in
the middle of Montreal, Quebec lies a most unusual structure.
Reaching up into the skyline, biodome looks like something right
out of a science fiction and in a way it might be. At least the
science side of it. Built in 1992, it is definitely the place to
see for anyone who finds an interest in the environment. This
huge dome- shaped building covers 4 distinct ecosystems. Although
we normally traveled on the subway (Metro), which has a stop at
the biodome, we had chosen to take our truck. The walk from the
parking lot was as far as from the tram station. Having skipped
lunch, I applied years of tracking the most dangerous 
animal
in the world, and correctly reading the signs along the trail, I
led my delightful wife to the succulent reward at the restaurant
inside. With hunger eliminated, we ventured into the Biodome's
first ecosystem, the rainforest. Here both the temperature and
humidity were high. I was told that this part is tremendously
popular during the cold Quebec winters. The idea of an ecosystem
is to balance both plants and animals in such a manner as they
can survive with a minimum amount of assistance. We wandered
along level 
paths slightly elevated, that meandered through
the room allowing us to watch life as it would be in this type of
world. Cleverly constructed natural barriers prevented predator
from actually finding prey. In tropical forests, competition is
particularly fierce but each life form has it place. The Tropical
forest is the Earth's most diverse ecosystem and is home to
hundreds of different species, each of which must find food,
reproduce, and protect itself. For the inhabitants of the
tropical rainforests, the law of the jungle means finding ways to
thrive and survive. The creature I found most interesting in this
room was the poison-arrow Frogs. This character make no attempt
to blend into the rainforest, leaping about aggressively, and
displaying his brilliant colors. The male cries out continuously,
perched conspicuously for all to see. Potential predators are
thus alerted to the species' 
presence and are careful not to attack the
brightly colored reptile who, of course, is poisonous. Although
the tropical rainforests of the Americas, Africa and Asia account
for only 7% of the world's surface area, they are home to over
half, and perhaps even two-thirds, of all known animal and plant
species. Unfortunately, these forests are constantly shrinking,
at alarming speed. The Tropical Forest at the Biodome, a
reproduction of a tropical rainforest in South America, alerts
visitors to the extraordinary biological diversity of these
ecosystems and to their terrible vulnerability. 
The Biodome
Tropical Forest, measuring 2,600 mē and populated by thousands
of plants and animals, is the largest of the four ecosystems. The next ecosystem was separated by double doors to control the change in temperature. This room was a reproduction of one of the most beautiful forests in Quebec. The Biodome's Laurentian Forest consists of hardwoods, including the Sugar Maple and American Beech, and conifers such as the Fir and White Spruce. You can see a variety of land and aquatic habitats dotting its 1,518 square meters, whose denizens are often most active at night. One of its inhabitants passed by as we watched. At first unnoticed, as he blended quite nicely in his surroundings and then he moved just enough for us to find him. This lynx was an extra treat as he rarely is so photogenic. Just as in nature, changes in temperature and light cause plants to become dormant toward the end of the summer. The leaves change color and drop off in the fall, and in the spring, the cycle starts again as plants sprout anew. In fact, spring actually comes slightly ahead of time in the Biodome's Laurentian Forest.
The next
ecosystem was the St. Lawrence River. The main
attraction here is an enormous 1620 square meter pool teeming
with fish, plants and life of all sorts. It takes some 2.5
million liters of sea water, which is produced right on the
property to fill the lake. It is demonstrated in a multitude of
different levels to allow for the different kinds of life and to
bring out the various colors of the deep and not so deep. The final ecosystem was the cold and frigid worlds of the polar caps at the two extremities of the Earth. To the north of North America lies an ice-covered ocean, the Arctic. To the south of South America is an ice-covered continent, Antarctic. In both hemispheres, ice meets open water at latitudes of between 50° and 60°, creating suitable conditions for bird colonies. It is these subpolar regions that are represented at the Biodome, in a "twin"
ecosystem measuring 617 square meters. Because
they are at opposite ends of the globe, the seasons in the two
ecosystems are always reversed. When winter rules in one, it is
summer in the other. The subarctic exhibit represents a rocky
stretch of Labrador coastline, populated by puffins and other
alcids. The subantarctic exhibit turns the spotlight on penguin
country in the southern hemisphere. You can observe the birds
from a glassed-in corridor that protects you from the rigors of
the two climates. There are daily feedings of the birds which are
a joy to watch as the little creatures line up, as if on cue, and
receive their portion of the meal. In considering the adventure
as a whole, I thought it was extremely well done. I can only
imagine the time, effort and manpower it takes to maintain this
habitat in its pristine condition. The plants and animals,
although not impressive in number were interesting in that they
did represent what you might find if you took a walk in such a
place.