Biodiversity

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Biodiversity is the study of the diversity of life on earth. This definition is so broad it could encompass just about any aspect of biology. Biodiversity, however, is generally recognized as having three important components:

Species Diversity - The numbers and relative abundances of species in a defined region.

Habitats or Ecosystems - The range, composition, and species diversity of different plant and animal communities.

Genetic Diversity - The genetic variability of individual species.

Different scientists view biodiversity in different ways. One may be interested in simply describing the diversity of plant and animal species. This is the domain of systematics. Other individuals may be intent on finding the causes of diversity and explaining the differences in diversity between different regions of the world. Ecologists and Evolutionary Biologists fall into this category. A third group of individuals and organizations is primarily interested in preserving the Earth's diversity; conservationists. Of course there are no clear lines between these three groups. Systematists are also interested in explaining diversity as well as describing it, and conservationists must (by definition) also have an interest in, and knowledge of, systematics, ecology, and evolution. In addition the science of biogeography is closely tangled up in biodiversity and the two cannot be easily separated. Therefore many of the subject areas of this biodiversity segment of Nearctica are also found under biogeography.

General Biodiversity Web Sites.

Gap Analysis.

Endangered Species. (from Conservation)

Conservation Organizations. (from Organizations)

Ecoregions.

Biomes and Specific Habitats.

Biogeography.

Species Checklists and Catalogs. (from Systematics)