This concise introductory text provides a complete overview of biodiversity - what it is, how it arose, its distribution, why it is important, human impact upon it, and what should be done to maintain it. The field of biodiversity is rapidly developing as new research challenges and furthers our understanding of this stimulating subject. This new edition has been substantially revised to take account of these recent developments. Much of the text has been rewritten, updated and extended to provide an up-to-date examination of key issues, and includes the newest models, experiments and research. Throughout the text reference is made to the relevant primary literature and each chapter ends with suggestions for further reading, including the most important new articles and books. All the figures included in the book are downloadable from the Blackwell Publishing website. Biodiversity: An Introduction has been designed primarily for undergraduates studying biodiversity on a range of courses in botany, zoology and ecology. It is also essential reading for anyone requiring an overview of the vast literature on this topic.