2012

S2.E1 ∙ Canada's Coastal Forests

Tue, Jan 22, 2013

Canada's coastal forests, stretching along the Pacific from the US border north and way into Alaska, bound by mountains, are among the richest biotopes. A hectare there supports more plants then in any rain-forest, the waters feed exceptionally rich fish schools, especially hearings, attracting scores of predators, often migrating, even humpback whales. On land, the lordly predators are bears, eagles and wolves.

7.6 /10

S2.E2 ∙ Great Barrier Reef

Tue, Jan 29, 2013

Australia's Great Barrier Reef, off Queensland's Gold Coast, is the world's largest living structure. Surprisingly rich given the relative scarceness of nutrition, it's the fruit of intricately-close and complex collaboration between many species, first-most the corals and intertwined algae which build the actual reefs on the relatively shallow oceanic bedrock, which are periodically damaged by storms but rebuild or compensated for by new colonization. Around it abound fish, crustaceans, mollusks and their predators.

8.3 /10

S2.E3 ∙ Namib Desert

Tue, Feb 05, 2013

The Namib desert was formed by sand blown est from the southern Atlantic ocean, forming ever-shifting dunes, which also cut off a narrow coastal strip, where wildlife abounds, especially breeding seals. At the land side, life is extremely specialized, to survive the scorching heat and tip into the very limited resources, such as dew from morning mist and tiny parts of rotting organism also carried from the sea by winds.

8.2 /10

S2.E4 ∙ Yellowstone

Tue, Feb 12, 2013

Steve's team investigates the Western wildlife in the Grandy Canyon, which was remarkably better helped by the reintroduction of the wolf then zoologists dared hope. Interaction with other predators proved minor. Although other prey species, like buffalo herds, are affected, the key are deer, whose unchecked grazing can undo the wood-/grass-land balance unless hunting wolves keep them in check.

7.8 /10

S2.E5 ∙ Deep Seas

Tue, Feb 19, 2013

Steve's team investigates the world's largest, yet still largely badly studied biotope by far: the deep ocean parts. For more life then expected dwells at different levels, even the dark where many generate their own light, mostly feeding on a long recycling chain of food grown under sunlight and decomposing at sea. However exceptionally rich wildlife concentrations are found in the most inhospitable parts of the sea surface, toxic zones around volcanic eruptions, where specialized bacteria form the part of a surreal food chain.

7.6 /10

S2.E6 ∙ Australia's Red Centre

Tue, Feb 26, 2013

Steve's team investigates Australia's Red Centre, a huge, hot desert colored by iron ore. Its wildlife mainly stems from before tectonic drift made the once lush freest-covered continent dry up but adapted remarkably well and originally, with iconic species like the extremely numerous red kangaroos, and a remarkably abundance of reptilians. Key to the food-chain however are insects, notably termites, which are capable to digest the specialized, drought-resistant grass which constitutes the only relatively abundant vegetation and is rejuvenated by frequent fires.

7.6 /10

S2.E7 ∙ Scottish Highlands

Tue, Mar 05, 2013

Steve's team investigates his native Scotland's Highlands, a harsh, sparsely populated region, richer in wilder wildlife then most of Britain, last retreat for many species adapted to ice age conditions, while the same climate even allows thriving cities elsewhere. Key species i the forest parts are giant firs. The forest rivals with the poorer moor parts, in a complex relationship over geological/climatic time and human intervention.

7.2 /10