Biomes of the Earth

Gr 7 Up—This compilation of 50 two- to three-minute video clips from around the world provides a visually arresting description of the world's biomes and the life they support. Ten ecological communities—taiga, tundra, deserts, grasslands, farms and cities, temperate forests, tropical forests, wetlands, lakes and rivers, and oceans—are each elegantly defined through an interdisciplinary focus that draws from the fields of geology, biology, and environmentalism, The sections also consider the specific threats to each of these communities and, in some cases, delve into the conservation issues that address the human impact of at-risk biomes. The programs main strength is its stunning visual material and easy-to-follow, information-filled narration. A top choice for middle and high school science departments and media centers.—Vincent M. Livoti, University of Maine at Augusta