Hi there,
Have a look at this. It might help answering your question
regards
Miguel
Q&A: What is biodiversity?
Magurran AE
BMC Biology 2010, 8:145 (15 December 2010)
[Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
On 14/12/2010, at 5:21 PM, andrew yost wrote:
Biodiversity is a general term first used by Raymond F. Dassman
(1968) who appears to be the first conservationist or wildlife
biologist to use the term “biological diversity,” and it was more
generally integrated into the language of conservation biology by
Thomas Lovejoy in his forward to Conservation Biology: An
evolutionary-ecological perspective (1980). The term is often
shortened to “biodiversity,” first generally used as the title of a
book by E. O. Wilson (1988).
According to Noss (1990), “A definition of biodiversity that is
altogether simple, comprehensive, and fully operational (i.e.,
responsive to real-life management and regulatory questions) is
unlikely to be found.” Noss suggested that instead of attempting to
restrict the term via definition, we should construct a
“characterization of biodiversity that identifies the major
components at several levels of organization.” Such a construct
conceptualizes biological diversity within a nested biological
hierarchy that ranges in order from genes, to species, to biotic
communities or ecosystems, to landscapes.
Lautenshclager (1997) declared the death of biodiversity and stated
that the problem with the word is not a lock of an acceptable
definition, but that the definition is too all-inclusive. The word
commonly fails to provide understanding when used in communications
or in directions for research or management.
Nontheless, it has become a general term associated with the
conversion of natural habitats to human uses and protection for
endangered species.
Bunnell and and Johnson (1998) devote a book to challenges facing
forest management focused on "biodiversity." Focusing on ecological
problems associated with biological homogenization (Lockwood and
McKinney 2001) is perhaps an alternative research and management
question to pursue (see Keesing et al. 2010)
AYost
Bunnell, F.L., Johnson, J.F. 1998. Policy and practices for
biodiversity in managed forests. UBC Press, University of British
Columbia. 162 pp.
Dasmann, R. F. 1968. A different kind of country. The MacMillan
Company, New York
Wilson, E. O. 1988. Biodiversity. National Academy Press,
Washington, D.C.
Keesing et al. 2010. Impacts of biodiversity on the emergence and
transmission of infectious diseases. Nature. Vol 468. 647-652.
Lautenshclager, R.A. 1997. Biodiversity is dead. Wildlife Society
Bulletin. 25(3):679-685
Lockwood, J.L., McKinney, M.L. 2001. Biotic homogenization.
Springer, 289 pages (http://books.google.com/books?id=Edjzv-M6uKYC&dq=biological+homogenization&source=gbs_navlinks_s
)
Noss, R.F. (1990). Indicators for monitoring biodiversity: a
hierarchical approach. Conservation Biology, 4(4), 355-364.
--- On Mon, 12/13/10, Ritchie, Euan <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Ritchie, Euan <[email protected]>
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Defining biodiversity, and does the term
capture the public's attention?
To: [email protected]
Date: Monday, December 13, 2010, 1:05 PM
Hi everyone,
I have just returned from the Ecological Society of
Australia meeting and among other issues, there was much
discussion about the term biodiversity. Many people argue
that this term is hard to define, and importantly, the
public have no idea what it actually means and therefore
they have less connection/concern to preserve/conserve
species and habitats. I thought it would be interesting to
hear how others define biodiversity, and if this term isn't
helpful for conveying the importance of species diversity to
the public, what term(s) should we use?
Over to you,
Euan
Dr. Euan G. Ritchie, Lecturer in Ecology, School of Life
and Environmental Sciences
Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia.
Building T, Room T3.09.3
Phone: 03 9251 7606 International: +61 3 9251 7606
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Email: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
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