[ GHS - 63 - 06:38:54 ]
Glad to say that we just spoke with Brazil, who are trying to make the computer and phone connections work--I had a little trouble myself--so we hope that Ann Devereaux, Marcelo Lima and Susan Laurance will soon appear online! When they do, let's start off by talking sloths... and birds, to follow up the questions left over from yesterday.

[ Susan - 64 - 06:39:07 ]
Hello, I'm Susan Laurance a biologist working here in the Amazon

[ GHS - 65 - 06:41:22 ]
Great to see you online, Susan: at the moment, it's just you and me, I think, but let me ask you to go back to that sloth question we had yesterday. I'll go back to the top of the chat to find it! Be back soon...

[ Susan - 66 - 06:41:44 ]
Do you guys have any questions specifically about rainforest animals or generally about working in the forest ?

[ GHS - 67 - 06:43:34 ]
The question from Mrs. Florence's class was--is there anything we can learn from studying sloths (apart from the fact that they are so neat-looking that they make you smile!) that can benefit humans? And while you're thinking about that, I'll go check the bird questions!!!

[ Susan - 68 - 06:44:20 ]
Our sloth expert has now arrived, Marcelo (he is a sloth as well!) who works on mammals has now arrived on-line..

[ GHS - 69 - 06:45:46 ]
I think they were holding up their bird questions for today, so they did not get asked... but as a general topic they wanted to know how El Nino has affected life in the forest?

[ Marcelo - 70 - 06:47:06 ]
We know only basic information about the biology of sloths, as to there benefit to humans.. Do they need to have one ?

[ GHS - 71 - 06:50:11 ]
Marcelo--I think you're right about not needing to put a "benefit to us" on everything--plant or animal. But lots of folks (in the media, and writing proposals!) write that way about the rainforest. What do YOU think is the best way to think about what we get from studying and understanding the forest ecosystem?

[ Susan - 72 - 06:51:23 ]
El nino events appear to occur every ten or so years, although the extent of how dry it gets can change. THE EL NINO event of last year has increased the normal mortality of trees in the forest but to what extent we are still trying to understand. IN drier forest regions such as northern Amazon there are big risks of fire especially where the forest has been opened up from logging. More than 9.5 thousand km of forest has recently burnt in this area.

[ Marcelo - 73 - 06:57:30 ]
The forest not only important because of all the plants that can help us find new pharmaceutical subtances, and the animals that can feed local populations, but also it has an intrinsic value that if not is the most important its critcal. I also have a comment for this, rememeber that the plants and animals of the forest can survive without man but can mn survive without them (Susan). Susan here,

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 74 - 06:58:48 ]
We are excited about meeting the scientists today. My students will be here in a minute. They are in art class drawing animals!

[ Susan - 75 - 07:00:15 ]
Hi guys can you draw a parrot or toucan for me

[ Susan - 76 - 07:07:09 ]
Hey Mrs Florence where are you calling from ?

[ GHS - 77 - 07:07:32 ]
Susan and Marcelo--it was Mrs. F's class which was interested in sloths and birds... so get ready for some questions!

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 78 - 07:08:38 ]
We are in Greenville, South Carolina. Parker said he drew a toucan in art class!!

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 79 - 07:09:42 ]
Does the jaguar have any enemies besides man?

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 80 - 07:10:27 ]
Bryan said they are at the top of the food chain so they probably don't....

[ Susan - 81 - 07:11:08 ]
No, and it's pretty scarey to see one because they sure aren't scared of humans.. They walk through the forest like they own the place.

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 82 - 07:11:16 ]
Will wants to know if there is any pollution in the rainforest?

[ NeilRigole - 83 - 07:11:18 ]
Are we still on for the chat with Susan

[ Susan - 84 - 07:12:04 ]
Brian you got that right sometimes I think they look at us like we could be the next meal

[ Susan - 85 - 07:12:54 ]
No, Will there isn't only where humans are.

