Biodiversity – Concept
The title of this post, Biodiversity – Concept, is intended to encompass a summary for the series of several posts on biodiversity and its distinct but complimentary components.
This is Post #1 of our Biodiversity Series.
Importance of Biodiversity
I had been aware for some time that conservation of the Earth’s biodiversity was important, but I didn’t really realize how critically important this was until I recently discovered and read the book: “The Hidden Universe, Adventures in Biodiversity”, by Alexandre Antonelli, published in 2022 by The University of Chicago Press.
An Important Book
Despite the complexity of the subject, Antonelli is able to recount in his book his “adventures in biodiversity” in a very easy to read style. He is not only a leading scientist but also a skilled science writer. He makes reading his book and learning about the subject a page turning pleasure. His attractive narrative style gently reveals to the reader clear explanations of the science.
His story includes reference to scientific examination of historical specimens and recently discovered live species. It includes descriptions of his and his colleagues field experiences around the world.
Antonelli’s credentials are impressive:
- director of science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
- botanist by training,
- award winning professor of biodiversity at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden,
- a visiting professor at the University of Oxford,
- founder of the Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, and
- one of the world’s most cited scientists.
In his book he presents the case for biodiversity and its critical importance for the health of life on our planet Earth. He explains, with many examples, that it is not just the species themselves which are endangered by increasing human activity, but humanity itself.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. If you are already familiar with the subject, it will complement your existing knowledge, if you are not familiar with biodiversity and its importance you will be glad that you took the trouble and time to read this important book.
Layout of the Book: An introduction and Four Parts
Antonelli’s book has five main sections that include: “Setting the Scene: Two Universes”, and the four Parts:
- Part One – Biodiversity: More than Meets the Eye,
- Part Two: The Values of Biodiversity,
- Part Three: The Threats to Biodiversity,
- Part Four: Saving Biodiversity.
He then completes his book with an “Epilogue: Looking Ahead”, followed by a generous set of appendices including: Acknowledgements, Glossary, Further Reading, Picture Credits, and an Index, all very helpful to the reader.
Setting the Scene: Two Universes
The two Universes referred to in the first section of the book are: the cosmic Universe of astronomy, and the Hidden Universe of the book’s title. I shall leave you to read Antonelli’s book to discover what is the Hidden Universe.
Biodiversity Star
Following his “Setting the Scene: Two Universes” section of the book, and right at the beginning of “Part One” of his book, “Biodiversity: more than meets the eye,” Antonelli introduces us to the Biodiversity Star. This star, he informs us, represents “the concept of biodiversity that encapsulates multiple complementary, but distinct, facets” of biodiversity. These facets are:
Antonelli tells us that, “Identifying, measuring and monitoring these five aspects of biodiversity is crucial to our understanding of life on Earth and our ability to take action when one of them begins to fall apart.”
This “Biodiversity” Blog Series
In this “Biodiversity” blog series, my posts will follow the path that Antonelli lays out in his book. The next five posts will cover each of the biodiversity facets presented in Part One of the book.