Skip to main content

Home/ UWC Grade 5 (2009-2010)/ Group items tagged encyclopedia

Rss Feed Group items tagged

Lucy C

The arts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

shared by Lucy C on 22 Feb 10 - Cached
  • A good definition of the arts is given by the Free Dictionary as "imaginative, creative, and nonscientific branches of knowledge considered collectively, esp. as studied academically."[3] The singular term art is defined by the Irish Art Encyclopedia as follows: "Art is created when an artist creates a beautiful object, or produces a stimulating experience that is considered by his audience to have artistic merit."[4] So, one could conclude that art is the process that leads to a product (the artwork or piece of art), which is then examined and analyzed by experts in the field of the arts or simply enjoyed by those who appreciate the arts. The same source states:
    • Thomas C
       
      Now there's a definition
    • Marius S
       
      Indeed
    • Lucy C
       
      Yeah.......
  • "Gastronomy" is the study of the relationship between culture and food. It is often thought erroneously that the term gastronomy refers exclusively to the art of cooking (see Culinary Arts), but this is only a small part of this discipline; it cannot always be said that a cook is also a gourmet.
    • Thomas C
       
      I never even knew about Gastronomy, it might be something to look into.
  • The arts encompasses visual arts, literature and the performing arts - music, drama, dance and film, among others.
    • Marius S
       
      A good introduction to our new topic...
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • the visual arts of painting, sculpture and architecture. It is the history of one of the fine arts, others of which are the performing arts and literature.
    • Marius S
       
      Talks about some of the arts
  •  
    Arts, arts, arts, and more arts!
  •  
    Hi!
  •  
    Arts, arts, arts, and more arts!
Thomas C

Afghanistan :: Education and Health --  Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Ency... - 0 views

  • Afghanistan's 1964 constitution provided for free and compulsory education at all levels, but this changed when the Taliban gained control in 1996.
  •  
    Interesting
Victoria B

Tropical rainforest - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 1 views

  • tropical rainforests are considered a type of tropical wet forest (or tropical moist broadleaf forest) and may also be referred to as lowland equatorial evergreen rainforest
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Intro for report.
  • and may also be referred to as lowland equatorial evergreen rainforest
  • Rainforests are home to half of all the living animal and plant species on the planet.[2] Tropical rain forests are called the "world's largest pharmacy" because over one-quarter of modern medicines originate from its plants.
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Intro for report.
  • ...18 more annotations...
  • The rainforest is divided into five different layers, each with different plants and animals, adapted for life in the particular area. These are: the floor layer, the shrub layer, the undercanopy layer, the canopy layer and the emergent layer. Only the emergent layer is unique to tropical rainforests, while the others are also found in temperate rainforests.
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • The emergent layer contains a small number of very large trees which grow above the general canopy, reaching heights of 45-55 m, although on occasion a few species will grow to 70 m or 80 m tall.
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • Eagles, butterflies, bats and certain monkeys inhabit this layer
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • Those animals include: snakes, toucans and tree frogs.
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • Many animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs and leopards. There is a large concentration of insects here.
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • Giant anteaters live in this layer
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem usually found around the equator. They are common in Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico and on many of the Pacific Islands. Within the World Wildlife Fund's biome classification,
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Intro for report.
  • Minimum normal annual rainfall between 1,750 millimetres (69 in) and 2,000 millimetres (79 in) occurs in this climate region. Mean monthly temperatures exceed 18 °C (64 °F) during all months of the year.[1]
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Intro for report
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Intro for report.
  • The undergrowth in a rainforest is restricted in many areas by the lack of sunlight at ground level.[4] This makes it possible for people and other animals to walk through the forest. If the leaf canopy is destroyed or thinned for any reason, the ground beneath is soon colonized by a dense tangled growth of vines, shrubs and small trees called a jungle.[5]
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Intro for report.
  • able to withstand the hot temperatures and strong winds.
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • Canopy - This is the primary layer of the forest and forms a roof over the two remaining layers. Most canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. It's a maze of leaves and branches. Many animals live in this area since food is abundant.
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • Under canopy - Little sunshine reaches this area so the plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight. The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • Shrub layer/forest floor - This layer is very dark. Almost no plants grow in this area, as a result. Since hardly any sun reaches the forest floor things begin to decay quickly. A leaf that might take one year to decompose in a regular climate will disappear in 6 weeks
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q2.
  • An increase in tourism has increased economic support, allowing more revenue to go into the protection of the habitat. Tourism can contribute directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitat. Revenue from park-entrance fees and similar sources can be utilised specifically to pay for the protection and management of environmentally sensitive areas. Revenue from taxation and tourism provides an additional incentive for governments to contribute revenue to the protection of the forest. Tourism also has the potential to increase public appreciation of the environment and to spread awareness of environmental problems when it brings people into closer contact with the environment. Such increased awareness can induce more environmentally conscious behavior. Tourism has had a positive effect on wildlife preservation and protection efforts, notably in Africa but also in South America, Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific.[14]
    • Gurupranav G
       
