A Fall Chill in Southern Swamps
In A Fall Chill in Southern Swamps, learn how American alligators adjust to the colder fall weather in the Southern swamps. Watch a manatee and her calf setting off on a journey to warmer waters. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
Lesson Express
Q: What allows the cold, Arctic air to sweep all the way to the southern United States?
A: There are no mountain ranges from east to west to block the cold air.
Q: What does the American alligator do to conserve energy in the cold?
A: The alligator can slow down its heartbeat to one beat per minute.
Q: What do the manatee do every autumn?
A: They travel to find warmer waters.
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