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This concise introductory text provides a complete overview of biodiversity – what it is, how it arose, its distribution, why it is important, human impact upon it, and what should be done to maintain it.

• Timely overview of the serious attempts made to quantify and describe biodiversity in a scientific way
  
• Acts as an easy entry point into the primary literature
  
• Provides real–world examples of key issues, including illustrations of major temporal and spatial patterns in biodiversity
  
• Designed primarily with undergraduate students and course lecturers in mind, it will also be of interest to anyone who requires an overview of, and entry to, the vast literature on these topics.
  
• All the figures included in the book are downloadable from the Blackwell Publishing website

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #251747 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Review
".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

From the Back Cover
This concise introductory text provides a complete overview of biodiversity – what it is, how it arose, its distribution, why it is important, human impact upon it, and what should be done to maintain it.

The field of biodiversity is rapidly developing as new research challenges and furthers our understanding of this stimulating subject. This new edition has been substantially revised to take account of these recent developments. Much of the text has been rewritten, updated and extended to provide an up–to–date examination of key issues, and includes the newest models, experiments and research. Throughout the text reference is made to the relevant primary literature and each chapter ends with suggestions for further reading, including the most important new articles and books. All the figures included in the book are downloadable from the Blackwell Publishing website (www.blackwellpublishing.com/gaston).

Biodiversity: An Introduction has been designed primarily for undergraduates studying biodiversity on a range of courses in botany, zoology and ecology. It is also essential reading for anyone requiring an overview of the vast literature on this topic.

About the Author
Kevin J. 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 I. Spicer is a Reader 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.

Customer Reviews

'Biodiversity' - a review.
I am studing plant biology at degree level and this book was recommended to us to complement our 1st year lectures and give us an overview of biodiversity. An introduction it is: it familiarises the student with the 'what? where? and when?' of biodiversity. It seems to raise as many questions as it answers which is inevitable in a short book on such a vast topic and leaves the reader wanting to discover more. Although it perfectly complements my lectures (not suprising really as one of the authors is also one of my lecturers), it is overly simplistic at times for my liking and sometimes you can't help thinking, 'well thats just common sense really'. It is reasonably easy to read and follows a logical course starting with basic questions such as 'What is biodiversity?' and 'Where is it?' through to investigating more abstract concepts such as the subjective value of mantaining biodiversity. I found it easy to transfer ideas from this book to other areas of my course. It is a bit too short and concise (for the price)and the graphics and illustrations are somewhat uninspiring but it is none the less a good introduction to the science of biodiversity.