University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

When environmental conditions change, animals must also change, in order to live.  In this program, we will explore some truly unique ways that animals use to adapt to environmental extremes to enhance survival.  We also look at molecular processes used by some animals which allow them to adapt to both short- and long-term environmental changes.

Using high resolution, slow motion video, this multimedia extravaganza will show how bees ensure the survival of “shooting star,” a beautiful plant native to wet prairies of SE Wisconsin.  In particular, this plant requires bees to vibrate their bodies at very high rates (frequencies), causing the flower to explosively release its pollen onto their bodies!

All animals communicate.  How that is done, of course, varies by the creature and the purpose.  This presentation focusses on treefrogs and treehoppers, whose sometimes raucous choruses provide an ideal way in which to ask questions and learn about the social and environmental factors that govern their lives.