Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.

Describes the meaning of biodiversity. Includes videos and review questions.

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Describes how human actions are resulting in a sixth mass extinction.

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Describes the causes of species diversity in an ecosystem, why it is important for an ecosystem to have stable biodiversity, what happens if it becomes unstable, and why biodiversity should be protected. Includes study and review questions, and links to additional resources.

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Covers interactions between organisms.

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This in-depth site provides middle and high school science teachers with a wide array of free instructional resources, such as slide sets, streaming video presentations, and laboratory activities. Information is provided that is supported by lessons and web-based materials.

Paul Andersen explains the importance of biodiversity. He starts by describing how biodiversity can be species, genetic, or ecosystem diversity. He explains the importance of keystone species in an environment and gives two examples; the jaguar and the sea otter. He finishes with a quote from the father of biodiversity, E.O. Wilson. Includes PDF file with review questions. [7:34]

In this video, Paul Andersen defines biodiversity and explains the impacts humans are having on the planet's biodiversity. Humans are impacting the variety of life on our planet through habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, overpopulation, overexploitation and climate change. A K-12 teaching progression is also included. [5:55]

Paul Andersen explains how biodiversity can be measured through genetic, species, or ecosystem variety on the planet. Species diversity is increased through speciation and decrease through extinction. The mechanism for speciation is evolution through natural selection. The planet provides ecosystem services at no cost to humanity. [7:08]

Students learn how various kinds of data and information can be gathered to create a biodiversity timeline that serves as evidence of changes in a population of a species.

This is lesson five of a 9-lesson module. Activity explores the effects of climate change on different parts of the Earth system and on human well-being: polar regions, coral reefs, disease vectors, extreme weather, and biodiversity.

Christina wants to classify all kinds of different things. Help her sort things into main groups.

In this video segment from NatureScene, explore Cartwheel Bay, a wetland in South Carolina, and learn about the variety of carnivorous plants native to this unique landform.

This video segment from Nature shows the destructiveness of the shark fin and shark cartilage industries.

Explore a NetLogo model of populations of rabbits, grass, and weeds. First, adjust the model to start with a different rabbit population size. Then adjust model variables, such as how fast the plants or weeds grow, to get more grass than weeds. Change the amount of energy the grass or weeds provide to the rabbits and the food preference. Use line graphs to monitor the effects of changes you make to the model, and determine which settings affect the proportion of grass to weeds when rabbits eat both.

This 10-minute video lesson continues to discuss the beginnings of life on Earth. It looks at the Cambrian explosion and biodiversity in the Phanerozoic Eon. [Cosmology and Astronomy playlist: Lesson 41 of 85]

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

This video segment from the Science and Technology Chat series focuses on dolphin pregnancy, birth, and care of the young, and features Atlantic bottlenose dolphins living in captivity at the Mirage Resort Dolphin Habitat.

Written for younger students, this site explains biodiversity and links to easy to understand explanations of species and genetic diversity.

An overview of life of the Cenozoic Era.

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How diverse Earth's organisms are today.

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