Biocomplexity Resources

Diversity and Evolution

Online resources on this list cover topics such as arthropod diversity and evolution, biodiversity, and morphogenesis.

  • Arthropod Diversity and Evolution - An After School Program. This program teaches students to identify, classify, and curate scientific specimens while exploring related issues such as adaptation, biological classification, biodiversity, and evolution. This is a five-week course and lesson plans are provided for each week, including specific information on field trips and laboratory projects. The online resource center provided on this website allows students to search the documents by category or using keywords. (more info)
  • Biodiversity Bibliography: Ecology, Economics, and Policy. This site is a bibliographic index containing approximately 4,000 references on various aspects of biodiversity and conservation. Recent articles have abstracts included while most of the older articles do not. Articles can be searched according to category or by keyword list. ( This site may be offline. )
  • Evolutionary and Ecological Functional Genomics. This topic refers to research regarding genetic variations in order to better understand the functional significance of genetic changes in natural environments and how this may affect the evolutionary processes. These studies include investigators who try to combine evolution, ecology, functional analysis (physiology, biochemistry, neurobiology, endocrinology, functional morphology, etc.), and genetics in a single research program. (more info)
  • One Sky Many Voices: BioKIDS. This is an 8-week life science inquiry program for 5th graders focusing on biodiversity. Students collect data on animal distribution in their schoolyard using Palm Pilots and software originally used by African Animal Trackers. An electronic discussion board and the creation of their own web-based biodiversity maps allow students to compare and share their findings with other students and researchers around the world. (more info)
  • Portal Long Term Research in Ecological Biodiversity. This site provides a summary of an on-going ecological biocomplexity research project that began in the mid-1970's. Coined the "Portal Project," because of its location near the southeastern Arizona town of Portal, research has been conducted on 24 plots for over 20 years. This research primarily focuses on the interactions of ants, rodents, and desert plant species. (more info)
  • SFRSF: Invasive Exotic Species. This South Florida Restoration Science Forum (SFRSF) site discusses the problem of invasive exotic species in southern Florida. Topics covered include what invasive species are, where they come from, where they exist at this time, what controls them, their effect on restoration, the use of natural enemies to tame some invasive plants, and what can be done about other invasive animals and plants. There are links provided for additional information. (more info)
  • USGS Biological Resources: National Activities. This website contains a comprehensive listing of biological research taking place within the USGS biology branch. This portal provides access to the National Bird Banding Project, the National Park Service flora and fauna database, the National Water Quality Assessment Program, the Global Change Research Program, the Land Use History of North America and many more. It is an excellent starting place for information and data from research projects within the USGS Biological Resources branch. ( This site is likely no longer available. )
  • USGS: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Maps and searchable data for non-indigenous aquatic species in the US. Includes vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. (more info)
  • Visual Models of Morphogenesis: A Guided Tour. Morphogenesis is the term used to describe the process of creating new organizational forms in response to changing environmental conditions. The document contained on this website reviews models of morphogenesis and provides several visual components designed to assist in the understanding of this concept. The user can select the reading material by chapter and can read a brief abstract of this report. Another section of this website lists full bibliographic information for references used in this report. (more info)