TED-Ed
What Is the Tragedy of the Commons?
What's good for all of us is good for each of us. The Tragedy of the Commons refers to a situation in which one person's decision to act in his or her own best interest negatively affects the rest of the population—and ultimately, him or...
The Brain Scoop
The First Brachiosaurus
How do scientists know when they've discovered something new? Travel back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth using an interesting video, which is part of Brain Scoop's Fossils and Geology playlist. The narrator examines the...
The Brain Scoop
How Bird Vomit Helps Us Understand History
They didn't just WING this video; it's a real HOOT! An intriguing video in the Brain Scoop Fossils & Geology series explains what owl pellets are and why scientists study them. Then, it covers the extension of how scientists use them...
FuseSchool
Extinction of Species
Extinction: i's not just for dinosaurs! Young ecologists examine the alarming facts about the causes of mass extinctions by watching this engaging Fuse School Evolution video. Topics include previous extinction events, living fossils,...
Teacher's Pet
Introduction to Ecology
An educational video offers an overview of ecology and discusses the levels of organization from biosphere down to organisms. It also compares terms such as habitats versus niches, generalist versus specialist, and biotic versus abiotic.
Be Smart
The Ruin and Rise of Monterey Bay
Eating sardines provides a myriad of health benefits; it wards off heart disease, strengthens bones, maintains healthy skin, and prevents some types of cancers. Alas, sardines in have been over-fished. Scholars learn about Monterey Bay...
Be Smart
Ghosts of Evolution
Since avocados are fruits, is guacamole a smoothie? The video explains how trees that produce fruit with no natural way to spread their seeds are still alive. It goes into detail about avocado trees and ginko biloba trees.
Bozeman Science
Communities
What do you get if you cross ants with ticks? All kinds of antics! Video discusses the structure of the classifications in ecology. Then it covers the ways communities can be measured before discussing an example of leaf cutter ants...
Bozeman Science
Ecological Succession
Never trust a tree, they always look shady. The video explains both primary and secondary succession. It uses examples of volcanic activity, fires, and human disturbances. It is the seventh in an 18-part series.
Crash Course
Ecology - Rules for Living on Earth
Populations, communities, ecosystems, and biospheres are the subject of a video that investigates biomes and reveals that taigas, or boreal forests, are the largest biome, covering 17% of Earth's land surface. Viewers then explore how...
Crash Course
Conservation and Restoration Ecology
Address types of diversity, conservation biology, and restoration ecology. A video also includes small population conservation, declining population conservation, structural restoration, bioremediation, biological augmentation,...
Crash Course
5 Human Impacts on the Environment
It is estimated that within 100 years, there will be no rain forests. The video on ecosystems covers the impact humans have on the environment. It includes ecosystem services, the importance of biodiversity, deforestation,...
Crash Course
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycles: Always Recycle! Part 2
We wish you a happy, healthy, and phosphorus school year! A video explains the importance of getting the nutrients that are needed and focuses on the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles. It includes discussions on the importance of...
Crash Course
Ecosystem Ecology: Links in the Chain
A video starts by defining an ecosystem. It expands on the concept by covering trophic structure, primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, detrivores, and bioaccumulation.
Crash Course
Ecological Succession: Change is Good
Discuss how communities and the ecosystem of the earth deal with change. An informative video includes primary succession, secondary succession, climax community model, and intermediate disturbance hypothesis.
Crash Course
Community Ecology: Feel the Love
Warblers are small birds that have been known to get caught in spider webs. The video covers community ecology, focusing on the Competitive Exclusion Principle using the example of warblers. It also includes fundamental versus realized...
Crash Course
Human Population Growth
The total world population is predicted to pass 8 billion by 2025, which is less than 10 years from now. The video focuses on human population growth and the impact it has had and is having on our planet and other populations. It...
Crash Course
The History of Life on Earth
The first life on Earth developed in the oceans. As an introduction to ecology, the video starts with the formation of the earth. It follows with the Archaean and Proterozoic Eons including protobionts, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes. It...
Crash Course
Pollution
An environmental science video covers natural and synthetic compounds and the impact they have on the environment. It includes carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, cyanide, mercury, sulfur, nitrogen dioxide, and endocrine disruptions.
Crash Course
The Hydrologic and Carbon Cycles: Always Recycle!
Introduce biogeochemical cycles and goes into detail about the hydrologic and carbon cycles. A scientific video engages learners and teaches them at the same time.
Crash Course
Community Ecology II: Predators
The first examples of mimicry we have found date back to before flowering plants. The video goes in depth on predators at the community ecology level. It includes discussions of herbivores, parasitism, adaptations, cryptic coloration,...
Crash Course
Population Ecology: The Texas Mosquito Mystery
While 80 percent of people with West Nile Virus show no symptoms, in severe cases, it causes death by infecting the membranes around the spinal cord and brain. The video starts by making population ecology relevant. It includes density...
Amoeba Sisters
Ecological Succession: Nature's Great Grit
Your science class may not enjoy ecology yet, but after this video series they are sure to be lichen it! An educational video explains ecological succession at the community level. It includes primary succession starting with...
TED-Ed
Why Wildfires Are Necessary
Are wildfires necessary for some forests? Get the answer to this burning question with a short video that examines the role of fire in forest growth and health.