A Stream Environment

[Music] Our world is made up of many different environments. Water is an essential element in all of them. For life began in water and all life still depends on it. Without water, nothing lives. [Music] [Music] A stream is one of the many places where we find water in nature. Some streams begin from underground springs, others from heavy rains. [Music] [Music] This mountain stream begins with the melting of snow and it grows one drop at a time. [Music] [Music] As a stream grows, the variety of life that lives there grows, too. [Music] [Music] This stream supports a large community of living things, plants and animals whose lives all depend upon the water. Water nourishes the plants and the plants in turn provide shelter and food for many forms of animal life. [Music] There is also a rich variety of life below the surface of the stream. [Music] Both above and below the surface, all the living things depend on each other. Insect larva cling to the rocks in the stream. When they are carried away by the water, they provide food for the hungry trout. [Music] Water plants are nourished by the stream and provide shelter and food for the growing insect larva. [Music] [Music] Even after the insect larva swims to the surface and changes into a fly, it still provides food for a hungry fish. [Music] [Music] Those that survive reproduce and die within a few days, but their eggs will hatch to repeat the cycle of life again. [Music] All of the plants and animals depend upon the water. None would be here without it. But every plant and bird, mammal and insect is important, too. A healthy stream requires a natural balance of all the living things that are a part of this environment. People, with their pollution and thoughtlessness, can destroy a stream community. Because all life depends upon water, everyone must help protect this gift of nature. [Music]