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 86 - 07:12:55 ]
Susan.....What do you do if you meet a jaguar in the forest?

[ NeilRigole - 87 - 07:12:58 ]
Hi! I have a group of fourth grade students in Macon, GA that have a few questions for Susan!

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 88 - 07:14:02 ]
Hello Macon....we are in South Carolina!!

[ Susan - 89 - 07:14:56 ]
They are there but you rarely see them. If you do see them you don't run, they love to chase you even if they are not hungry. You stand up straight, wave your arms and yell your head off!

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 90 - 07:15:26 ]
Are any of the scientists fish specialists? Carter is interested in piranha.

[ GHS - 91 - 07:15:39 ]
Neil--go right ahead with the questions--there's only about 15 minutes left in the announced chat period, and Susan and Marcelo and all the crew have to get REAl busy with the live tv arrangements, real soon.

[ Susan - 92 - 07:15:40 ]
Hi Macon, Marcelo and Susan are here on-line from the Amazon, all thanks to NASA

[ NeilRigole - 93 - 07:16:21 ]
Hi South Carolina! Nyssa has a question for Susan. Have you remembered to check your shoes every morning before you put them on?

[ Susanmarcelo - 94 - 07:16:35 ]
Carter, what would you like to know about piranhas

[ Susanmarcelo - 95 - 07:17:25 ]
Definately, have you seen the size of the spiders we get here, we always give them a good shake

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 96 - 07:17:30 ]
Laura wants to know if anyone is studying turtles. We have 6 turtles in our courtyard at school that we are studying.

[ NeilRigole - 97 - 07:17:55 ]
From Zachary and Ryan: have you ever discovered any new species?

[ Susanmarcelo - 98 - 07:18:45 ]
Yes, we have researchers here that are studying some really neat and bizarre looking turtles, what have you found out about your turtles ?

[ NeilRigole - 99 - 07:19:11 ]
Tina: You said in your bio that you must watch where you put your hands. Do you do the same with your feet?

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 100 - 07:19:16 ]
Do piranhas really eat each other?

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 101 - 07:19:20 ]
Do piranhas really eat each other?

[ Susanmarcelo - 102 - 07:19:52 ]
I have found new species of trees where we work, but I don't get to describe them and give them names. A person who works in taxonomy does this type of work

[ NeilRigole - 103 - 07:21:07 ]
Zakiyyahh and Kenttrina: Do you ever meet any of the natives?

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 104 - 07:21:10 ]
Our turtles LOVE the rain!! Some of them are bright orange. We think it is because of the color of our dirt...clay dirt here....they are reptiles and lay eggs. They are coldblooded. We have to wash our hands after we touch them.

[ Susanmarcelo - 105 - 07:21:40 ]
Yes we always watch where our feet go. Piranhas are mainly fruit eaters, but during dry times when they are stuck in small ponds they get very very hungry and will eat just about anything. THis happens in an area called the Pantanal but not here in the Amazon river

[ NeilRigole - 106 - 07:21:42 ]
Katie: Do you ever play with any of the animals you find?

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 107 - 07:22:08 ]
Kayla wants to know what is the largest spider you have ever seen? How large was it?

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 108 - 07:22:09 ]
Kayla wants to know what is the largest spider you have ever seen? How large was it?

[ NeilRigole - 109 - 07:22:53 ]
Katherine: Have you ever seen an anaconda?

[ Susanmarcelo - 110 - 07:23:18 ]
No we don't get to see many indians, they have very large areas of forest that belong to them and you can only visit them when they ask you. Your turtles sound really cool. We also like the rain.

[ NeilRigole - 111 - 07:24:26 ]
Sam and William: what is your favorite animal you've seen so far?

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 112 - 07:25:07 ]
We will be watching today at 1:00. Bryan has sent in a question to the scientists about Anacondas. We can't wait to see you!! by the way....it is like a rainforest here...lots of rain and warm.

