The Goldenrod and the Gallfly: The Evolution of an Interaction

As I watched this video, Elton John's song "Circle of Life" from The Lion King kept zipping through my head (much to my annoyance as it's not one of my favorites). While nowhere near as majestic as the predator-prey relationship the lions share with their local food supply, The Goldenrod and the Gallfly does present a related idea on a smaller scale, and one that is closer to our own backyard--the interaction between an Eastern perennial flower and its parasite, the gallfly. Designed to give students a better understanding of the interdependence of life--through looking at specific interactions between host plants and herbivores, the impact predators and parasites have on herbivores, and the way such interactions shape the evolution of traits and even the formation of new species--this informative, affordably priced program features good close-up footage and includes a solid teacher's guide. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Asala)