Encyclopedia of biodiversity /

• Άλλοι συγγραφείς: Levin, Simon A. (Επιμελητής έκδοσης)
• Μορφή: Ηλ. βιβλίο
• Γλώσσα: English
• Έκδοση: San Diego : Academic Press, 2001.
• Θέματα: Biodiversity > Encyclopedias.; Biodiversité > Encyclopédie.; Biodiversité.; Encyclopédies.; Biodiversity.; Biodiversiteit.; Biodiversität; Biodiversidade.; Diversité biologique > Encyclopédies.; Electronic encyclopedias.; Electronic books.; Electronic reference sources.; Encyclopedias.

 First used in 1980, "biodiversity" often describes the abundance, variety, and genetic constitution of native animals and plants, and has been linked with politics and environmental technology. Although the 1986 National forum on biodiversity brought issues of biodiversity to the fore, the inescapable need to know more about the diversity of life on Earth continues to remain unmet. In recent years, biodiversity has influenced important scientific considerations, international agreements, conventions, conservation initiatives, political debates, and socio-economic implications. Knowledge derived from the study of biodiversity will affect the quality of life enjoyed in the future by influencing decision-making processes and aiding new discoveries. The science of biodiversity has become the science of our future. Our awareness of the loss of biodiversity has brought a long overdue appreciation of the magnitude of our loss and a determination to develop the tools to protect our future. The Encyclopedia of Biodiversity brings together, for the first time, a study of the dimensions of diversity. It examination of the services biodiversity provides, and measures to protect it. Major themes of the work include the evolution of biodiversity, systems for classifying and defining biodiversity, ecological patterns and theories of biodiversity, and an assessment of contemporary patterns and trends in biodiversity. Key Features * Distinguished Editorial Board headed by Simon A. Levin, with many other prominent scientists serving as editors * More than 300 separate articles, covering 20 different subject areas, from Evolution to Habitats to Economic Issues--all original contributions commissioned for this work * Articles by leading authors from major institutions of science around the world * Approximately 1,000 figures and tables complement the text * More than 3,000 glossary entries explain key terms. 

 Acid rain and deposition -- Adaptation -- Adaptive radiation -- Aesthetic factors -- Africa, ecosystems of -- Agricultural invasions -- Agriculture, industrialized -- Agriculture, sustainable -- Agriculture, traditional -- Air pollution -- Alpine Ecosystems -- Amazon ecosystems -- Amphibians, biodiversity of -- Antarctic ecosystems -- Aquaculture -- Arachnids -- Archaea, origin of -- Arctic ecosystems -- Arthropods (terrestrial0, Amazonian -- Asia, ecosystems of -- Atmospheric gases -- Australia, ecosystems of -- Bacterial biodiversity -- Bacterial genetics -- Beetles -- Biodiversity as a commodity -- Biodiversity, definition of -- Biodiversity, evolution and -- Biodiversity generation, overview -- Biodiversity, origin of -- Biodiversity-rich countries -- Biogeochemical cycles -- Biogeography, overview -- Bioprospecting -- Birds, biodiversity of -- Boreal forest ecosystems -- Breeding of animals -- Breeding of plants -- Butterflies -- C4 plants -- Captive breeding and reintroduction -- Carbon cycle -- Carnivores -- Carrying capacity, concept of -- Cattle, sheep and goats, ecological role of -- Central America, ecosystems of -- Cladistics -- Cladogenesis -- Climate change and ecology, synergism of -- Climate, effects of -- Coastal beach ecosystems -- Coevolution -- Commons, concept and theory of -- Commons, institutional diversity of -- Competition, interspecific -- Complementarity -- Complexity versus diversity -- Computer systems and models, use of -- Conservation biology, discipline of -- Conservation efforts, contemporary -- Conservation movement, historical -- Crop improvement and biodiversity -- Crustaceans -- Darwin, Charles.