Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1: Endangered Species

Biodiversity debate

Endangered and threatened species

Web of life

Case study: Ivory-billed woodpecker

Preservation versus conservation

Carl Linnaeus-the father of taxonomy

Climate change and biodiversity

Global community of species

Environmental ethics

Biodiversity treaty

Conclusion

2: Measuring Species And Extinction

Types of biological diversity

Number of species on earth

Keystone species

Gene pools and niches

Environmental ethics

Environmental indicators

Measuring species loss

Case study: March of the Argentine ants

Assessing habitats

Extinction

Watching a species disappear

Preservation technology

Conclusion

3: Protecting Native From Invasive Species

Ecosystems invaded

Species competition

Migrations

How resource partitioning preserves species

Characteristics of adaptive species

Consequences of invasion

Eradication

Zebra mussels

Animal reintroduction

Plant reintroduction

Case study: Yellowstone's wolves

Conclusion

4: Urban Development

Human populations and biodiversity

Case study: Everglades

Habitat loss and fragmentation

Succession

Species adapted to urban life

Maintaining migration corridors

Urban greenways

Monitoring and mapping the environment

Conclusion

5: Nature Reserves

History of wildlife preservation

World's wildlife preserves

Sanctuaries and artificial habitats

Zoos and aquariums

Animal species versus human hunger

Poaching and wildlife trade

Breeding and release programs

Case study: Protecting Palau's biodiversity

Conclusion

6: Species Protection

Steps toward protecting species

How human decisions endanger wildlife

Global conservation strategies

Lewis and Clark as naturalists

Saving marine biodiversity

Case study: Lake Victoria

Wildlife monitoring

How forensic science fights poaching

Delisting process

Conclusion

7: Methods For Measuring Diversity

Climate and topography

Mapping species and growth patterns

Plant diversity richness

Biodiversity hotspots around the world

Plant rarity

Animal diversity richness

Animal rarity

Species succession

Amphibians and reptiles

Aquatic biodiversity

Case study: Ocean warming and phytoplankton

Ranking the rare species

Species distribution

Conclusion

8: Future Needs

Appendixes

Glossary

Further resources

Index.

Endangered species

Measuring species and extinction

Protecting native from invasive species

Urban development

Nature reserves

Species protection

Methods for measuring diversity

Future needs.