Biology 2e is designed to cover the scope and sequence requirements of a typical two-semester biology course for science majors. The text provides comprehensive coverage of foundational research and core biology concepts through an evolutionary lens. Biology includes rich features that engage students in scientific inquiry, highlight careers in the biological sciences, and offer everyday applications. The book also includes various types of practice and homework questions that help students understand—and apply—key concepts. The 2nd edition has been revised to incorporate clearer, more current, and more dynamic explanations, while maintaining the same organization as the first edition. Art and illustrations have been substantially improved, and the textbook features additional assessments and related resources.

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Explain the characteristics of and differences between exponential and logistic growth patterns
Give examples of exponential and logistic growth in natural populations
Describe how natural selection and environmental adaptation led to the evolution of particular life history patterns

This video segment from ZOOM compares and contrasts the habitat and life forms found in Death Valley with those found in the temperate rain forest of the Pacific Northwest. [3:46]

In this episode of the Kratt brothers, we learn about how animals adapt to their environment in order to survive. The storyline has them visiting the Australian Outback to help a young koala return to its eucalyptus forest home. They learn more about animal adaptations along the way. [26:26]