The science of biodiversity has become the science of our future. It is an interdisciplinary field spanning areas of both physical and life sciences. Our awareness of the loss of biodiversity has brought a long overdue appreciation of the magnitude of this loss and a determination to develop the tools to protect our future. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Second Edition maintains the reputation of the highly regarded original, presenting the most current information available in this globally crucial area of research and study. It brings together the dimensions of biodiversity and examines both the services it provides and the measures to protect it. Major themes of the work include the evolution of biodiversity, systems for classifying and defining biodiversity, ecological patterns and theories of biodiversity, and an assessment of contemporary patterns and trends in biodiversity. This encyclopedia is a worthwhile investment for anyone in need of a scholarly reference source devoted to biodiversity and related preservation issues. There are not other current encyclopedias that provide comprehensive in-depth coverage of this increasingly important topic. - American Library Association Praise of First Edition. * Revised edition includes over 100 new articles and 226 updated articles covering this multidisciplinary field - from evolution to habits to economics * The editors for this second edition are all well respected, instantly recognizable academics operating at the top of their respective fields in biodiversity research. Readers can be assured that they are reading material that has been meticulously checked and reviewed by experts. * Approximately 1,800 figures and 350 tables complement the text, and more than 3,000 glossary entries explain key terms