Ecology of the Niagara Frontier

All environments function through the interaction of animals and plants with the environment within which they live. The Niagara region supports a complex web of animals and plants that comprise local species throughout the year complimented by others such as birds and insects that migrate back and forth between other regions of the globe. Even though we may look at these organisms in the local environment, they are part of a larger web of life connecting the Niagara frontier with the rest of the world so that no local area functions in isolation. As the seasons change, so too does the weather and climate, and in turn these affect the composition and lifestyles of the animals and plants. The survival of different animal species is also shown through the requirements of food, shelter and reproduction. This exhibit gives a three dimensional feel for the nature of ecology and environment.