Examples of potential biology topics in Finding Nemo (Pixar Animation Studios 2003, G).

Level Topic Basic Intermediate Advanced Open What are other complex Can you compare and What is a typical How common is sex- mating systems in fishes (e.g., contrast reproductive Clownfish mating clownfish “family” changing in fish? Would Bruce have known his strategies employed by other like? father)? animals? What are the benefits for What is a symbiosis? How does the clownfish How do mutualisms and Anemone symbiosis the clownfish? For the (Note: a-NEMO-ne) avoid being stung? symbioses evolve? anemone? Do shark species What is the role of apex What is the impact of Are there vegetarian Vegetarian sharks cooperate with each predators in marine overfishing in shark and sharks? other? ecosystems? marine populations? Could Marlin and Dory go What are the challenges of Are whales fish? What What are the implications of Whales from the throat to the studying large pelagic do they eat? feeding on krill? blowhole? species in the oceans? Can you describe some How do fish What messages can be Communication Do fish talk? general concepts of animal communicate? conveyed? communication? What is the comparability of What would the Short term Are fish capable of “learning” and “self- Do fish have memory? consequences of Dory’s memory loss learning? awareness” among humans “memory” be? and other species? What are some natural What is the role of social Do fish have individual Would parents care for or Nemo's “lucky” fin selection pressures in the organization in alleviating variations? accept malformed offspring? wild? certain selection pressures? Can you describe the Why are turtles What are the population What criteria are used to Marine turtles basic life history of reproductively estimates and dynamics of define endangered species? turtles? vulnerable? marine turtles?

Examples of potential biology topics in Jurassic Park (Universal Pictures 1993, PG–13).

Level Topic Basic Intermediate Advanced Open How many penguin Types of Do they co-occur and How are species What is the evolutionary history species are there? Are penguins intermingle? defined? of penguins? they birds or mammals? What is the difference What are the fitness How do environmental Are penguins “faithful” Monogamy between seasonal and lifelong consequences of pressures shape animal to their partners? monogamy? monogamy? behavior? What kind of Can they achieve individual At what point do we consider Singing Do penguins sing? communication occurs recognition by vocal cues? communication “complex”? among individuals? What are the foraging What is the benefit of How do environmental Does the father care for Reproduction expeditions by one of the this reproductive pressures shape animal the egg? partners? strategy? behavior? Do penguins change Can you discuss the What are the differences in What is the adaptive Molting feathers their fur as they grow various roles feathers the feather types? significance of molting? up? have for birds? What do penguins hunt, Penguin What is the adaptive Do penguins fly? Do penguins slide to move? and what hunts movement significance of flightlessness? penguins?

What are the accents How do anthropomorphic given to various What is the biological Regional accents Do these correspond to ranges characteristics influence our characters (e.g., leopard significance of regional of characters of the animals? perception of animals in seals, elephant seals, accents? movies? etc.)? What are some general What activities do Do animals perceive us as Humans in the What are the potential overfishing issues (not humans conduct in the “aliens” in their natural Antarctic impacts of these activities? just Antarctic) and food Antarctic? environments? web consequences? What are some methods of What is the United What are the “moral” Human leaders How could fishing determining “sustainable” Nation’s role in obligations to take action and intervention affect penguins? fishing practices? protecting species? regarding endangered species? Can you compare feeding How does regurgitation Feeding What do penguins eat? What is regurgitation? methods among birds and benefit the offspring? mammals?

Examples of potential biology topics in A Bug's Life (Pixar Animation Studios 1998, G.)

Level Topic Basic Intermediate Advanced Open What is the taxonomy and inter- What are the ecological Ants have six legs, so What is the general relatedness of insect groups? and adaptive Ant anatomy why are they shown in anatomy of insects? (Note: Atta is an actual ant implications of basic the film with four? genus.) insect body structure? What is their size How have animals How do ants survive Are ants in danger from perspective (e.g., are adapted to general Raindrops on ants environmental and seasonal rain? ants in danger of falling environmental changes? from heights)? variability? Can you describe the Cooperation of What is the importance of Do ants cooperate with What is the basic social evolution of social ants within a playing “your part” in ants’ each other? structure of ant colonies? structure and emergent colony society? properties in ants? What is functional Cooperation of Do ants cooperate with Do ants “need” What are some examples and ecology? What is the ants with other other species? Do ants grasshoppers (or vice- explanations of mutualisms role of “guilds” in species have aphid “pets”? versa)? (e.g., ants and aphids)? ecosystems? What is the ecological Ants outnumbering Are there more ants or How does size compare What is the biomass of ants significance of small grasshoppers grasshoppers? among types of insects? worldwide? “unseen” fauna? What is the role of Can you describe the What is bioluminescence Glowing fungi Do they exist? bioluminescence for the evolution of production? fungus? bioluminescence? What is the timing of What is adaptive What is What are the stages of Metamorphosis metamorphosis and molting in significance of metamorphosis? metamorphosis? insects? metamorphosis? How does this compare Wing development Do some ants have What is the reproductive Why is this a good strategy for to other reproductive and in ants wings? system in ants? ants? social systems?

Examples of potential biology topics in Outbreak (Universal Pictures 1995, R).

Level Topic Basic Intermediate Advanced Open How do viruses “jump” What were some historical virus How are diseases Epidemiology What is epidemiology? across species? How do outbreaks? What are current epidemics transmitted? they evolve resistance to (e.g., HIV/AIDS) our drugs?

Why do viruses have high Are we susceptible to an outbreak? Viruses What is a virus? Are viruses “alive”? rates of mutation? (e.g., SARS, H5N1) Which diseases should be How are vaccines Should vaccines be distributed to What is a vaccine? a priority for funding and Vaccinations and developed? poorer countries? antibodies research? What are some What is biological How are these designed or Should national security outweigh Biological warfare biological agents used or warfare? tested? national health? developed as weapons? What factors should be Should society be able to impose What is the purpose of What technologies keep Quarantine considered when deciding involuntary quarantine (or worse) on quarantine? medical workers safe? to design a quarantine? infected populations?

The Centers for What role does the CDC How do developed nations compare to What are the current Disease Control and What is the CDC? play in disease research developing nations with respect to priorities of the CDC? Prevention (CDC) and prevention? disease control and prevention?