Science and Technology: Species

Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth - animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms like bacteria. BBC

We figured out how to grow food and domesticate animals so we didn’t have to spend all of our time hunting. Ready Player One: A Novel

William Beebe was the “godfather” of field ecology, and he pioneered proper observation of animals in their natural habitats. National Geographic

It is not legal to hunt chimpanzees; they are endangered. My Life with the Chimpanzees

For evolution to occur, an organism must be able to generate genetic variation—i.e., it must produce descendants that are genetically different from either parent. The Gene

Far more species have become extinct in the history of the Earth than exist today; they are the terminated experiments of evolution. Cosmos

A network of freshwater streams in the reserve supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including more than 1,000 species of flowering plants and over 500 species of animals. Reuters

While the rain forest had more kinds of animals than any other habitat—with many species still undiscovered—they were often difficult to see. Death on the River of Doubt

In the UK hedgehogs, bats and dormice fully hibernate, while further afield bears are famous for the very long winter sleeps they need. The Guardian

The ground teemed with insects, and he began putting ants, beetles, spiders, and even a fuzzy caterpillar into his mouth. Touching Spirit Bear

They circled in the sky until the V pointed south, and then the geese began their long migration. The Wild Robot

Evolution by natural selection is like a game: the winners are the organisms best at passing on their genes. Nature

I’ve never seen a rat with an acorn, but then again you don’t usually stumble on rats in nature. Hello, Universe

Like every other animal on this planet, we’re descended from a single-celled organism that lived millions of years ago. Ready Player One: A Novel

I didn’t like thinking about predators and prey, about a rabbit thrashing in a fox’s jaws. The Thing About Jellyfish

Other creatures, however, hunted for prey both day and night—like crocodiles. Tiger Boy

By contrast, a bulldog and a spaniel may look very different, but they are members of the same species, sharing the same DNA pool. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

As my biological studies progressed, I became increasingly interested in symbiosis, the close relationships formed between unrelated organisms. Scientific American

Fish that prefer cold water, like cod and salmon, are particularly vulnerable to heat waves. Salon

It is a vast area of deeply wooded wilderness—of endless chains of lonely lakes and rushing rivers. The Incredible Journey