BiologySource - Unit A

Discovering Biology - Does the brightly coloured skin of the poison frogs of Central and South America make them a target for predators? Not at all. The bright colours are like a defence system that warns predators the frogs are toxic. Frogs are an integral part of the food web in many of the world's ecosystems. They feed on algae and eat large quantities of insects. In turn, frogs provide prey for a variety of predators, such as fish, snakes, birds, and monkeys. However, nearly one third of the world's frogs and other amphibian species are threatened with extinction, and more than 200 species have already vanished. Although frogs are the most threatened group of animals on Earth, many other animals and plants are alsothreatened. What is causing these threats to the diversity of life on Earth?

Chapter Opener: The Unexplored Biosphere - As new life is discovered in all corners of Earth, new names and categories must be created to organize these life forms and their relationships to each other.

PowerPoint and SMART Notebook Lesson Supplements: Chapter 1 - Lesson supplements with regard to Chapter 1 - Identifying and classifying living things require a common language.

Explore More - When and why did Ontario ban the use of lawn pesticides?

Take It Further - Look at an unused plant species that could become a star crop for feeding hungry nations.

Activity A1: Quick Lab - Looking at Biodiversity

Activity A2: Quick Lab - Observing Organisms with a Microscope

Section 1.1 Quiz - Need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Section 1.1 Image Bank - Select illustrations from section 1.1 available in these files.

PowerPoint and SMART Notebook Lesson Supplements: Chapter 1 - Lesson supplements with regard to Chapter 1 - Identifying and classifying living things require a common language.

Explore More: Key Video - How Do Scientists Identify and Classify New Species?

Learning Object - Animal Classification

Explore More - What does modern classification reveal about how closely birds and reptiles are related?

Explore More - What are the Functions of Organelles and the Structures of Cells?

Take It Further - Scientists at the University of Guelph were among the founders of this international quest to identify life based on scans of DNA fragments.

Activity A3: Inquiry Activity - Creating a Dichotomous Key

Activity A4: Quick Lab - Develop a Classification System

Section 1.2 Quiz - Need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Section 1.2 Image Bank - Select illustrations from section 1.2 available in these files.

Chapter 1 Quiz - Need more practice? Try this online quiz.