Жизнь в мире беспозвоночных

Life in the Undergrowth is a BBC nature documentary series written and presented by David Attenborough, first transmitted in the UK from 23 November 2005. A study of the evolution and habits of invertebrates, it was the fifth of Attenborough's specialised surveys following his major trilogy that began with Life on Earth. Each of the five 50 minute episodes looks at a group (or aspect) of the creatures using innovative photographic techniques. The series was produced in conjunction with Animal Planet. The executive producer was Mike Gunton, the series producer Mike Salisbury, and the music was composed by Ben Salisbury and David Poore. The Chief Scientific Consultant was Dr. George McGavin.

Invertebrates had been largely ignored by filmmakers in the past, due to the difficulties in filming them, but advances in lens and camera technology gave the makers an opportunity to film the creatures at their level. The series features a balance of everyday European invertebrates such as the wolf spider and housefly and more exotic varieties such as the redback spider of Australia and venomous centipedes of the Amazon. This was the first time that such animals had been photographed at such a high level of detail for television (some sequences were filmed in high definition format), and provided not only casual viewers but also scientists with a new understanding of certain species' behaviour. Production of the series took around two years, during which time filming took place around the world, from the Amazonian rainforest to Costa Rica, Australia, Malaysia, Hungary, Switzerland and many more locations, including the United Kingdom. To follow and understand the various species looked at throughout the series, the production team consulted with some of the foremost experts on invertebrate life. In certain instances, their help proved invaluable, particularly when coming across particularly dangerous species or societies. In other instances, the specialists helped to provide some of their most recent discoveries, enabling the makers to showcase in rich detail the complex processes through which invertebrates may interact with their environment, as well as the regular processes of all animals in the wild, such as their mating rituals and hunt for food. Many of the creatures' interactions were not only filmed for the first time, but were also recorded with such extraordinary magnification that scientists who studied them were able to answer specific questions that observance with the naked eye had hitherto rendered impossible. As always, time and money constraints played a huge part. The filming schedules had to be arranged to fit in with expected dates of major events that were planned to be included, such as the emergence of the North American cicadas or the mass emergence of mayfly in Hungary. As is usual in the preparation of a nature documentary, not everything went to plan, due to the unpredictable nature of the subject matter. Although filming took place over several years, time constraints still meant that some scenes almost weren't filmed, and a few never materialised at all. For instance, the simultaneous mass emergence of the mayfly in Hungary did not occur until the deadline day for its filming, as David Attenborough had to be in Switzerland the very next day to film the mating of wood ants. Using expert advice, the team had come to film at the time of the annual emergence, but the problem of the unusually wet spring had delayed the event. Luckily, on the very last day conditions were perfect, and the mayfly emerged – apparently in one of the more impressive manifestations of recent times. Because of these kinds of occurrences being largely dependent on environmental factors such as temperature or moisture, it was nearly impossible to tell exactly when they would happen. Instead the producers had to rely on expert estimates, but even these could be completely unpredictable. So although the mayfly appearance was captured, others were missed, such as the advent of a type of moth in Arizona (despite the camera crew camping out in the area twice, two weeks at a time). Sometimes subjects were so small that it would have been impossible to film them in the wild. Instead, the construction of a complete habitat in a studio allowed easy pursuit of their actions, allowing the camera to capture them throughout their day. This technique was used on the wolf spider, for example, which provided some 200 hours of film – notably including its courting ritual. Despite the arm span of the grown spider being no more than 1 cm, even the newborn arachnids are shown in tight close up as they climb on to their mother's back. Filming also involved entering rough environments. To film the giant centipede, a team had to endure a dark cave whose floor was covered with guano, beetles and cockroaches.

"An eye from another world; a smell detector, investigating the path ahead. We don't often see a snail that way, and that's because we've only recently had the tiny lenses and electronic cameras that we need to explore this miniature world. But when we meet its inhabitants face to face, we suddenly realise that their behaviour can be just as meaningful to us as the behaviour of many animals more our own size. "| David Attenborough's opening narration

"If we and the rest of the backboned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if [the invertebrates] were to disappear, the land's ecosystems would collapse. The soil would lose its fertility. Many of the plants would no longer be pollinated. Lots of animals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals would have nothing to eat. And our fields and pastures would be covered with dung and carrion. These small creatures are within a few inches of our feet, wherever we go on land – but often, they're disregarded. We would do very well to remember them. "| David Attenborough, in closing

The series is available in the UK for Regions 2 and 4 as a 2 disc DVD (BBCDVD1737, released 5 December 2005) and as part of The Life Collection. Its special features comprise an interview with the series producer, Mike Salisbury, and the original score. The accompanying 320 page book, Life in the Undergrowth by David Attenborough , was published by BBC Books on 10 October 2005.

