Explorations in Organismal Biology

This book is a laboratory-based biology manual designed to introduce students to the diversity of life and foundational concepts in organismal and environmental biology. It begins with the classification of living things and progresses through major groups of organisms, including bacteria, protists, plants, fungi, invertebrates, and chordates. The text also includes plant anatomy and physiology to support understanding of structure and function in vascular plants. Students then apply comparative anatomy through fetal pig dissection exercises, reinforcing vertebrate body organization. The final sections shift toward ecology, examining population dynamics, species diversity in plant communities, and local environmental issues, helping students connect biological concepts to real-world ecological systems and environmental