title: Species diversity or biodiversity?
abstract: Species diversity and biodiversity are widely used terms in ecology and natural resource management. Despite this, they are not easily defined and different authors apply these terms with varying connotations. The term biodiversity, in particular, has the dubious honour of being widely used but rarely defined. Is it simply the number of species or is it something more? Here I consider what these terms might really mean and their value. I also briefly discuss the rationale for studying and protecting species diversity or biodiversity.
authors.affiliation: Primary Industries Research Victoria-Knoxfield, Private Bag 15, Ferntree Gully Delivery Centre, Victoria 3156, Australia. andrew.hamilton@dpi.vic.gov.au
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D004463:Ecology; D011156:Population Density