This site provides high level descriptions of aquatic plant life and excellent photos of common aquatic plants. Phytoplankton, macrophytes, fungi and lichens are also featured. While the text would be difficult for elementary children, a teacher could use this site for reference, and the photos would be of great interest to students. Full description.

This site is based at Reading Memorial High School in Reading, MA. It features general information defining and describing vernal pools as a habitat type, including an illustrated cartoon series. Resources for educators and students include suggestions for classroom and field trip activities, examples of school projects, field guides, and teacher resources such as workshops. While this site contains ... Full description.

This site offers several ways to explore the importance of estuaries. Virtual tours of the Barataria-Terrebone Estuarine Complex and the Long Island Sound offer photos and text of each area explain their importance to humans, wildlife, and larger ecosystems. Additional resources for kids and adults are linked. A glossary page offers a list of vocabulary associated with estuaries. The site also offers ... Full description.

The GREEN program provides ideas and information related to creating a watershed-based educational project and is geared toward taking action to protect watersheds. There are exercises and action steps for various aspects of watershed management including monitoring, analysis, research, policy issues and background information. The site allows groups to enter their watershed monitoring or action project ... Full description.

The Deep Biosphere Laboratory at Goteborg University consists of about 10 people whose unifying interest is in microbial life in underground and sub-seafloor environments. Visitors to the site can access summaries of research projects, personnel information, and links to publications on the topic of underground and sub-seafloor microbes. Research topics include microbes in deep Swedish and Finnish ... Full description.

It is a miracle that life can survive in the extreme conditions of the desert. Users can learn about mammals (including wolves), insects and spiders, fish and birds(including hawks), and reptiles and amphibians (including rattlesnakes) that have adapted and, in fact, thrive in the harsh desert ecosystems. Links to related topics such as animal survival in the desert and animal rescues are included. ... Full description.

This portal offers an alphabetical selection of links to materials on a variety of sea creatures, especially whales. Topics include research reports, expedition records, maps, datasets, movies, and sound recordings for several species of whales, seals, porpoises, and turtles. Full description.

This site provides links to an extensive list of resources on groundwater biology and biospeleology; the study of organisms living in caves or cave waters. Other links connect to related topics such as groundwater, caves and speleology, research techniques, newsletters, and email lists. Full description.

This site provides excellent background information on deserts. Large print and superb pictures make this site very appealing to younger students. Topics include: What is a Desert Like?, Types of Deserts, What causes Deserts?, Deserts of the World, Desert Plants, Desert Animals, and links to other desert sites. Full description.

Desert plants have adapted to the extremes of heat and aridity by using both physical and behavioral mechanisms, much like desert animals. The ingenuity and variety of these many adaptations are explored in a set of links to wildflowers, cacti and succulents, trees, shrubs, and grasses. Links to related topics such as desert plant survival, wildflower articles, and others are also included. Full description.