Tertiary Catalogue

Experts discuss the importance of kelp forests and their role as the foundation of the Great Southern Reef in Australia. Dr Scott Bennett, Prof Adriana Verges, Dr Karen Filbee-Dexter and Aaron Eger explore the various ways in which we benefit from these pristine ecosystems and the potential consequences if we were to lose them. From economic value to cultural significance, this video sheds light on the immeasurable benefits we derive from nature and the need to value and protect it. Show Less

Mick Baron and Karen Gowlett-Holmes have been running the Eaglehawk Dive Centre on the iconic Tasman Peninsula since 1991. For decades one of the major attractions to the area has been the giant kelp forests. But over the years they have seen first hand the destruction of the giant kelp forests, a direct result of climate change. Dependent on Tasmania’s giant kelp forests more than anyone, Mick and Karen have been instrumental in the efforts to research and rehabilitate these critically endangered ecosystems. With word spreading about restoration efforts, now the dive centre is increasingly receiving requests for people interested in diving on the restored reefs. In this short film, Mick and Karen take you on a journey through the day in the life of these highly accomplished Tasmanian dive shop owners. The film explores their personal reflections on the dramatic changes observed in the giant kelp forests within their lifetimes and their ongoing efforts to raise awareness to the issue and gain traction in the rehabilitation of these reefs. Show Less

The terrestrial zone is the area of land around the pond that is not regularly inundated with water. This video looks at biotic and abiotic factors in the terrestrial zone, discussing the flora and fauna found in this zone and the potential impact human activity can have on the whole pond. Informative diagrams and in-the-field footage make this an essential resource for senior secondary biology students. Show Less

The organisms found in the littoral zone are critical for the biological cycling of abiotic factors. This video explores the complex relationships between primary producers, lower level consumers and higher order consumers and how they can be modelled using food chains and food webs. Informative diagrams and in-the-field footage make this an essential resource for senior secondary biology students. Show Less

The euphotic and profundal zones, which together comprise the limnetic zone, are home to a variety of organisms. This video looks at the characteristics of primary producers and consumers and how energy is transferred and lost through the different levels in a food chain. Informative diagrams and in-the-field footage make this an essential resource for senior secondary biology students. Show Less

The benthic zone teems with life and biodiversity and acts like the digestive system of the pond. This video explains how organisms here have adapted to living in conditions of low light and low oxygen and why they are crucial for processes of nutrient cycling and maintaining water quality. Informative diagrams and in-the-field footage make this an essential resource for senior secondary biology students. Show Less

The plants found in the littoral zone play an important role in maintaining and supporting the biotic and abiotic conditions of a healthy pond. This video explains how these plants photosynthesise, looking at the role reeds and rushes play in transforming sunlight into energy that flows through the ecosystem. Informative diagrams and in-the-field footage make this an essential resource for senior secondary biology students. Show Less

A pond is an ideal place to see how living and non-living things interact with each other and their environment. This video introduces key aspects of pond ecosystems, explaining how abiotic factors define the four pond zones and how relationships between organisms can be modelled with food chains and food webs. Informative diagrams and in-the-field footage make this an essential resource for senior secondary biology students. Show Less

Photosynthesis supplies all oxygen for life, and it began in the sea. Amazingly, it all relies on one basic kind of chemical reaction that was achieved over two billion years ago by cyanobacteria, and cyanobacteria living as endosymbionts in plants and phytoplankton still produce almost all our oxygen. This programme tells the story of the cyanobacteria, how they changed our planet and are involved in supporting its many life forms. We look at the four major groups that photosynthesise in the sea: cyanobacteria, eucaryote phytoplankton (microalgae), seaweeds (macroalgae), and seagrasses. These groups are responsible for supplying around half the oxygen we breathe—so in terms of understanding the processes that keep us alive, this is a very important story. Show Less

This programme investigates the basic characteristics of aquatic and terrestrial environments, and the adaptations of the plants that live in those environments. Among the specific areas examined are: - Supporting structures and movement, including turbidity; - Gaseous exchange and light absorption; - Control of water balance via gains and losses; - Pollination and fertilisation. Show Less