"New" Complex Ocean Ecology!

The use of databases isn't just for quick information. Using the new Paleobiology Database [ http://www.pbdb.org ] scientists have discovered that during the "mass extinction" of earth 250 million years back, life in the oceans became dramatically more complex!

This "extinction" is said to have wiped out 95% of marine life and 70% of land dwellers. But, it seems to have also begun a fundamental change in the ocean ecosystem's entire structure.

You can find out more about the post-Permian extinction and it's results by using your Kansas Library Card [ http://www.kslc.org/ ] to access rich database resources. Select the InfoTrac databases and do a Subject search for (su ("Mass Extinction")). You will find many articles in full text!

If you prefer BOOKS to journals/magazines/newspapers, then use [ "mass extinction" earth ] in the Basic Search box of the NetLibrary e-Books database. You will retrieve many books relating to global extinction events and results. You may sort the titles retrieved by relevance, date, or title if you like.

Great results from your KANSAS LIBRARY CARD and your State Library!

Sherry

Word Definitions through World Book Encyclopedia

With all of the election verbiage and hype that has overwhelmed us this fall you might want to teach some words and definitions to those students you help regularly. Where did the word "aboveboard" come from and what does it mean? You can use the World Book's Dictionary to find out!

When you go to the State's Databases http://www.kslc.org/index.jsp and choose World Book (near the bottom of the list) you can see the Dictionary TAB near the top. Go there to find out just what the word means AND what its origin is. (Hint: Texas Hold'em plays a role.)