This primer is designed for undergraduate students taking short
courses in biodiversity and aims to provide an overview of the
subject, as well as acting as an entry point to the primary
literature. Also of interest to ecologists and biogeographers
wanting to get to grips with the main issues and concepts. The
new edition is thoroughly updated and includes a new chapter on
human impacts. PrefaceAcknowledgements 1. What Is
Biodiversity?Marion IslandWhat Is Biodiversity?Elements Of
BiodiversityMeasuring BiodiversitySummaryFurther Reading2.
Biodiversity Through Time:IntroductionSources Of InformationA
Brief History Of BiodiversityHow Many Extant Species Are
There?SummaryFurther Reading3. Mapping
Biodiversity:IntroductionIssues Of ScaleExtremes Of High And Low
DiversityGradients In BiodiversityCongruenceSummaryFurther
Reading4. Does Biodiversity Matter?IntroductionDirect Use
ValueIndirect Use ValueNon-Use ValueSummaryFurther Reading5.
Human Impacts:IntroductionSpecies ExtinctionsPopulations,
Individuals And Genet