Desert Plants and Wildflowers
http://www.desertusa.com/flora.html
For those interested in the types of plants found in the desert ecosystem, this Web page from the online magazine DesertUSA.com will be a useful guide. Photos and descriptive features of several desert plants are provided in an alphabetical index or can be found through the online field guide organized by flower color. An interesting section also focuses on the types of adaptations that allow plant species to survive in harsh desert conditions. The Desert Plants and Wildflowers section is just one piece of the overall DesertUSA Web site that explores a variety of desert related topics. [AL]
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Dermatlas
http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/
This Dermatology Image Atlas from Johns Hopkins University currently provides 2598 images of skin conditions. There are a variety of different ways to use the site; images are organized alphabetically in categories, by diagnosis, and body site. Users can also enter search terms or use a map of the human body to identify images of interest. Users who frequent the site may appreciate the notification service, which alerts users who register when new images are added to the collection. [AL]
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Sight Unseen
http://www.discover.com/june_02/featsight.html
This interesting article from Discover Magazine focuses on Mike May, a blind man who underwent procedures to restore his vision. The article focuses on the role that the brain plays in interpreting what the eye sees. The reader follows Mr. May from his surgery to the physical and psychological testing he undergoes at an experimental psychology laboratory at the University of California at San Diego, the results of which are "opening the first clear view into how we learn to see." Some interesting links are Mr. May's journal and a clip from a Discovery Channel documentary about him. This article gives a unique perspective on a sense that most people rely heavily on, and many take for granted. [AL]
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Fatal Light Awareness Program
http://www.flap.org/
This Toronto based organization was formed to raise awareness about the problems that windows and lighted structures cause for migrating birds. Focusing on tall buildings in urban areas, this Web site provides yet another reason to turn the lights off when not in use. By visiting the BFB Monitoring section, users can view a number of buildings that have been monitored for their nighttime light percentage readings. Other important information relevant to a general audience includes ideas for preventing bird/ window collisions, what to do when an injured bird is found, and important background information on the affected species and significance of these collisions. [AL]
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The North American Bird Banding Program: Bird Banding Laboratory
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/default.htm
This Web site from the US Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Bird Banding Laboratory provides a variety of information on bird banding in North America. Data gathered from banded birds "increases our knowledge and understanding of birds and their habitats and assists us in their management and conservation." This Web site serves a broad audience including permitted banders, people who have found a band, researchers, and people just interested in birds and the need for banding. The site provides a large amount of information, a variety of photos, and many useful links to related resources. [AL]
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The President's Council on Bioethics
http://www.bioethics.gov/
Late last year, the President's Council on Bioethics was "created to advise the President on bioethical issues related to advances in biomedical science and technology." The council's Web site allows the public to access information regarding the activities of this council. The site provides transcripts of council sessions organized by date and by topic; a full report regarding human cloning dated July 2002; links to similar bioethics councils of other governments; background information in the form of staff working papers; and, interestingly enough, works of fiction such as Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birth Mark." While this site does not provide any actual scientific information per se, it is an important resource for familiarizing oneself with the ongoing debate regarding sensitive biomedical research issues in the US, as well as for understanding the Bush administration's general disposition toward these issues. The Search our Site feature is currently under construction. This site is also reviewed in the August 23, 2002 Scout Report. [RS]
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Wanted Dead, Not Alive: Invading Species [.pdf]
http://whyfiles.org/160invasive_spec/index.html
The Why Files (last mentioned in the June 28, 2002 NSDL Scout Report for the Life Sciences) is "a popular and critically acclaimed web site that explores the science behind the news." Check out this recent feature of the Web site, which presents information about a number of harmful invasive species in an entertaining way. The notorious snakehead fish is included in the species lineup, and the related text helps to clear up misconceptions some may have about this invader. While some species and the problems associated with them are described in more detail than others, nearly all descriptions include links to related Web sites that offer much more detailed information. [RS]
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The Natural History of the San Gabriel Mountains
http://home.earthlink.net/~teunice/sgm/index.html
This privately published Web site functions as a detailed natural history guide to California's San Gabriel Mountains. Users can access a wealth of detailed information regarding the region's plants, animals, weather conditions, etc. The road guides are so detailed that the reader may almost feel as if he or she is actually there. While the text is dense and images are few and far between, almost every page of this Web site contains numerous links to other sites that offer useful photos. The incredible detail of this Web site may be off-putting for those seeking a casual glimpse at the San Gabriel Mountains, but for those more actively interested in the region, this site would be a rich natural history resource filled with careful observations and well-referenced information. [RS]
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