Nature's Decoders: Unraveling the Mystery of Lichen
Have you ever noticed a patch of scaly material covering a rock? Or seen hair-like fibers hanging from a tree? You've likely had an encounter with lichen! These unique organisms—often mistaken for moss—are complex life forms created through a symbiotic partnership of fungi and algae. Biologist and Expedition Leader Nikki Sentinella explains why there's so much to like about lichens and what they can tell us about our environment, from where the sun shines and how much rain falls to what animals live nearby and the age of the landscape they inhabit.
Nature’s Decoders: What Leaves Reveal About the Natural World
You've likely heard of reading tea leaves, but what about the leaves on the tree right outside your window? Although they may not reveal the future, they still have plenty to tell you! In this new series, biologist and Expedition Leader Nikki Sentinella offers tips for observing and understanding the natural world. Join her to discover how leaves grow and why they take certain forms, what they can tell us about the history of a tree or forest, the role they play in providing critical animal habitat, and even how to use them as navigational tools.
Nature's Decoders: Following Animal Footsteps
In this installment of her Nature’s Decoders series, biologist and Expedition Leader Nikki Sentinella offers tips for understanding animals through their tracks. Footprints in the sand (or mud, or snow) don't just tell us what kind of creature was here or which way it went -- we can also glean information about its behavior, determine when it was here, and sometimes even retrieve its DNA! Nikki demonstrates how to read animal tracks and gives examples of how they’re used in research, including a cutting-edge study tracking polar bears across the Arctic.
Ancient Rainforests: Biomes of Australia, Part 1
Australia's rain forests are so old that some of the species they contain predate the dinosaurs! These ancient life forms also connect Australia to the supercontinent of Gondwana. In this new webinar series, Expedition Leader Nikki Sentinella introduces us to the different biomes of Australia, beginning with rain forests. Explore the diversity of Australia's rain forests, from the famed Daintree Rainforest in the north to cool-climate rain forests in the south. Nikki also shares her tips for photography in rain forests, including advice for shooting in low light, and macro photography techniques.
Alpine Heights: Biomes of Australia, Part 2
The Andes, the Alps and…Australia? The land down under is home to several alpine ecosystems. In part two of her series exploring the biomes of Australia, Expedition Leader Nikki Sentinella takes us to new heights to explore the continent’s alpine environs, including the island of Tasmania, which boasts nearly half of Australia's alpine flora species. Along the way we’ll meet some elevation-loving animals, like the mountain pygmy possum, echidna and corroboree frog.
Life in the Great Australian Desert: Biomes of Australia, Part 3
The vast Australian Outback covers more than a million square miles, much of it arid and semi-arid desert but the driest continent on earth is far from barren! In the great Australian desert, coping strategies developed over millennia support a unique and thriving ecosystem. Expedition Leader Nikki Sentinella offers insight into the immense biodiversity of Australia’s ancient desert landscape and its wildlife, from the country's largest terrestrial mammal, the red kangaroo, to frogs buried underground for years between rains, and so much more.