Biology

in Context

The Spectrum of Life
SECOND EDITION

Peter Aubusson • Eileen Kennedy • Peter Hickman

2

1

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© Peter Aubusson, Eileen Kennedy and Peter Hickman 2004
First published 2000
This edition first published 2004
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Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Aubusson, Peter.
Biology in context: the spectrum of life.
2nd ed.
Includes index.
Years 11 & 12 students.
ISBN 0 19 555033 1.
ISBN 0 19 555032 3 (Genetics option).
ISBN 0 19 555030 7 (Communication option).
1. Biology. 2. Biology—Experiments. 3. Biology—
Examinations, questions, etc. 4. Biology—Problems, exercises, etc. I. Kennedy, E. (Eileen). II. Hickman,
Peter. III. Title.
570
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University Press, GPO Box 2784Y,
Melbourne, VIC 3001, or ozwords.au@oup.com Contents
Preface
vi
Acknowledgments

1

Ecosystems

vi
1

1.1
Organisms are adapted to their environment
2
1.2
Ecosystems: environments, ecology and communities
6
1.3
The distribution and abundance of organisms
8
1.4
Factors determining distribution and abundance
12
1.5
Comparing the abiotic factors of terrestrial and aquatic environments
1.6
The distribution and abundance of organisms: the influence of light
1.7
The flow of energy and matter in an ecosystem
18
1.8
Interrelationships among organisms
22
1.9
Food webs
26
1.10
Human impacts on ecosystems
29
Investigations
34
Practice examination questions
42

2

Patterns in Nature

47

2.1
The cell theory
48
2.2
The microscope
50
2.3
Unicellular and multicellular organisms
53
2.4
Cell organelles
56
2.5
Movement of substances in and out of cells
60
2.6
Nutrition in living organisms
65
2.7
Surface area to volume ratio
69
2.8
How plants and animals obtain nutrients
71
2.9
Gas exchange in animals
78
2.10
Gas exchange in plants
85
2.11
Transport in animals
89
2.12
Comparing circulatory systems
91
2.13
Transport systems in