Biodiversity An Introduction

About this book

This primer is designed for undergraduate students taking short courses in biodiversity and aims to provide an overview of the subject, as well as acting as an entry point to the primary literature. Also of interest to ecologists and biogeographers wanting to get to grips with the main issues and concepts. The new edition is thoroughly updated and includes a new chapter on human impacts.

Contents

Concise table of contents:

Preface
Acknowledgements

1. What Is Biodiversity?
2. Biodiversity Through Time
3. Mapping Biodiversity
4. Does Biodiversity Matter?
5. Human Impacts
6. Maintaining Biodiversity

References
Index


Detailed table of contents:

Preface.
Acknowledgements.

1. What Is Biodiversity?.
Marion Island.
What Is Biodiversity?.
Elements Of Biodiversity.
Measuring Biodiversity.
Summary.
Further Reading.

2. Biodiversity Through Time:.
Introduction.
Sources Of Information.
A Brief History Of Biodiversity.
How Many Extant Species Are There?.
Summary.
Further Reading.

3. Mapping Biodiversity:.
Introduction.
Issues Of Scale.
Extremes Of High And Low Diversity.
Gradients In Biodiversity.
Congruence.
Summary.
Further Reading.

4. Does Biodiversity Matter?.
Introduction.
Direct Use Value.
Indirect Use Value.
Non-Use Value.
Summary.
Further Reading.

5. Human Impacts:.
Introduction.
Species Extinctions.
Populations, Individuals And Genetic Diversity.
Threats To Biodiversity.
The Scale Of The Human Enterprise.
Summary.
Further Reading.

6. Maintaining Biodiversity:.
Introduction.
Objectives Of The Convention.
General Measures For Conservation And Sustainable Use.
Identification And Monitoring.
In-Situ Conservation.
Ex-Situ Conservation.
Sustainable Use Of Components Of Biological Diversity.
Incentive Measures.
Reponses To The Convention.
Summary.
Further Reading.

References.
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Kevin Gaston is Professor of Biodiversity and Conservation at the University of Sheffield. He has broad research interests in the fields of biodiversity, macroecology and conservation biology.

John Spicer is a Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth. His research interests range from the ecophysiology of marine animals through to the functional biodiversity of marine systems.