The Hidden Universe: Adventures in BiodiversityAn unforgettable exploration of the natural world and the concept of biodiversity—what it is, why it matters, and how we as individuals can work to preserve it. We are now living in an environmental emergency. As climate change, habitat loss, and other threats have placed almost one-fifth of all species on Earth at risk of extinction in the coming decades, a deeper understanding of biodiversity has never been more important. Biodiversity encompasses the rich variety of all life on Earth—the building blocks of life that provide invaluable sources of food, medicine, clothing, building materials, and more. Marking the arrival of a bold new voice in popular science, The Hidden Universe shows readers what’s at stake in the fight to protect and restore biodiversity, but also what can and should be done now to protect our planet and ourselves for the future. As director of science at one of the world’s largest research organizations in plant and fungal sciences, Brazilian-born scientist Alexandre Antonelli is ideally suited to reveal the wonders of biodiversity at a genetic, species, and ecosystem level—what biodiversity is, how it works, and why it is the most important tool in our battle against climate change. Antonelli offers recommendations for large-scale political changes, as well as smaller, practical steps that readers can implement in their own lives and homes. With Antonelli as our guide, The Hidden Universe helps us imagine a future where biodiversity is not just preserved but cherished. |
Contents
| 1 | |
More than Meets the Eye | 27 |
Part Two The Values of Biodiversity | 77 |
Part Three The Threats to Biodiversity | 105 |
Part Four Saving Biodiversity | 149 |
Looking Ahead | 209 |
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Africa Amazon America animals Antonelli Available benefits biodiversity loss Biogeography biological biologists birds carbon carbon footprint cent CHAPTER chemicals climate change colleagues collections communities conservation consumption coral reefs countries crops date palm decades deforestation despite diet disease driver of biodiversity Earth ecosys ecosystems effects elephants emissions energy environment environmental impact evolution example explore extinction fish flowers footprint forests fruits functional diversity fungi genes genetic diversity global Global Forest Watch grow habitat loss human increase increasingly insects invasive species Isla Navarino island Keystone Species kilometres land Light pollution living Lizzie Harper mammals Meghan Spetch microbiome million mountains National number of species ocean acidification orchid organisms plant species plastic pollination pollution population production rainforest reduce regions Royal Botanic Gardens Science scientific scientists seeds sequences survive sustainable temperature threat thylacine tion tree species tropical viruses wild wildlife