Ecology: Ecosystems https://youtu.be/IiXjAiAEybw

Ecology is the study of the distribution of living organisms and their interactions with the environment. An ecosystem is the community of living or biotic organisms with their nonliving or abiotic components of their environment. The topography, shape, and tilt of the Earth leads to a wide variety of terrestrial biomes, such as tundras, forests, deserts, and rainforests.

#science #biology #ecosystems #ecology #environment

Animal Form and Function: Animal Behavior https://youtu.be/T5ZHDEn6QRA

In this video I go over animal behavior, which is central to how animals interact with other animals and their environment such as through foraging, mating, and migration. Some actions are genetically determined and occur without learning, such as kelp gull (and other seagull) chicks pecking at the red dot on their mother's beak when they want food. Dutch scientist Niko Tinbergen won a Nobel Prize in part for his discovery that this seagull peaking was instinctive from birth and not learned. 

#science #biology #animalbehavior #animals #nature

Animal Form and Function: Development https://youtu.be/uKx4DDLLSEU

In this video I go over a quick overview of animal development, which starts from the formation of the zygote through the fusion of a sperm and egg cell during fertilization. The zygote then rapidly divides and forms a ball of similar cells called a blastula. Follows next is gastrulation, in which the blastula gets converted into the three germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. These three germ layers then form the internal organs.

#science #biology #development #animals #GermLayers

Animal Form and Function: Hormonal Control https://youtu.be/Ieh-GvUUgpE

In this video I go over hormones, which are signalling molecules that are secreted by internal glands and transported through the blood to regulate distant organs.

 #science #biology #hormones #animals #pinealgland

Animal Form and Function: Muscles and Movement https://youtu.be/0MaTRCQJDZ0

In this video I go over the muscular system of animals, which for vertebrates consists of skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles. I also go over how a worm moves via peristalsis (contraction of its circular muscles) and how an insect flies via its asynchronous flight muscles.

#science #biology #muscles #animals #education

Animal Form and Function: Blood Circulation https://youtu.be/2Q4cs3DfQL0

In this video I go over the circulatory system of animals, which typically involves blood being pumped by the heart to and from the rest of the body. Blood allows for the transport of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, hormones, agents of immune system, heat, wastes, and more. 

#science #biology #circulation #animals #education