Quick Links Introduction Concepts explored in this eTrip Lesson Plans Web Links Introduction Every animal has a niche as prey, predator, and/or scavenger. The relationships between these different types of animals are complex and provide balance to an ecosystem. This electronic field trip allows students to eavesdrop on a special sleuthing team as they examine the disappearance of an elk in Yellowstone's Hayden Valley. As the investigators pool their expertise, students will learn about tracking techniques and predator/prey relationships in the park. Can students solve the mystery of the missing elk before the investigators do? The Ask an Expert Message Board is available from March 10-12, 2004. Resource experts will be available to answer your students' questions. The questions and answers will remain accessible after the message board has been deactivated. We suggest your students view the Park's Orientation program before taking this electronic field trip. For a list of education standards applicable to this field trip, please visit the standards page. 1) Every animal has a niche in an ecosystem as prey, predator, and/or scavenger. 2) Relationships between predators, prey, and scavengers are interdependent and complex. 3) Critical thinking can be used to explain physical evidence of animal interactions. Pre Electronic Field Trip • What's for Dinner? Post Electronic Field Trip • Sign Language • Factors to Consider Glossary • Yellowstone WebCam    http://www.nps.gov/yell/tours/livecams/index.htm • Animal Tracking    http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2002/radiotrk/wildl.htm    http://www.bear-tracker.com/index.html    http://www.uwsp.edu/stuorg/wildlife/project/Wolf/tracking.html    http://cegt201.bradley.edu/projects/proj2002/anitrack/FUNC_DES.pdf    The previous link requires Adobe Reader. Download Adobe Reader • Bison    http://www.nps.gov/yell/nature/animals/bison/bison.html    http://www.yfwmb.yk.ca/comanagement/mgmtplans/bisonplan/history.html    http://www.buddycom.com/animal/special/bison/    http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/americanbison.htm • Elk    http://www.jacksonholenet.com/elkrefuge/    http://www.canadaproject.ecsd.net/elk.htm    http://www.rmef.org/pages/elkfacts.html • Grizzly Bear    http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/grizzly_bear.html    http://www.wildlifesearch.com/bear.htm    http://www.bccf.com/ecoed/Teachers/bkgrgriz.html    http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/school/dondero/msm/bear/bearlnks.html • Microorganisms    http://microscope.mbl.edu/reflections/baypaul/microscope/general/page_01.htm • Predator/Prey    http://insected.arizona.edu/enforcers/background.html    http://www.biology.ucsc.edu/~barrylab/classes/animal_behavior/    http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/science_tech/middle_ecology.shtm • Wildlife    http.//www.nps.gov/yell/nature/animals    http://www.worldwildlife.org/    http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/wildlife.htm    http://www.essortment.com/in/Animals.Small.mammals/    http://www.nwf.org/kids/ • Wolves    http://www.wolfcenter.org    http://www.wolfcountry.net    http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/wolf.htm    http://www.nps.gov/yell/nature/animals/wolf/wolfup.html These sites represent some, but not all, of the excellent resources found online. If you know of other sites you would like to share with students and educators participating in this electronic field trip, please contact us so that we can post them. Funding for this trip was provided by Canon U.S.A., Inc., through The Yellowstone Park Foundation. Web server services are funded through generous grants to The Yellowstone Park Foundation. Home | For Teachers | Ask An Expert | Evaluation | Contact Us ©The Yellowstone Park Foundation 2004 Privacy Disclaimer | Freedom of Information Act