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Chordates
Chordate Videos
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Lesson Plan
Our Chordate Family TreeStudents explore the evolution of the phylum Chordata by constructing a "family tree" - a diagram of evolutionary traits and animals.Full Lesson Plan
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Factsheet
Chordates: This Is UsThe chordate phylum includes both invertebrates (without backbones) and vertebrates (with backbones).Download Factsheet
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Reading
Chordates: The Voyage to Us Bones, Brawn, and Brains"Humanity is exalted, not because we are so far above every other living creature, but because knowing them well elevates the very concept of life." - E.O. Wilson, BiophiliaDownload Reading
Features
Creature
Elephant Seals
These huge seals are superb hunters and athletes in the sea — on land, not so much.
Elephant seals come ashore to breed and give birth in the winter and to molt, shedding their fur and top layer of skin. When not doing this, they’re out to sea traveling in search of food. This video from KQED’s Quest gives a good overview of their natural history.
Elephant seals spend 80 percent of their lives in the open sea, from Mexico to Alaska, in search of food. 90 percent of that time is spent underwater: eating, digesting, resting briefly, and traveling. When they forage during their migrations, they don’t sleep. They cat nap.
Elephant Seals
These huge seals are superb hunters and athletes in the sea — on land, not so much. Elephant seals come ashore to breed and give birth in the winter and to molt, shedding their fur and top layer of skin. When not doing this, they’re out to sea traveling in search of food. This video from KQED’s Quest gives a good overview of their natural history. Elephant seals spend 80 percent of their lives in the open sea, from Mexico to Alaska, in search of food. 90 percent of that time is spent underwater: eating, digesting, resting briefly, and traveling. When they forage during their migrations, they don’t sleep. They cat nap.
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Scientist
Ianna Gilbert, Junior at Brandeis University
An 8th grade Earth Science class sparked Ianna’s interest in science. Then teachers in high school told her about doing research in the Hudson River with the Lamont-Dougherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University where the focus was climate and earth sciences. Ianna jumped in!
Ianna Gilbert, Junior at Brandeis University
An 8th grade Earth Science class sparked Ianna’s interest in science. Then teachers in high school told her about doing research in the Hudson River with the Lamont-Dougherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University where the focus was climate and earth sciences. Ianna jumped in!
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Did You Know?
Did You Know? Elephant Seals Tracking THE BLOB!
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz put sensors on seals that record depth, temperature and salinity while the migrated some 6,000 miles across the North Pacific.
Did You Know? Elephant Seals Tracking THE BLOB!
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz put sensors on seals that record depth, temperature and salinity while the migrated some 6,000 miles across the North Pacific.
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Shape of Life Blog
We Have Seen the Enemy and IT’S US!
Think about the biggest, most powerful predators in any system. These are called apex predators. Some that come to mind are obvious— wolves in Yellowstone, lions on the Serengeti and orcas in the Pacific Northwest. There are others in many different ecosystems, like the sunflower star in nearshore waters off Alaska. Often the large predators at the top of the food web in a particular ecosystem. But, humans are the ultimate apex predator.
We Have Seen the Enemy and IT’S US!
Think about the biggest, most powerful predators in any system. These are called apex predators. Some that come to mind are obvious— wolves in Yellowstone, lions on the Serengeti and orcas in the Pacific Northwest. There are others in many different ecosystems, like the sunflower star in nearshore waters off Alaska. Often the large predators at the top of the food web in a particular ecosystem. But, humans are the ultimate apex predator.
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