Definiendo Biodiversidad

Defining Biodiversity Don C. DeLong, Jr. Wildlife Society Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 4. (Winter, 1996), pp. 738-749.
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http://www.jstor.org Wed Jan 23 16:46:46 2008

Communication
DEFINING BIODIVERSITYDefining biodiversity
Don C . DeLong, Jr.

M. Soule found it shocking that ... we are still try- (1) has a sound foundation in semantics and etymoling to define biological diversity after all of the efforts ogy, (2) is consistent with the meanings of other ecoof the Office of Technology Assessment and E.O. Wil- logical terms, and (3) is not biased toward any parson's book, Biodiversity ..." (Hudson1991:75). It is ticular discipline. With this in mind, I undertook a apparent, however, that the term still lacks consis- literature review to locate a sound, objective definitent meaning within the field of natural resource tion of biodiversity as part of an initial phase of demanagement. It is still defined in different ways by veloping a comprehensive management plan for different people as notedby Noss (1990), Cooper- Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, which rider (1991), Landres (1992), Trauger and Hall has the restoration and maintenance of natural bio(1992), Cloudsley-Thompson (1993), and others. diversity as one of its overriding goals. Most definiAdams (1994:151) characterized biodiversity as be- tions of biodiversity I reviewed did not meet the ing a widely used term"... having no unified defini- above criteria (they generally were inconsistent with tion." the words from which biodiversity was derived); I In addressing the conflicting definitions of biodi- therefore explored the semantics and derivation of versity, Landres (1992:292) stated that "unfortu- the term. In this paper, I present an objective apnately, the need is too great and the time too short toproach to defining biodiversity that meets the above be stuck in semantic and turf quarrels." Although criteria. The opinions expressed in this paper are conservation cannot be put on hold until a definition my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the of biodiversity is agreed upon, a widely accepted fun- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. damental definition of biodiversity is imperative foreffective communication and cooperation within and Range of defmitions among different countries, government agencies, disciplines, organizations, and private landowners. CoKnopf (1992:242) asserted that the definitions of operation among these entities has been identified as biodiversity are "as diverse as the biological rebeing necessary for the conservation of biodiversity source." Definitions...