea urchins and sand dollars (including developmental stages); sea cucumbers; and crinoids (feather stars).

This program begins with a remarkable series of observations on Hydra including: habitat, structure, feeding, nematocyst discharge, locomotion (by looping), and its sexual and asexual reproductive strategies. Obelia illustrates the two-stage life cycle found in many cnidarians.

The bacteria section uses compelling microscopy of living bacteria to examine their structure, physiology, behavior, and the vital roles these microbes play in the biosphere, including oxygen production (cyanobacteria), decomposition, nitrogen fixation, and as parasites as well as helpful symbionts.

This program examines the discovery of viruses and their structure, how viruses are studied, how they infect their hosts and how they replicate. Details are provided on the T-4 bacteriophage and retroviruses such as HIV.