Biology (2024)

Panthers, like most cats, are solitary hunters. They are most active at the same time their prey is likely to be active: dawn and dusk. Biologists refer to animals that are most active at these times as crepuscular. During the day and particularly in the summer, panthers usually rest in a day bed made within the shade of a palmetto thicket.

When hunting, panthers stalk their prey, moving silently and then freezing their motion to avoid detection. Unlike dogs and wolves, that chase their prey until it tires, panthers rush short distances and spring as far as 15 feet for the kill. With claws extended, their front paws grasp the prey around its neck and shoulders while the claws of the hind feet dig into the prey's flanks. Panthers usually kill large prey by a bite to the back of the neck severing the spinal cord. Sometimes the animal is killed by a suffocating bite to the throat. Young deer and smaller mammals may be killed by bites to the skull.

After the kill, a panther will drag large animals such as deer or hog into an area of thick vegetation. A mother with kittens old enough to travel outside the den will call or lead her kittens to the kill. The ribs are usually chewed off and the body cavity opened. The heart, liver, and lungs are eaten, as well as the large muscle masses of the shoulders and hindquarters. The internal organs provide vitamin A and other nutrients. The large bones are broken and chewed. The panther often removes the stomach and intestines and covers them nearby with leaf litter and twigs. Smaller animals such as raccoons and rabbits are usually eaten in their entirety. Armadillos also are largely consumed whole but with the exception of their bony plates and tail.

Panthers may consume 20 to 30 pounds of meat at one time. A female panther with kittens may consume even more. After the panther has its fill, it rakes leaves, twigs and other debris over the carcass in what biologists refer to as a cache. This helps hide and protect the carcass from scavengers. If it is not too warm and humid, the panther may return to feed on the carcass for several days.

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Biology? ›

Biology is a natural science discipline that studies living things. It is a very large and broad field due to the wide variety of life found on Earth, so individual biologists normally focus on specific fields.

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What is the study of biology? ›

Biology is a branch of science that deals with living organisms and their vital processes. Biology encompasses diverse fields, including botany, conservation, ecology, evolution, genetics, marine biology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology, physiology, and zoology.

What is a simple definition of biology? ›

Biology is the study of life. The word "biology" is derived from the Greek words "bios" (meaning life) and "logos" (meaning "study"). In general, biologists study the structure, function, growth, origin, evolution and distribution of living organisms.

Is biology a hard class? ›

So college biology classes may be more difficult than your average high school class. But, according to Draft, biology is a highly accessible subject, especially if you're really interested in it. You don't need to come into an introductory biology class with a specific knowledge base or level of talent.

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Is biology a hard science? ›

Ask someone on the street a science subject and they'll likely answer with a subject typically deemed a “hard science”: chemistry, biology, or physics.

What is taught in biology? ›

FROM STUDY TO SKILLS

Biologists study life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Subfields range widely from biochemistry and molecular biology to physiology and ecology.

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What does a biologist do? ›

Biologists study humans, plants, animals, and the environments in which they live. They may conduct their studies--human medical research, plant research, animal research, environmental system research--at the cellular level or the ecosystem level or anywhere in between.

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What is biology in one word? ›

The word biology is derived from the greek words /bios/ meaning /life/ and /logos/ meaning /study/ and is defined as the science of life and living organisms. An organism is a living entity consisting of one cell e.g. bacteria, or several cells e.g. animals, plants and fungi.

What is the main focus of biology? ›

Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms. Modern biology is a vast and eclectic field composed of many specialized disciplines that study the structure, function, growth, distribution, evolution, or other features of living organisms.

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What is an example of biology? ›

Biology is very broad and includes many branches and subdisciplines. Examples include molecular biology, microbiology, neurobiology, zoology, and botany, among others.

What is the hardest thing to study in biology? ›

This is in line with the research carried out by Fauzi & Fariantika (2018) that the causal factors of genetics are considered the most difficult branch of biology because it has abstract concepts, difficult to understand, the material has been studied too much and contains many foreign terms that are difficult to ...

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Is there math in biology? ›

Mathematics are also used in biology for basic, raw data gathering that's useful in tracking changes over time. Biostatistics uses statistical analyses to form conclusions about biological phenomena, such as drawing comparisons or correlations between biological variables.

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Is biology or chemistry easier? ›

The real life connections, smaller amount of math, independence of units and other factors make biology an easier subject to learn than chemistry. “Biology is easier to learn and understand. It also is much easier to study in groups, which is great,” Jacob said.

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Why do I find biology so hard? ›

We rely on science to live our daily lives, and that is why any biology course can be tough: there is a lot to know, and it's important you learn it thoroughly before you enter the workplace and people depend on you to use what you've learned.

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Is biology major easy? ›

Biology is a challenging field, and the rigors of a biology degree might prove too much for individuals who only feel lukewarm about the subject. However, for those who begin their studies with a plan for how they want to use their education, it can be one of the most rewarding degrees available.

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What is biology known as the study of? ›

Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms. Modern biology is a vast and eclectic field composed of many specialized disciplines that study the structure, function, growth, distribution, evolution, or other features of living organisms.

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What is the study of biology correctly defined as? ›

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What are the 4 fields of biology? ›

This division focuses on the study of individual branches of life. There are four primary categories: botany, human biology, microbiology and zoology.

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What is biological science study? ›

What Is Biological Science? Biological science is the study of life, from single-celled organisms to complex plants and animals. Biological scientists study living organisms to better understand life processes. They also study the ways organisms interact with their environments.