Biodiversity of life book

Nearly 45,000 species of plants and twice as many of animals have been recorded from india. It includes the diversity of genes, species and ecosystems. But the main thrust of this utterly riveting and beautifully argued book comes in the second part, biodiversity rising, wilson makes a range of statements and arguments to the effect that biodiversity is the key to the maintenance of the world as. This book celebrates the joy of biodiversity and the wonders of nature. It features a total of 291 birds, 43 bats, 25 other mammals, and 46 reptiles and amphibians, almost half of. The year 2010 has long been seen as an end goal, a time when we could look back and say, yes, weve done it that biodiversity, life on earth, is no longer threatened. Biodiversity hotspots distribution and protection of. To study biodiversity is to study the complete web of life that makes earth the only known planet upon which. That is what makes our country one of the 12 mega diversity countries of the world. We want to build awareness in public about biodiversity because it is life and our main purpose is how to preserve biodiversity. The two most fundamental areas of study in modern biology are evolution and taxonomy. Wilsonhas laid and elegant and ingratiating literary style over a fundament of science to produce a book that will enlighten the uninformed, correct the misinformed and serve as a beacon of lucidity in the wilderness.

Here the biodiversity term is placed in the context of ecosystem sustainability, as it is an. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. We believe that education is the most important tool we have to face the ch. With a new preface questions of science 2nd edition. Biodiversity was coined as a contraction of biological diversity in 1985, but the new term arguably has taken on a meaning and. The commodification of coffee pushes farmers to grow as much as possible by whatever means possible. Wilson eloquently describes how the species of the world became diverse and why that diversity is threatened today as never before. Monera, fungi, protoctista protista, plants, and animals. Of course, since this is a storybook science series, one of the ways to introduce the idea of biodiversity is with a book or two. A dazzlingly illustrated and childfriendly introduction to biodiversity, tree of life shows how living things are classified into five kingdoms and how.

Biodiversity and conservation although india h as only 2. In this 1992 work, wilson reflects on the evolution of life and mans destruction of the natural world. Biodiversity is a measure of how many of each kind of plant and animal live in an ecosystem. Although the mexican territory represents only 1% of the earths surface, it hosts more than 10% of the worlds biological diversity conabio, 2014. The text discusses a previously unknown species of carpenter ant collected by e. Buy the diversity of life book online at the folio society from the worlds most extensive selection of beautifully illustrated books. It includes all living things, not just the plants and animals that are common or easily seen. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life and its processes, including the variety of living organisms, the genetic differences among them, and the communities and ecosystems in which they occur. Biodiversity is life sun, 10 jan 2010 2010 is the international year of biodiversity, and people all over the world are working to safeguard our irreplaceable natural wealth. If every known species on earth were a leaf on a tree, that tree would have 1 750 000 leaves.

If you are generating a pdf of a journal article or book chapter, please feel free to enter the title and author information. The incredible biodiversity of life on earth citizenkid strauss, rochelle, thompson, margot on. Reviews the most recent literature in the field, with more than 1400 in. The place where coffee was born the area with the greatest biodiversity. Not since darwin has an author so lifted the science of ecology with insight and delightful imagery richard dawkins in this book a master. Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on earth. Biodiversity refers to life on land, in the water, in the air, in deserts and caveseven in. Biodiversity is the totality of all inherited variation in the life forms of earth, of which we are one species. Wilson literary science writing award and is an independent foundation at the nicholas school of the environment, duke university. Of course, since this is a storybook science series, one of the ways to introduce the idea of biodiversity is with a book. Explore the diversity of life on earth is packed with lots of great information on biodiversity and why it matters. A dazzlingly illustrated and childfriendly introduction to biodiversity, tree of life shows how living things are classified into five kingdoms and how each has much to tell us about all aspects of life on our planet.

A collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better. Europeaid recently launched the new flagship initiative eu biodiversity for life b4life which is designed to help the poorest countries protect ecosystems, combat wildlife crime and develop green economies. He was dedicated to the protection of life and habitats in the sea. The second section of the book is an excellent popular account of current views of evolution and related theories in biology. I will save a discussion of evolution for another day. Jan 25, 2018 in his book the diversity of life 1992, he described biodiversity as an assemblage that has eaten the stormsfolded them into its genesand created the world that created us. The term biodiversity encompasses life at all its levels, from ecosystems to species to genes. Biodiversity also underpins ecosystem function and the provision of ecosystem services.

Biodiversity can be measured through the use of quantitativeindicators, although no single unified approach exists. Until recently, the prevailing view of marine life at high latitudes has been that organisms enter a general resting state during the dark polar night and that the system only available formats. Literally, the word biodiversity means the many different kinds diversity of life bio, or the number of species in a particular area. Explore the diversity of life on earth with your students. Wilson biodiversity foundation released the groundbreaking new high school biology textbook e. Perry ong and chronicles the biodiversity in edcs power plants all over the country. It proposes adopting the concept of planetary health, which is based on recognizing that human health.

The sixth great extinction spasm of geological time is upon us, grace of mankind. Thanks to its geographic location and formation, mexico presents a great diversity of ecosystems, such as. This diversity was created over millions of years and we are now changing and reducing it at an ever increasing rate. Biodiversity was coined as a contraction of biological diversity in 1985, but. Biodiversity is typically a measure of variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level. Wilson, an eminent harvard entomologist, details the rise of biodiversity on earth and the human threats to it. Literally, biodiversity is the many different kinds diversity of life bio.

