Biodiversity 101

MELINA F. LAVERTY is a marine biologist, and former Senior Program Officer at the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. She is currently completing her law degree at the University of Toronto.ELEANOR J. STERLING is the Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History, as well as the Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology at Columbia University.AMELIA CHILES is a former staff member of the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. She now lives in Denver where she works for the Colorado chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.GEORGINA CULLMAN works in the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History.

The series introduces general readers and new science students to the basics of various branches of physical science. The standard format includes simple concepts leading to more complex ones, a glossary without pronunciation, and an annotated bibliography of print and nonprint sources. Here four professionals currently or formerly with the American Museum of Natural History explain what biodiversity is, where in the world it is, why it is important, its status today, and strategies and solutions for conserving it.

• Series ForewordPrefaceChapter One: What is Biodiversity?Chapter Two: Where is the Worlds Biodiversity?Chapter Three: Why is Biodiversity Important?Chapter IV: The State of the Worlds BiodiversityChapter V. Conserving Biodiversity: Strategies and SolutionsGlossaryBibliography