BiodiversityJohn Wiley & Sons, 2004 M04 21 - 296 pages The title provides an overview of the current knowledge about the diversity of the living world and the various problems associated with its conservation and sustainable use. Covering both the fundamentals of the subject, along with the latest research, Biodiversity presents key conservation issues within a framework of global case studies. Starting with a summary of the concept of biodiversity, the text then explores such subjects as species richness, ecological systems, the consequences of human activities, diversity and human health, genetic resources, biotechnology and conservation.
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From inside the book
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Page viii
... Tropical rainforests 6.1.3 Continental aquatic systems Humankind and the erosion of biological diversity 6.2.1 The myth of the noble savage 6.2.2 The extinction of large mammals at the end of the Pleistocene: were humans the cause? 6.2 ...
... Tropical rainforests 6.1.3 Continental aquatic systems Humankind and the erosion of biological diversity 6.2.1 The myth of the noble savage 6.2.2 The extinction of large mammals at the end of the Pleistocene: were humans the cause? 6.2 ...
Page 1
... tropics (this was still the colonial era), humans were seriously threatened by diseases. The natural and animal worlds were often perceived as hostile. Thus, up until the mid-20th century, schoolbooks classified animals as 'harmful' or ...
... tropics (this was still the colonial era), humans were seriously threatened by diseases. The natural and animal worlds were often perceived as hostile. Thus, up until the mid-20th century, schoolbooks classified animals as 'harmful' or ...
Page 2
... tropical world, scientists and conservationists are concerned by the large-scale destruction of forests regarded as hotspots of living nature. Humans stand accused: they are held accountable for the erosion of biological diversity on ...
... tropical world, scientists and conservationists are concerned by the large-scale destruction of forests regarded as hotspots of living nature. Humans stand accused: they are held accountable for the erosion of biological diversity on ...
Page 6
... tropical rainforests and demanded that society take measures to protect this heritage. The term was adopted by the political world and popularized by the media during the debates leading up to the ratification of the Convention on ...
... tropical rainforests and demanded that society take measures to protect this heritage. The term was adopted by the political world and popularized by the media during the debates leading up to the ratification of the Convention on ...
Page 9
... tropical rainforests. The American zoologist E.O. Wilson declared that humankind was the cause for species extinctions on a par with the mass extinctions of the past. Others have gone so far as to prophesy the end of life on Earth, with ...
... tropical rainforests. The American zoologist E.O. Wilson declared that humankind was the cause for species extinctions on a par with the mass extinctions of the past. Others have gone so far as to prophesy the end of life on Earth, with ...
Contents
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13 | |
3 The mechanisms at work in the diversification of life | 39 |
4 The species richness of natural communities as a result of equilibriumnonequilibrium processes | 73 |
5 Biological diversity and the functioning of ecological systems | 97 |
6 The dynamics of biological diversity and the consequences of human activities | 131 |
7 The dynamics of biological diversity and implications for human health | 165 |
8 Genetic resources and biotechnology | 185 |
9 Useful nature the value and use of biological diversity | 207 |
10 The conservation of biodiversity | 225 |
A conclusion of sorts | 267 |
On the Web | 269 |
References and further reading | 275 |
Index | 281 |
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Common terms and phrases
000 years ago adapted Africa agricultural animals aquatic arthropods bacteria behaviour biodiversity biological diversity biosphere cause century changes chemical cichlid climate colonized communities competition concept conservation Convention on Biological cycles disappeared diseases disturbances dynamics ecological niches ecologists economic ecosys ecosystem ecosystem functioning endemic environmental equilibrium eukaryotes Europe European evolution example exploitation extinction favourable fish forest genes genetic diversity genetic resources genome global groups habitats human activities humankind ice age impact industry interactions islands Lake living organisms living world major mammals marine micro-organisms microbial loop million years ago modified molecular molecules mutations natural environments number of species nutrients parasite pathogens plankton plants populations possible predators preserve production prokaryotes protected areas refuge zones regions relationship reproduction result role savannas selection soil speciation species richness strategies structure survival sustainable development term terrestrial theory tion tree tropical varieties vectors vegetation virus viruses wild zooplankton