      Useful for my Q4.
    • Victoria B
       
      HAve to use for project
  • Tall, broad-leaved evergreen trees are the dominant plants, forming a leafy canopy over the forest floor. Taller trees,
    • Victoria B
       
      Must use for project
Connor R

Slash and burn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

  • Slash and burn consists of cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create fields for agriculture or pasture for livestock, or for a variety of other purposes. It is sometimes part of shifting cultivation agriculture, and of transhumance livestock herding. Historically, the practice of slash and burn has been widely practiced throughout most of the world, in grasslands as well as woodlands, and known by many names. In temperate regions, such as Europe and North America, the practice has been mostly abandoned over the past few centuries. Today the term is mainly associated with tropical rain forests. Slash and burn techniques are used by between 200 and 500 million people worldwide.[1] Older English terms for slash and burn include assarting, swidden, and fire-fallow cultivation. Slash and burn is a specific functional element of certain farming practices, often shifting cultivation systems. In some cases such as parts of Madagascar, slash and burn may have no cyclical aspects (e.g., some slash and burn activities can render soils incapable of further yields for generations), or may be practiced on its own as a single cycle farming activity with no follow on cropping cycle. Shifting cultivation normally implies the existence of a cropping cycle component, whereas slash-and-burn actions may or may not be followed by cropping.
  •  
    cool
Antara V

Deforestation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

  • Deforestation is the clearance of naturally occurring forests by the processes of logging and/or burning of trees in a forested area. There are several reasons deforestation occurs: trees or derived charcoal can be sold as a commodity and used by humans, while cleared land is used as pasture, plantations of commodities and human settlement. The removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in damage to habitat, biodiversity loss and aridity. Deforested regions typically incur signicifant adverse soil erosion and frequently degrade into wasteland. Disregard or ignorance of intrinsic value, lack of ascribed value, lax forest management and deficient environmental law are some of the factors that allow deforestation to occur on a large scale. In many countries, deforestation is an ongoing issue that is causing extinction, changes to climatic conditions, desertification, and displacement of indigenous people. However, among countries with a per capita GDP of at least $4,600, net deforestation rates have ceased to increase
  •  
    nice
Kengo M

Desert - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

shared by Kengo M on 08 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Deserts take up about one third (33 percent) of the Earth's land surface.
    • Marius S
       
      Look more on it.
  • Deserts are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces.
  • In hot deserts the temperature in the daytime can reach 45 °C/113 °F or higher in the summer, and dip to 0 °C/32°F or lower in the winter.
    • Marius S
       
      Intresting information!
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • The 10 largest deserts Rank   Desert   Area (km²)   Area (mi²)   1 Antarctic Desert (Antarctica) 13,829,430 5,339,573 2 Arctic 13,700,000+ 5,300,000+ 3 Sahara (Africa) 9,100,000+ 3,320,000+ 4 Arabian Desert (Middle East) 2,330,000 900,000 5 Gobi Desert (Asia) 1,300,000 500,000 6 Kalahari Desert (Africa) 900,000 360,000 7 Patagonian Desert (South America) 670,000 260,000 8 Great Victoria Desert (Australia) 647,000 250,000 9 Syrian Desert (Middle East) 520,000 200,000 10 Great Basin Desert (North America) 492,000 190,000
    • Kengo M
       
      So THE IS THE COLD DESERTS. i THOUGHT THEY WERE SMALLER. i SHOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLD DESERTS
  • A desert is a hostile, potentially deadly environment for unprepared humans. In hot deserts, high temperatures cause rapid loss of water due to sweating, and the absence of water sources with which to replenish it can result in dehydration and death within a few days. In addition, unprotected humans are also at risk from heatstroke.
  • Humans may also have to adapt to sandstorms in some deserts
  •  
    Wow that is big. What kind of animals live there?
Shaian R

Jaguar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

shared by Shaian R on 09 Sep 09 - Cached
  • This spotted cat most closely resembles the leopard physically, although it is usually larger and of sturdier build and its behavioral and habitat characteristics are closer to those of the tiger. While dense rainforest is its preferred habitat, the jaguar will range
    • Shaian R
       
      this info is intresting
  • The jaguar is a near threatened species and its numbers are declining. Threats include habitat loss and fragmentation. While international trade in jaguars or their parts is prohibited, the cat is still regularly killed by humans, particularly in conflicts with ranchers and farmers in South America.
  • The jaguar prefers large prey and will take deer, capybara, tapirs, peccaries, dogs, foxes, and sometimes even anacondas and caiman. However, the cat will eat any small species that can be caught, including frogs, mice, birds, fish, sloths, monkeys, and turtles;
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Like all cats, the jaguar is an obligate carnivore, feeding only on meat. It is an opportunistic hunter and its diet encompasses 87 species.
  • It begins eating at the neck and chest, rather than the midsection. The heart and lungs are consumed, followed by the shoulders.
    • Shaian R
       