Terrestrial biodiversity is usually greater near the equator, which is the result of the warm climate and high primary productivity. A great spasm of extinction the disappearance of whole species is occurring now, caused this time entirely by humans. Biodiversity the variety of life frankfurt zoological society. Captain falco saw the diminishment of biodiversity in our oceans over a span of nearly seven decades. Biodiversity and its conservation are among the main global topics in science and politics and perhaps the major challenge for the present and coming generations. Edward o wilson in the amazon basin the greatest violence sometimes begins as a flicker of light beyond the. To understand the significance of biodiversity, one must first understand taxonomy, classification, evolutionary theory, and ecology. It includes species that are not well known, such as microorganisms or invertebrates.

Well thought out and provides incredible insight to different aspects of biodiversity. Biologists, however, always alert to levels of organization, have identified three measures of lifes variation. Biodiversity, which represents the variety and variability of life in all its forms e. Wilsons life on earth was created to prepare them for their work. Finalist, 1992 national book critics circle award for general nonfiction. The final version of this book has not been published yet. Biodiversity found on earth today consists of many millions of distinct biological species, the product of four billion years of evolution. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. It includes many fun activities for students that show how all things on earth are interconnected. The diversity of life is a practical book a book that shows you how to do something. Defining why it matters is a way of highlighting the benefits of the natural world. Human activities that can upset biodiversity and some ways to conserve it. Price new from used from paperback, 2005 please retry. However, biodiversity and health offers the unique opportunity to demonstrate how ecological, environmental, medical and social sciences can contribute to the improvement of human health and wellbeing through the conservation of biodiversity and the services it brings to societies.

The diversity of life is a deft and thoroughly successful mixture of information and prophecy. Wilson eloquently describes how the species of the world became diverse and why that diversity is threatened. With this journaling activity, students will think, predict, observe, and experiment to find out how scientists count whole populations of plants and animals. The aim of the present book is to give an uptodate overview of the studies on biodiversity at all levels, in order to better understand the dynamics and the mechanisms at the basis of the richness of life forms both in terrestrial including agroecosystems and marine environments. They are divided into the six kingdoms of life shown in figure 2. Several titles delve into an exploration of the environment. In his book the diversity of life 1992, he described biodiversity as an assemblage that has eaten the stormsfolded them into its genesand created the world that created us. May 02, 2019 biodiversity makes human life on earth possible.

Wilson in gorongosa national park during a textbook development expedition to. In 2002, governments set 2010 as a deadline to achieve a significant reductionin the rate of loss of biodiversity for reducing poverty. This is an excellent book written by an actual scientist not just a nature writer. Scientists have variously estimated that there are from 3 to 30 million extant species, of which 2. Wilson, internationally regarded as the dean of biodiversity studies.

The second section of the book is an excellent popular account of current views of evolution. Species diversity best fits the literal translation. Pagina en espanol the importance of biodiversity for mexico. Biodiversity is often defined as the variety of all forms of life, from genes to species, through to the broad scale of ecosystems for a list of variants on this simple definition see gaston 1996.

Biodiversity refers to life on land, in the water, in the air, in deserts and caveseven in hot springs or glaciers. Natural history of nutrition, life, and voluntary motion. A family tree metaphor serves as the basis of tree of life. Book biodiversity offsets between regulation and voluntary commitment. Ethiopia is the center of origin and diversity for the majority of coffee we drink. Since humans count for just one leaf on the tree, we have a lot to learn about the millions of other forms of life with which we share the world. A collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens. List of books and articles about biodiversity online. Pricing for a preordered book is estimated and subject to change. Biologists, however, are always alert to levels of organization, and have identified three unique measures of lifes variation. Explore the diversity of life on earth with science activities for kids introduces middle schoolers to the evolution of life on earth, beginning with the first singlecelled organisms that emerged 3. Biodiversity the variety of life frankfurt zoological. This book written by international experts from different disciplines comprises general chapters on diversity and its measurement, human impacts on biodiversity hotspots on a global scale, human diversity itself and various. The first part of the book well over 34 is devoted to a general overview of evolution its history, the mechanisms through which it works, and particularly the process of extinction.

Wilson biodiversity foundation, which finances the pene. The biodiversity heritage library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community. First book to cover the full scope of human health impacts from a loss of biodiversity. The importance of biodiversity reflects the many different values that we bestow up it, including economic, ecological, cultural, scientific and recreational. In this book a master scientist tells the story of how life on earth evolved.

Examines how the microbial world must be included in discussions about ecosystems. In this book a master scientist tells the story of how life. The incredible biodiversity of life on earth by rochelle strauss, illus. However, the word biodiversity is relatively new, and is thought to have first been. Introduction the term biodiversity encompasses variety of. It takes the novel approach of emphasising the economic benefits of protecting biodiversity and ecosystems in the interest of sustaining livelihoods and reducing poverty.

The single clearest explanation of the concept of biodiversity, and the tree of life, that i have ever seen, rochelle strauss and margo thompsons picture book introduces readers to the five kingdoms that scientists use to classify life on our planet. The last part is a plea, an argument to save our planets biodiversity. Wilson, internationally regarded as the dean of biodiversity studies, conducts us on a tour through time, traces the processes that create new species in bursts of. Biodiversity is the variety of life in an area or ecosystem for this activity, well focus on the different types of living organisms you have in your own backyard. It features a total of 291 birds, 43 bats, 25 other mammals, and 46 reptiles and amphibians, almost half of them endemic to the philippines. Feb 17, 2020 titled wildlife treasures, the book is the brainchild of the late upib head dr. Wilson biodiversity foundation the diversity of life. He was a legendary mariner, diver, oceanographer, and conservationist. Biodiversity and health linking life, ecosystems, societies. Life is the eus financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the eu. We will not charge you for the book until it ships. You can preorder a copy of the book and we will send it to you when it becomes available.

All backorders will be released at the final established price. Sustaining life how human health depends on biodiversity edited by eric chivian and aaron bernstein. Mexico is one of the most megadiverse countries of the world. With a new preface questions of science 9780674058170.