Putting science
at the heart of development
Definitions
- Agri-biotech
- Biodiversity
- Desert science
- Improving early warning of disasters
- Indigenious Knowledge
- Tropical cyclones
List of terms for Biodiversity
Producing enough food for a rapidly growing population, and taking care of our planet are two of the world's biggest challenges.
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Species
A taxonomic group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. One species have a unique set of characteristics that distinguishes them from other species — such as shape and behaviour — but these are not always apparent to human observers.
Species diversity
A function of the distribution and abundance of species. In more technical literature, includes considerations of the evenness of species abundances. An ecosystem is said to be more diverse, according to the more technical definition, if species present have equal population sizes and less diverse if many species are rare and some are very common. [Source: World Resources Institute]
Species richness
The number of species within a region. A term commonly used as a measure of species diversity, but technically only one aspect of diversity. [Source: World Resources Institute]
Sustainable development
Development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Colloquially referred to as: 'using the Earth's resources as if we intend to stay'. Sustainable development entered the international lexicon following a 1987 United Nations report on environment and development, Our Common Future. The goal of a sustainable world was reaffirmed at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Systematics
The scientific study and description of the variation in living organisms and the relationships that exist between them. Systematics is sometimes (incorrectly) used to describe taxonomy.
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