Here are the latest satellite readings from our five caribou cows, thanks to Robert Mulders of Arviat (Eskimo Point), Northwest Territories. According to today's new information, do you think the caribou have begun to migrate? As a class, discuss when you think the caribou migration will occur and why you think so.
For today's Challenge Question you'll need a good physical map of Canada. You should be able to find such a map in a world atlas such as National Geographic's Atlas of the World. Locate the treeline on the map and notice its course across Canada's Northwest Territories. The treeline defines the border between two of the world's major biomes.
Challenge Question # 46
"What is a biome and what are the names of the two biomes that the treeline separates? Finally, in what biome did each of the five caribou spending the winter?"
Please follow the directions at the end of this report to respond to this question.
By the way, if you've been tracking the robin migration, you're probably familiar with the term "isotherm". An isotherm is an imaginary line that connects places which have the same average temperatures. Many students have been testing whether robins move north as the isotherm reaches 36 degrees F.
As it happens, temperatures also determine where the treeline is located. In fact, the treeline coincides with the location of the 50 degree isotherm during the warmest month of summer. That is, trees can grow only where the temperatures average at least 50 degrees. As you can see, temperature plays a central role in defining when and where living things are found.
Thanks to the many students who responded to Challenge Question # 27: "Why do you think the average nomadic Inuit family required at least 150 caribou each year for survival?" In our next report we'll include their thoughts and we'll explore the ways people of the arctic have lived with the caribou over the centuries.
Here are the most recent locations of our 5 caribou cows:
Caribou #06978
Mar 07: No Data
Mar 12: 61.367 N, 94.150 W
Mar 17: 61.338 N, 93.933 W
Caribou #06980
Mar 07: No Data
Mar 12: 59.840 N, 95.417 W
Mar 17: 59.797 N, 95.272 W
Caribou #23924
Mar 07: No Data
Mar 12: 60.972 N, 106.042 W
Mar 17: 60.900 N, 106.097 W
Caribou #23925
Mar 07: No Data
Mar 12: 60.310 N, 96.278 W
Mar 17: 60.333 N, 96.267 W
Caribou #23926
Mar 07: No Data
Mar 12: 60.248 N, 96.260 W
Mar 17: 60.383 N, 95.537 W
How to Respond to Challenge Question # 46
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #46.
3. In the Body of your message, answer the question:
The Next Caribou Migration Update Will be Posted on April 4, 1996.
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