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:

Discuss the predator-prey cycle
Give examples of defenses against predation and herbivory
Describe the competitive exclusion principle
Give examples of symbiotic relationships between species
Describe community structure and succession

In this video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, students will learn about the prairie dog, the importance of its role in its ecosystem, and how an ever-growing human population affects it. [2:55]

This pathway introduces the scientific method as the fundamental concept of the scientific process and illustrates how scientific inquiry should be conducted.

This scrollable interactive highlights the use of the Scientific Method in Robert Paine’s Keystone Species experiment.

Discover why the gray wolves were important to Yellowstone National Park before they become extinct in that area. Find out how gray wolves were reintroduced back into this area. [5:19]