About the Book

For non-majors/mixed biology courses.

The most comprehensive coverage at the most affordable price for non-majors biology

With a proven and effective tradition of engaging readers with real-world applications, high-interest case studies, and inquiry-based pedagogy, Biology: Life on Earth fosters discovery and scientific understanding that students can use throughout their lives. Engaging Case Studies throughout each chapter and thoughtful pedagogy help students develop critical thinking and scientific literacy skills.

The 12th Edition offers the most comprehensive coverage at the most affordable price for the non-majors biology student. This loose-leaf edition maintains its conversational, question-and-answer presentation style that has made it a best-seller. The new edition expands its focus on the process of science with new Doing Science boxes throughout the text that walk students through the scientific process, and interactive Doing Science coaching activities in Mastering Biology. The text also provides Think Deeper questions that give instructors guidance for starting classroom discussions that promote critical thinking.

Also available as a Pearson eText or packaged with Mastering Biology:

Pearson eText is a simple-to-use, mobile-optimized, personalized reading experience that can be adopted on its own as the main course material. It lets students highlight, take notes, and review key vocabulary all in one place, even when offline. Seamlessly integrated videos and other rich media engage students and give them access to the help they need, when they need it. Educators can easily share their own notes with students so they see the connection between their eText and what they learn in class -- motivating them to keep reading, and keep learning.

If your instructor has assigned Pearson eText as your main course material, search for:

0135242924 / 9780135242926 Pearson eText Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology -- Access Card, 12/e

OR
0135213835 / 9780135213834 Pearson eText Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology -- Instant Access, 12/e

Also available with Mastering Biology

By combining trusted author content with digital tools and a flexible platform, Mastering personalizes the learning experience and improves results for each student.Built for, and directly tied to the text, Mastering Biology enables an extension of learning allowing students a platform to practice, learn, and apply outside of the classroom.

If you would like to purchase both the physical text and Mastering Biology, search for:

0135261481 / 9780135261484 Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology Plus Mastering Biology with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package

Package consists of:

• 0134813448 / 9780134813448 Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology
• 0321989732 / 9780321989734 Mastering Biology with Pearson eText -- ValuePack Access Card -- for Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology

Note: You are purchasing a standalone book; Pearson eText and Mastering A&P do not come packaged with this content. Students, ask your instructor for the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.

About the Author: About our authors

TERRY AND GERRY AUDESIRK grew up in New Jersey, where they met as undergraduates, Gerry at Rutgers University and Terry at Bucknell University. After marrying in 1970, they moved to California, where Terry earned her doctorate in marine ecology at the University of Southern California and Gerry earned his doctorate in neurobiology at the California Institute of Technology. As postdoctoral students at the University of Washington's marine laboratories, they worked together on the neural bases of behavior, using a marine mollusk as a model system.

They are now emeritus professors of biology at the University of Colorado Denver, where they taught introductory biology and neurobiology from 1982 through 2006. In their research, funded primarily by the National Institutes of Health, they investigated the mechanisms by which neurons are harmed by low levels of environmental pollutants and protected by estrogen.

Terry and Gerry are long-time members of many conservation organizations and share a deep appreciation of nature and of the outdoors. They enjoy hiking in the Rockies, walking and horseback riding near their home outside Steamboat Springs, and singing in the community chorus. Keeping up with the amazing and endless stream of new discoveries in biology provides them with a continuing source of fascination and stimulation. They are delighted that their daughter Heather has become a teacher and is inspiring a new generation of students with her love of chemistry.

BRUCE E. BYERS is a Midwesterner transplanted to the hills of western Massachusetts, where he is a professor in the biology department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has been a member of the faculty at UMass (where he also completed his doctoral degree) since 1993. Bruce teaches courses in evolution, ornithology, and animal behavior, and does research on the function and evolution of bird vocalizations.