In 2008, the BBC made available online a viewer's guide to Life in the Undergrowth, specially designed to help the viewer locate an exciting clip of a particular scientific or geographical lesson. Topic Subtopic Species Episode Description Adaptation Feeding Strategies Moth, hummingbird hawk moth 2 Taking to the Air How different moths feed on tree sap and nectar, including the hummingbird hawk moth. Behaviour Camouflage Stick insect 4 Intimate Relations Features a stick insect that, through camouflage, looks like a dried leaf. Behaviour Social Groups Bee, wasp 5 Super Societies Colonial breeding and organisation of super societies in bees and wasps. Communication Pheromones Alcon butterfly 4 Intimate Relations Alcon butterfly caterpillars using pheromones to disguise themselves as ant larvae to hide in ant nests. Competition Animals Harvester ant, Long legged ant 5 Super Societies Competition for seeds between harvester ants and long legged ants. Cooperation Cooperation Army ant 5 Super Societies Features a million or more army ants cooperating in hunting and nesting. Decomposers Decomposers Earthworm, giant Gippsland earthworm 1 Invasion of the Land Features the earthworm and its importance for the soil, and six feet long giant gippsland earthworm. Evolution Invertebrates 1 Invasion of the Land Evolution of land invertebrates, how they have adapted to survive out of water, and their relationship with green plants. Habitats Deserts Scorpion 1 Invasion of the Land Features a typical desert landscape and explains how scorpions are able to survive in this dry, hostile environment. Habitats Ponds Diving beetle, fairy wasp, water flea 4 Intimate Relations Features a variety of pond creatures including diving beetles, fairy wasps and water fleas. Habitats Gardens Aphid, ant, ladybird 4 Intimate Relations Features the friend and foe relationships between gardeners, aphids, ants and ladybirds. Locomotion Flight Dragonfly 2 Taking to the Air Explains the mechanics of how dragonflies fly, showing their amazing speed and manoeuvrability. Locomotion Flight Bumblebee, fly 2 Taking to the Air Wing design and flight mechanics of bumblebees and flies. Immaculate aerial control makes a male more attractive to females in hover flies. Parasites Parasites Wasp, cabbage white butterfly 2 Taking to the Air Wasp parasitising cabbage white butterfly caterpillars. Parasites Parasites Blister beetle, digger bee 4 Intimate Relations Deception by blister beetle larvae in order to parasitise digger bee nests. Parasites Parasites Bot fly 4 Intimate Relations Bot fly life cycle which includes parasitising house flies and cows. Predation Invertebrates Velvet worm, giant centipede 1 Invasion of the Land Features some of the most vicious invertebrate hunters: the velvet worm catching its prey by shooting strings of glue and the giant centipede hunting bats in caves. Predation Invertebrates Glowworm, mayfly 3 The Silk Spinners Dramatic spectacle of glowworms catching mayflies in a New Zealand cave. Predation Invertebrates Bolas spider 3 The Silk Spinners Bolas spider using droplet pheromone as bait to lure moths. Predation Invertebrates White crab spider, assassin bug 4 Intimate Relations Features white crab spiders and assassin bugs using pheromones to lure their prey into their claws. Reproduction Courtship Spring tail 1 Invasion of the Land The headbutting courtship dance of tiny spring tails. Reproduction Courtship Mojave sand scorpion 1 Invasion of the Land The Mojave sand scorpion's dangerous courtship ritual. Reproduction Hermaphrodites Leopard slug 1 Invasion of the Land Features the unusual mating behaviour of leopard slugs which have both male and female organs. Reproduction Parental Care Paper wasp 5 Super Societies Shows how paper wasps build colonial nests and share parental duties which enables them to raise more young. Reproduction Invertebrates Wolf spider 3 The Silk Spinners Courtship, mating, egg laying and parental care in wolf spiders. Reproduction Invertebrates Cabbage white butterfly 2 Taking to the Air Life cycle of the cabbage white butterfly. Reproduction Invertebrates Paper wasp, bumblebee 5 Super Societies Colonial breeding strategies of paper wasps and bumblebees. Shelters Shelters Termite 5 Super Societies Features termites constructing a gigantic mound which is equipped with protective features. Symbiosis Plants and insects Duroia tree 4 Intimate Relations How ants depend on the Duroia tree for a nesting site, and in return protect the tree from plant predators and competing plants. Symbiosis Plants and insects Ant, aphid 4 Intimate Relations How ants protect aphids from predation by ladybirds, and in return get a meal of sugary nectar. Children's favourites Mini beasts 1 Invasion of the Land Features a montage of mini beasts at very close quarters. Children's favourites Mini beasts Snail 1 Invasion of the Land Features a snail thriving in dark, damp conditions. Children's favourites Mini beasts Spider 3 The Silk Spinners Features a spider skilfully constructing its web. Learning to learn Teamwork Bee 5 Super Societies Features bees working together to help make their colonies a success. Learning to learn Teamwork Army ant 5 Super Societies Features a million or more army ants working together to establish a new nesting site.