Biodiversity: An Introduction

PrefaceAcknowledgements 1. What Is Biodiversity?Marion IslandWhat Is Biodiversity?Elements Of BiodiversityMeasuring BiodiversitySummaryFurther Reading2. Biodiversity Through Time:IntroductionSources Of InformationA Brief History Of BiodiversityHow Many Extant Species Are There?SummaryFurther Reading3. Mapping Biodiversity:IntroductionIssues Of ScaleExtremes Of High And Low DiversityGradients In BiodiversityCongruenceSummaryFurther Reading4. Does Biodiversity Matter?IntroductionDirect Use ValueIndirect Use ValueNon-Use ValueSummaryFurther Reading5. Human Impacts:IntroductionSpecies ExtinctionsPopulations, Individuals And Genetic DiversityThreats To BiodiversityThe Scale Of The Human EnterpriseSummaryFurther Reading6. Maintaining Biodiversity:IntroductionObjectives Of The ConventionGeneral Measures For Conservation And Sustainable UseIdentification And MonitoringIn-Situ ConservationEx-Situ ConservationSustainable Use Of Components Of Biological DiversityIncentive MeasuresReponses To The ConventionSummaryFurther ReadingReferencesIndex

..this excellent little book packs a big punch due to the well chosen examples and case studies, and its engaging, concise and readable style. Biological Conservation "...the authors have amassed an excellent collection of literature related to biodiversity and conservation and a numberof good examples to illustrate the threats facing biodiversity and its potential loss. This book is an excellent basic introduction to general biodiversity fo students and teachers, as well as generalists and amateurs interested in exploring the fundamentals, uses, threats and conservation of biodiversity." The Glasgow Naturalist, July 2005

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.