Biodiversity

Cover Page......Page 1
Title Page......Page 4
ISBN 9780470849576......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Introduction......Page 14
1 Brief History of a Concept: Why be Concerned by Biological Diversity?......Page 18
1.1 What does ‘Biodiversity’ Refer to?......Page 19
1.2 The Origins of the Convention on Biological Diversity and What is at Stake......Page 21
1.3 What is Changing?......Page 24
2.1 The Classification of Living Organisms – Underlying Principles......Page 26
2.2 The Inventory of Species......Page 35
2.3 Systematics, Computer Technology and the Internet......Page 37
2.4 Measuring Biological Diversity......Page 39
2.5 The Geographic Distribution of Biological Diversity......Page 40
3 The Mechanisms at Work in the Diversification of Life......Page 52
3.1 What is Life?......Page 53
3.2 Origins and Dynamics of Intraand Interspecific Genetic Diversity......Page 56
3.3 How are Species Born?......Page 62
3.4 Extinctions......Page 64
3.5 Adaptation: a Fundamental Property of Living Organisms......Page 67
3.6 Major Stages in the Diversification of the Living World......Page 73
3.7 Is the Evolution of Life Predetermined?......Page 82
4 The Species Richness of Natural Communities as a Result of Equilibrium/ Non-equilibrium Processes......Page 86
4.1 Theories of Equilibrium Based on Interspecific Relationships......Page 87
4.2 Theories of Succession......Page 94
4.3 The Dynamic Equilibrium of Ecosystems and the Role of Disturbances......Page 98
4.4 Spatial Heterogeneity and Temporal Variability......Page 103
4.5 Are Ecological Communities Governed by Niche-assembly or Dispersal-assembly Rules?......Page 108
5.1 Biological Diversity: a Dynamic System......Page 110
5.2 The Ecosystem Approach......Page 112
5.3 Functions of Species Within Ecosystems......Page 113
5.4 Hypotheses on the Role of Species in Ecosystem Functioning......Page 116
5.5 Neighbourhood Relationships Between Species......Page 118
5.6 Food Webs and Trophic Chains......Page 122
5.7 The Diversity of Species and Biological Production......Page 126
5.8 Biological Diversity and the ‘Stability’ of Ecosystems......Page 128
5.9 The Role of Biological Diversity in Biochemical Cycles......Page 129
5.10 The Role of Biological Communities......Page 133
5.11 Biological Diversity and the Dynamics of the Biosphere......Page 138
5.12 The Cybernetic Cohesion of Ecosystems: the Role of Communication Networks......Page 140
6 The Dynamics of Biological Diversity and the Consequences of Human Activities......Page 144
6.1 Paleo-environments and Biological Diversity......Page 145
6.2 Humankind and the Erosion of Biological Diversity......Page 157
6.3 Human Activities and the Dynamics of Biological Diversity......Page 163
7.1 The Complexity of Host–Parasite Relationships......Page 178
7.2 Emerging Pathologies......Page 181
7.3 Environmental Change, Biological Diversity and Human Health......Page 183
7.4 The Growing Virulence of Viral Diseases......Page 187
7.5 Adaptive Strategies of Pathogenic Agents and their Vectors......Page 192
7.6 Substances of Medical Interest and Biological Diversity......Page 195
8.1 The Domestication of Nature: an Old Story......Page 198
8.2 Genetic Diversity and Domestication: Creating and Selecting ‘Useful’ Species......Page 201
8.3 The Management and Diversity of Genetic Resources......Page 204
8.4 The Biotechnological Revolution and Genetically Modified Organisms......Page 209
8.5 Property Rights and the Commercialization of Living Things......Page 215
8.6 Patents on Life: an Open Debate......Page 218
9 ‘Useful’ Nature: the Value and Use of Biological Diversity......Page 220
9.1 Benefits and Services Provided by Ecosystems......Page 221
9.2 Theoretical Bases for Assessing the Economic Value of Biological Diversity......Page 222
9.3 Putting a Price on Biological Diversity......Page 226
9.4 Uses for Biological Diversity......Page 229
10 The Conservation of Biodiversity......Page 238
10.1 Why Protect Biological Diversity?......Page 240
10.2 Approaches to Conservation......Page 242
10.3 Protected areas......Page 248
10.4 Sustainable use of Biological Diversity......Page 252
10.5 Ex Situ Conservation......Page 258
10.6 Conservation Biology......Page 262
10.7 The Preventive Approach: Ecosystem Health Checks......Page 266
10.8 Disturbances: Allies of Conservation?......Page 269
10.9 International Conventions......Page 272
10.10 From Theory to Practice: Some Examples for The Implementation of the Principles of Conservation and Sustainable Develo......Page 273
A Conclusion of Sorts......Page 280
Inventories and data bases......Page 282
Resource Guides......Page 284
Conventions......Page 285
Conservation......Page 286
References......Page 288
Further Reading......Page 290
Index......Page 294
Back Page......Page 298