[ Susanmarcelo - 113 - 07:26:03 ]
No, I don't usually play with the animals I catch because they are very fragile and get easily stressed. The biggest spider I've seen are as big as a dinnerplate and they jump !! We haven't seen an anaconda, yet. They are normally found near flooded forests (like here !! ARGH }

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 114 - 07:26:33 ]
Bryan has one last question....Do jaguars kill their prey before they eat them or do they eat them when they are still living?

[ NeilRigole - 115 - 07:26:35 ]
From everyone: How many languages do you speak?

[ Susanmarcelo - 116 - 07:27:51 ]
My favourite animal is all of them that don't bite too hard, We love sloths, anteaters, snakes frogs and birds

[ NeilRigole - 117 - 07:28:04 ]
Taylor: what's the most interesting animal you've seen?

[ NeilRigole - 118 - 07:28:08 ]
Taylor: what's the most interesting animal you've seen?

[ NeilRigole - 119 - 07:28:56 ]
what is your camp like?

[ NeilRigole - 120 - 07:29:49 ]
What else is on your agenda today?

[ Susanmarcelo - 121 - 07:30:31 ]
Bryan, they normally go for the throat or back of the neck so your pretty dead before they start to eat your guts I spaek english (Australian) and some portuguese. Marcelo speaks Portuguese and a very funny English (British)

[ Susanmarcelo - 122 - 07:31:47 ]
They camp is pretty basic , its just like going camping but we sleep in hammocks. We are about to go on t.v. which is the scariest thing ever, more scarey than jaguars

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 123 - 07:32:22 ]
Susan....you would do well in our classroom. We talk alot about animal dung and guts!!!!!

[ NeilRigole - 124 - 07:32:51 ]
What do you suggest we do to help save the Rain Forest?

[ Susanmarcelo - 125 - 07:33:13 ]
Yeah, I remember what it's like being in grade school

[ NeilRigole - 126 - 07:33:48 ]
Is your tv experience going to be brodcast over satellite?

[ GHS - 127 - 07:34:08 ]
Hey, we kinda like Marcelo's accent, but as for Susan's Aussie drawl... weeeel, y'all are going to have to let our guests close out this conversation, since they've gotta go check mikes, headphones, etc. You students have obviously got a LOT of great questions, and some of them (like camp life) you'll see covered in today's program. Hope to see you on air, and keep your finger's crossed for good weather for satellite transmissions (meaning, not torrential!!!) Bye for now, and thanks for joining us.

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 128 - 07:34:53 ]
Have either of you seen an arrow poison frog? Will is doing a report of them. We have a class collection of plastic endangered frogs.

[ Susanmarcelo - 129 - 07:35:17 ]
Stay interested, ask questions and talk about it with everybody, your friends, your family, your school and even politicians. Politicians are elected to do what the community wants, so they work for you guys. Make sure they do what is good for everybody.

[ NeilRigole - 130 - 07:35:49 ]
Thanks from all of us here at Rosa Taylor Elementary for doing this chat with us this morning!!!!!!!

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 131 - 07:35:50 ]
Bye!!! We look forward to seeing you this afternoon. Marcello....don't be too nervous!

[ MrsFlorencesThirdGrade - 132 - 07:36:41 ]
Sara Collins Elementary in South Carolina signs off.

[ Susanmarcelo - 133 - 07:36:41 ]
Bye everybody, see you from t.v. land

[ NeilRigole - 134 - 07:37:10 ]
How do we pick you up on satellite?

[ GHS - 135 - 07:41:06 ]
Hi, Neil--call your local PBS station, or go to the LFRF web site (http://passporttoknowledge.com/rainforest) to see all the different media (TV, Real Media, CU-SeeMe) that should be possible... but just beware, we are pre-empted today on NASA-TV only (a C-band feed) by a Shuttle launch. Good luck!

[ GHS - 136 - 07:43:43 ]
Signing off and closing down this Web chat.