Welcome to Biodiversity Guide
Pictures On Aquatic Biodiversity Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Can Any Biodiversity Definition Really Cover The Topic
from:Biodiversity started out as a contraction of “biological” and “diversity”. It was coined in 1985, but has taken on its own meaning since then.
Scientists prefer using the broadest possible biodiversity definition, in order to not overlook any aspect of what is an exceedingly complex subject. However, one of the largest problems facing scientists, government agencies, end environmental groups is how exactly, to define “biodiversity”. Dictionaries are generally silent anything more than the most general outline of the subject, but most have some elements in common. Most take into account that a it must reference the number and variety of plants and animal species, and that these species occupy a particular geographic region. Some include the concept of the variability of those plants and species. One or two include the variability within and among ecosystems, as well as within and between living organisms.
One of the best biodiversity definitions we have found comes from The Center for International Environmental Law: “Biodiversity is the variability of all living organisms -- including animal and plant species -- of the genes of all these organisms, and of the terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems of which they are part.”
Developing a biodiversity definition is problematic no matter who is doing it because biodiversity is a very broad topic and includes “everything”, making it very hard to exclude “anything”. For example, while every biodiversity definition includes plant and animal life, not all include the soil or water that sustains that life, although to be totally fair, most do so. Further, not every biodiversity definition includes human beings. Complicating the matter even more is the problem of whether a real, comprehensive biodiversity definition should include only those species that humans find useful, or all the given plant and animal species of an area.
With such differences, it is almost impossible to come to a conclusion about the meaning of the term, let alone the scope of the topic. Add in the differing agendas of all those who claim to be concerned about biodiversity, and those who claim to want to do something about it, and you have a situation more confusing than resolvable. Then add in those who insist that nothing can be done because there is no way biodiversity and progress can coexist. Clearly, if something cannot be defined easily and concisely, how can the issues presented by it be prioritized, let alone having resources allocated to resolve them?
Given the difficulties of establishing a unified, comprehensive biodiversity definition, the question is less which definition should prevail, but more what we do to preserve biodiversity.
Pictures On Aquatic Biodiversity News
Local students learn about aquatic species thanks to BEAN Biodiversity Day grant - Lakeshore Advance
Local students learn about aquatic species thanks to BEAN Biodiversity Day grant Lakeshore Advance Some local students from Grades 4-8 will learn why it is important to protect different plants and animals in local lakes and rivers, on Monday, June 4 at Morrison Dam Conservation Area near Exeter, thanks to a grant from the Biodiversity Education and ... |
Nearly 100 Chinese vessels spotted in Panatag - Philippine Star
Nearly 100 Chinese vessels spotted in Panatag Philippine Star "The increase in the number of China's vessels in the area imperils the marine biodiversity in the shoal and threatens the marine ecosystem in the whole West Philippine Sea. The Philippines has documented the many instances where Chinese fishermen have ... |
RP gov't plans activities for May, Month of the Ocean - allvoices
RP gov't plans activities for May, Month of the Ocean allvoices With the Philippines being touted as the “world's center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity” and having one of the most number of marine protected areas in the world, the country is “a very practical area of investment for coastal and ... |
Charles Vörösmarty addresses the global water crisis. - University of Delaware
 University of Delaware | Charles Vörösmarty addresses the global water crisis. University of Delaware 8:25 am, May 14, 2012--The world's streams, rivers and lakes are under increasing stress because of human water management – and mismanagement – that threaten aquatic biodiversity and the water supply, Charles J. Vörösmarty said recently during the ... |
Bantayan Island: Classroom of the sea - Business Mirror
 Business Mirror | Bantayan Island: Classroom of the sea Business Mirror Oposa said he was moved by the 2005 study of Dr. Kent Carpenter of the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that identified the Philippines as the epicenter of marine biodiversity, with the richest concentration of marine ... |