Biodiversity is not easily defined. Try What is Biodiversity? and Defining The 'B' Word for approaches with differing emphases. Below is a definition adapted from the World Resources Institute, World Conservation Union, and United Nations Environment Programme in Global Biodiversity Strategy 1992.
"Biodiversity is the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems in a region... Biodiversity can be divided into three hierarchical categories -- genes, species, and ecosystems -- that describe quite different aspects of living systems and that scientists measure in different ways.
Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes within species. This covers distinct populations of the same species (such as the thousands of traditional rice varieties in India) or genetic variation within a populations (high among Indian rhinos, and very low among cheetahs) ...
Species diversity refers to the variety of species within a region. Such diversity can be measured in many ways, and scientists have not settled on a single best method. The number of species in a region -- its species richness -- is one often- used measure, but a more precise measurement, taxonomic diversity, also considers the relationship of species to each other. For example, an island with two species of birds and one species of lizard has a greater taxonomic diversity than an island with three species of birds but no lizards ...
Ecosystem diversity is harder to measure than species or genetic diversity because the boundaries of communities -- associations of species -- and ecosystems are elusive. Nevertheless, as long as a consistent set of criteria is used to define communities and ecosystems, their numbers and distribution can be measured ..."
Resources related to biodiversity or conservation as an issue or a topic of debate belong primarily in the relevant subcategory of Society/Issues/Environment.
Related: (very comprehensive guide) Where should I submit my website about animals? Or, where will I find the animal topic I am looking for?
| The Global Diversity Foundation - The Global Diversity Foundation documents, monitors and promotes agricultural, biological and cultural diversity around the world, particularly through training and research.
Rate this
|
| Bibliography of Genetic Variation in Natural Populations - Searchable database of citations on natural populations of animals, plants, and microbes.
Rate this
|
| NBII: Biodiversity Links - Access to WWW sites that provide information on genetic diversity, species diversity, ecological diversity, and geopolitical perspectives. From the National Biological Information Infrastructure.
Rate this
|
| Academic Info: Biodiversity - A partially annotated directory of Internet resources on biodiversity.
Rate this
|
| Canadian Biodiversity - Biological diversity: theory, patterns, ecological zones, species distributions, conservation issues, and legislation, with an emphasis on Canada. Bilingual: english/français.
Rate this
|
| What is Biodiversity? - An introduction to meanings associated with the term biodiversity.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity Web - Personally maintained website with information and links about several aspects of biodiversity: biological, ecological, physical, chemical, social (e.g., population growth), economical and juridical. Some links in Dutch language or of particular relevance to Netherlands.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity and Its Value: Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 1 - Outlines what biodiversity is, and the three levels at which it is usually defined: genetic, species and ecosystem.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity II: Understanding and Protecting Our Biological Resources - National Academy of Sciences report (1996) addresses new strategies and techniques for quantifying, understanding, and protecting biodiversity. Full text online.
Rate this
|
| Animal Info - Rare, Threatened and Endangered Mammals - Biology, ecology, habitat, and status of rare, threatened and endangered species of mammals and information on their native countries: biodiversity, ecosystems, population, and land use.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity in urban ecosystems - Links to sites about urban biodiversity.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity Frequently Asked Questions - Presents answers to common questions about biodiversity.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity Theory - Overview of some theoretical basics of biodiversity.
Rate this
|
| Kind Planet Biodiversity - Introductory notes.
Rate this
|
| What is Biodiversity? - Different definitions used by resource managers and ecologists.
Rate this
|
| Introduction to Biodiversity Theory - Overview and definitions.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity Economics - Explores the economic dimensions of the global biodiversity agenda as reflected in the work of IUCN and the various biodiversity conventions, notably the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Rate this
|
| Encyclopedia of Biodiversity - Online resource: major themes include evolution of biodiversity, systems for classifying and defining biodiversity, ecological patterns and theories, an assessment of contemporary patterns and trends, treaties and government legislation.
Rate this
|
| International Biodiversity Observation Year - Describes the need for an International Biodiversity Observation Year, events proposed, benefits anticipated.
Rate this
|
| Resources for the Future Library: Biodiversity - Research papers (PDF files) and project summaries related to economic and policy aspects of biodiversity protection. Topics include ecosystem valuation, endangered species laws, and habitat conservation.
Rate this
|
| Mass Extinction Underway - Links to articles on biodiversity and species extinction.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity Series - Full text online of UNEP-WCMC series of project results.
Rate this
|
| Industrial Reliance on Biodiversity - Provides an overview of the extent to which industry in the developed world relies on the biodiversity of the developing world. (FTP site).
Rate this
|
| Fauna and Flora International - Supports international conservation activities. Documents on methodology, working with NGOs, governments, communities; news, publications, photo gallery.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity Resource Center - A branch library of the California Academy of Sciences specializing in information on biodiversity. Bibiographies, links to news and educator resources.
Rate this
|
| Species 2000 - Project to provide indexing and links for all known species as the baseline dataset for studies of global biodiversity.
Rate this
|
| All Species Foundation - A non-profit organization with the goal of recording a complete inventory of all species on Earth within 25 years.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity Hotspots - Comprehensive information on 25 of the world's biologically richest and most threatened ecosystems.
Rate this
|
| World Atlas of Biodiversity - Interactive maps of biodiversity and human impacts from the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
Rate this
|
| Biodiversity Fact Sheet - What is biodiversity, what threatens it, why is it important, and what are ecologists doing to better understand it? From Ecological Society of America. [PDF file]
Rate this
|
| Global Biodiversity Back Issues - The Canadian Museum of Nature's quarterly magazine. Covered Canadian and international biodiversity news in science, politics, education, community and individual initiatives between 1991 and 1999.
Rate this
|
| DIVERSITAS Programme - International collaborative project with the goal of providing accurate scientific information and predictive models of the status of biodiversity and sustainability of the use of the Earth's biotic resources, and to build a world-wide capacity for the science of biodiversity.
Rate this
|
| What is Biological Diversity? - Overview and definitions.
Rate this
|
| Natural Resources and Biodiversity - Background papers from the World Resources Institute on social and political dimensions of environmental policy-making.
Rate this
|