The scientific community has voiced two general concerns about the future of the earth. Climatologists and oceanographers have focused on the changes in our physical environment -- changes in the climate, the oceans, and the chemistry of the air we breathe. Environmental biologists, on the other hand, have addressed issues of conservation and the extinction of species. There is increasing evidence that these two broad concerns are intertwined and mutually dependent. Past changes in biodiversity have both responded to and caused changes in Earth's environment. In its discussions of ten key terrestrial biomes and freshwater ecosystems, this volume uses our broad understanding of global environmental change to present the first comprehensive scenarios of biodiversity for the twenty-first century. Combining physical earth science with conservation biology, Future Scenarios of Global Biodiversity provides a starting point for regional assessments on all scales. The book will be of interest to those concerned with guiding research on the changing environment of the earth and with planning future policy, especially in accordance with the Global Biodiversity Convention.

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Reviews

From the reviews of the first edition:

"Chapin et al. provide the most insightful analysis and credible forecast on the future of the world biodiversity in response to the global environmental change. ... The book examines the biodiversity scenarios for eight major biomes in the world ... . Many have had high expectations for this book after reading a summary of it in Science. I think it likely that the scholarship and insights demonstrated by Chapin et al. will make it another highly cited volume, just like the IPCC report." (Ye Qi, Ecology, Vol. 83 (5), 2002)

"This is the latest volume in Springer's well known and acclaimed Ecological Studies series and as such certainly lives up to the reputation of its predecessors. ... The result is a treasure chest of information that will be of interest and food for thought for a wide variety of readers. ... The quality of production is extremely high ... . This volume is destined to become essential reading for any university course that includes consideration of biodiversity conservation, environmental change and ecosystem functioning." (Barry Meatyard, Biological Conservation, Issue 109, 2003)

Book Information
ISBN 9780387952864
Author F.Stuart Chapin
Format Paperback
Page Count 378
Imprint Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Publisher Springer-Verlag New York Inc.