      Why do Jaguars like to eat large animals.
    • Morgan V
       
      i think if theye got a cance
Yen Yu C

Biome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

shared by Yen Yu C on 02 Sep 09 - Cached
  • A fundamental classification of biomes is into: Terrestrial (land) biomes Freshwater biomes Marine biomes
    • Yen Yu C
       
      type of biomes
  • Biomes are climatically and geographically defined areas of ecologically similar climatic conditions such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms,[1] and are often referred to as ecosystems. Biomes are defined by factors such as plant structures (such as trees, shrubs, and grasses), leaf types (such as broadleaf and needleleaf), plant spacing (forest, woodland, savanna), and climate. Unlike ecozones, biomes are not defined by genetic, taxonomic, or historical similarities. Biomes are often identified with particular patterns of ecological succession and climax vegetation (quasi-equilibrium state of the local ecosystem). An ecosystem has many biotopes and a biome is a major habitat type. A major habitat type, however, is a compromise, as it has an intrinsic inhomogeneity. The biodiversity characteristic of each biome, especially the diversity of fauna and subdominant plant forms, is a function of abiotic factors and the biomass productivity of the dominant vegetation. In terrestrial biomes, species diversity tends to correlate positively with net primary productivity, moisture availability, and temperature.[2]
    • Yen Yu C
       
      what biomes means and what they are. -biodiversity -climate change -temperature
Katherine G

Snake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 1 views

  •  
    Very good website on tropical snakes. Do use.
Thomas C

Rainforest - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

  • On January 18, 2007, FUNAI reported that it had confirmed the presence of 67 different uncontacted tribes in Brazil, up from 40 in 2005. With this addition, Brazil has now overtaken the island of New Guinea as the country having the largest number of uncontacted tribes.[19] The province of Irian Jaya or West Papua in the island of New Guinea is home to an estimated 44 uncontacted tribal groups.[20]
  • From 40 to 75% of all species on Earth are indigenous to the rainforests.[1] It has been estimated that many millions of species of plants, insects, and microorganisms are still undiscovered. Tropical rainforests have been called the "jewels of the Earth", and the "world's largest pharmacy", because of the large number of natural medicines discovered there.[2] Rainforests are also responsible for 28% of the worlds oxygen turn over, often misunderstood as oxygen production,[3] processing it through photosynthesis from carbon dioxide and through breathing to carbon dioxide.
    • Thomas C
       
      report showing.
  • Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750–2000 mm (68-78 inches).
Ajay V

Desert biome - Encyclopedia of Earth - 0 views

  •  
    A must-read for anyone who wants a lot of info on deserts!!!! So much INFORMATION!!!!
Yen Yu C

Ocean Biome - 0 views

  • The key species that supports almost all other ocean life is the Phaeton, a tiny, shrimp-like androgyne that is barely visible to the naked eye. Many species of fish and marine mammals eat primarily phaeton which float freely in the ocean's currents. Those species are, in turn, food for carnivorous predators, such as sharks, orcas, devil rays, and electric eels. When predators like these maul their prey, bits fall to the sea floor and decompose, providing a rich fertilizer for the "templa" or sea floor, one of the Ocean Biomes five layers. The second layer is the "firdga," (pronounced frid-ja) a very cool and dark band of stagnant water that supports moistly lampfish--species that use special lights on their bodies to navigate and find food. The third layer, the "fluvia," channels the strongest currents, but is too turbulent for most animal species. Most marine animals prefer to occupy the "luffa," the second layer from the surface wherein phaeton are abundant and light is able to penetrate and support plant life. The "nomar," the topmost ocean layer, which includes the surface of the ocean biome, also supports a few species, mostly flying-fish and damselflies, which use the surface to mate and hatch their young.
    • Paul I
       
      shows all the species that support th ocean
    • Yen Yu C
       
      key species. -phaeton
  • Major Plant and Animal Life Supported by the ocean Biome Plant Life Animal Life SeaweedAlgaeDark StarSea-CactusFungal BloomsOcean LillyCimarronYorma BulbRed Tide PhaetonPin-fishFlying-FishNurse SharksMako SharkNorwhalSting-RayWhalesTarponTunaSardinesJellyfish  
    • Yen Yu C
       
      main plants and animal that suport ocean biome
1 - 20 of 103 Next › Last »
Showing 20 items per page