Tree of Life

To deepen your understanding of the habitats and conservation topics covered in this series, these reputable UK organisations provide extensive learning materials, identification guides, and technical resources:

To expand your series and provide learners with even deeper resources, you can link to several world-class interactive tools and educational platforms. These websites allow readers to transition from reading about the Tree of Life to actively "flying" through it or contributing to its data.

1. Interactive "Tree Explorers"

These are the best tools for visualizing the massive scale of the tree.

• OneZoom: This is often described as the "Google Earth of biology." It is a zoomable map of all 2.2 million species known to science. Readers can search for their favorite animal or plant and see exactly where it sits on the tree.

• Lifemap: Similar to OneZoom, this tool allows you to explore the relationships between all known species with a focus on detailed genetic information for each branch.

• TimeTree: An incredible resource for understanding the "timeline" aspect of the tree. You can input any two species (e.g., "Human" and "Great White Shark") and it will tell you exactly how many millions of years ago their common ancestor lived.

2. Citizen Science & Identification Apps

For the "informal system" mentioned in Part 10, these apps turn a smartphone into a taxonomic tool.

• iNaturalist: The gold standard for citizen science. Users upload photos of wildlife, and an AI (plus a community of experts) helps identify the species. It’s perfect for the "Local Bio-Blitz" activity.

• Pl@ntNet: A specialized tool for identifying plants from photos. It is an excellent follow-up for readers interested in the Angiosperm and Cryptogam sections.

3. Deep-Dive Educational Resources

• The Tree of Life Web Project: A collaborative effort by biologists from around the world. It provides "branches" of information on the characteristics and evolutionary history of different groups.

• Understanding Evolution (UC Berkeley): One of the most learner-friendly websites for understanding the mechanics of the tree, including how to read phylogenetic diagrams and the history of evolutionary thought.

• Encyclopedia of Life (EOL): A massive database aiming to provide a "web page for every species." It is great for finding the specific "biological passport" data discussed in Part 9.

4. Specialized Botanical Resources

• Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: For readers who want to go beyond the basics of plant classification, this site offers the most up-to-date scientific consensus on how flowering plants are related.

And there is the Sidmouth Nature 'studio with much more information and learning materials ...