Overview

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.  Comprehensive introduction to key issues surrounding the study of biodiversity. Extensive bibliography and references to numerous relevant websites. Introduces current research in the field within a framework of useful case studies.

Full Product Details

Author:   Christian Lévêque (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France) ,  Jean-Claude Mounolou (Université d'Orsay, France)
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Imprint:   John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 23.10cm
Weight:   0.546kg
ISBN:  

9780470849569

ISBN 10:   0470849568
Pages:   296
Publication Date:   28 November 2003
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Unknown
Availability:   Awaiting stock  

Table of Contents

Introduction. 1 Brief history of a concept: why be concerned with biological diversity? 1.1 What does ?biodiversity refer to? 1.2 The origins of the Convention on Biological Diversity and what is at stake. 1.3 What is changing? 2 Biological diversity: what do we know? 2.1 The classification of living organisms ? underlying principles. 2.2 The inventory of species. 2.3 Systematics, computer technology and the internet. 2.4 measuring biological diversity. 2.5 The geographic distribution of biological diversity. 3 The mechanisms at work in the diversification of life. 3.1 What is life? 3.2 Origins and dynamics of intra- and interspecific genetic diversity. 3.3 How are species born? 3.4 Extinctions. 3.5 Adaptation: a fundamental property of living organisms. 3.6 Major stages in the diversification of the living world. 3.7 Is the evolution of life predetermined? 4 The species richness of natural communities as a result of e quilibrium/non-equilibrium processes. 4.1 Theories of equilibrium based on interspecific relationships. 4.2 Theories of succession. 4.3 The dynamic equilibrium of ecosystems and the role of disturbances. 4.4 Spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability. 4.5 Are ecological communities governed by niche-assembly or dispersal- assembly rules? 5 Biological diversity and the functioning of ecological systems. 5.1 Biological diversity: a dynamic system. 5.2 The ecosystem approach. 5.3 Functions of species within ecosystems. 5.4 Hypotheses on the role of species in ecosystem functioning. 5.5 Neighbourhood relationships between species. 5.6 Food webs and trophic chains. 5.7 The diversity of species and biological production. 5.8 Biological diversity and the ?stability? of ecosystems. 5.9 The role of biological diversity in biochemical cycles. 5.10 The role of biological communities. 5.11 Biological diversity and the dynamics of the biosphere 6 The dynamics of biological diversity and the consequences of human activities. 6.1 Paleoenvironments and biological diversity. 6.2 Humankind and the erosion of biological diversity. 6.3 Human activities and the dynamics of biological diversity 7 The dynamics of biological diversity and implications for human health. 7.1 The complexity of host?parasite relationships. 7.2 Emerging pathologies. 7.3 Environmental change, biological diversity and human health. 7.4 The growing virulence of viral diseases. 7.5 Adaptive strategies of pathogenic agents and their vectors. 7.6 Substances of medical interest and biological diversity 8 Genetic resources and biotechnology. 8.1 The domestication of nature: an old story. 8.2 Genetic diversity and domestication: creating and selecting ?useful? species. 8.3 The management and diversity of genetic resources. 8.4 The biotechnological revolution and genetically modified organisms. 8.5 Property rights and the commercialization of living things. 8.6 Patents on life: an open debate 9 ?Useful? nature: the value and use of biological diversity. 9.1 Benefits and services provided by ecosystems. 9.2 Theoretical bases for assessing the economic value of biological diversity. 9.3 Putting a price on biological diversity. 9.4 Uses for biological diversity. A conclusion of sorts. References and further reading. Index.

Reviews

This book is recommended for biology and environmental science libraries, and is appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students, and environmental scientists. (E-STREAMS, August 2004) Leveque and Mounolou provide a useful and interdisciplinary overview of the issues surrounding biodiveristy conservation and the sustainable use of biological resources. (Journal of Environmental Quality, July/August 2004)

Author Information

Christian Lévêque is the author of Biodiversity, published by Wiley. Jean-Claude Mounolou is the author of Biodiversity, published by Wiley.

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