Note
Biological diversity (biodiversity) is generally considered "the total variability of life
on Earth, or the variability among living organisms from all sources and the ecological
systems of which they are a part, including diversity within species, between species
and of ecosystems" (Lovejoy, 1980; Heywood and Watson, 1995). This is a nearly all encompassing
definition, but since the concept of biodiversity is truly more concrete
than abstract, it should apply to as many sectors of the public as possible. Wide appeal
is needed to fully convey the various facets of biodiversity.