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Biodiversity
 Websites presented in alphabetical order Aquatic Biodiversity 
 "Aquatic biodiversity encompasses freshwater ecosystems, including lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, rivers and streams, groundwater, and wetlands. ... It also consists of marine ecosystems, including oceans, estuaries, salt marshes, seagrass beds, coral reefs, kelp beds, and mangrove forests." The site features introductory information about these water-based ecosystems, and addresses special topics such as threats and conservation. Also includes a glossary and links to related sites. From the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/aquatic/ Topics: Animals, Biology, Environment, Water Last updated Aug 3, 2005 Biodiversity and Conservation
This "hypertext book" explores "the origin, nature and value of biological diversity, the threats to its continued existence, and approaches to preserving what is left." Features chapters on whaling and fishing, endangered species protection, and captive breeding. Includes graphs, illustrations, and links. Searchable. From the School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine. http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/~sustain/bio65/Titlpage.htm Topics: Animals, Biology Last updated Feb 2, 2005 Biodiversity and Conservation: The Web of Life
This site from the Field Museum (Chicago) features background information and educational materials on biodiversity and conservation. Includes fact sheets on biodiversity, information about the museum's 2003/2004 "Year of Biodiversity and Conservation" program, classroom resources, scientist profiles, an interactive exhibit on global diversity, and resources for activism. http://www.fieldmuseum.org/biodiversity/ Topics: Biology Last updated Oct 22, 2003 Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL)
"Ten major natural history museum libraries, botanical libraries, and research institutions have joined to form the Biodiversity Heritage Library Project. The group is developing a strategy and operational plan to digitize the published literature of biodiversity held in their respective collections." Search or browse through the hundreds of books and thousands of volumes that have been scanned by participating institutions such as the National History Museum (London) and the Field Museum (Chicago). http://biodiversitylibrary.org/About.aspx Topics: Biology Last updated May 23, 2007 Biodiversity Hotspots
The hotspots described on this site are the "richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on Earth." Search, browse by name of spot, or click on the map to access vital statistics; ecosystem, biodiversity, human impacts, and conservation information; a detailed map; and related links. Also includes a glossary. http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/ Topics: Animals, Biology, Plants, Scientific Themes Last updated Jul 11, 2007 The Canadian Biodiversity Web Site
Defines biodiversity theory and presents the climate and landforms of the country as ecologically distinct zones (ecozones). Under Canada's Species find "images, descriptions, and distribution maps wherever possible for over fifteen hundred species found in Canada." Also available in French. From the Redpath Museum at Montreal's McGill University. http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/ Topics: Biology Last updated Dec 21, 2006 Census of Marine Life
This is "a growing global network of researchers in more than 45 nations engaged in a ten-year initiative to assess and explain the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life in the oceans — past, present, and future." The site presents descriptions of and links to the network's projects, such as "Natural Geography in Shore Areas" and the "History of Marine Animal Populations." Available in several languages, including German, Japanese, and Spanish. Searchable. http://www.coml.org/ Topics: Animals, Biology, Water Last updated Nov 12, 2003 Center for Biodiversity and Conservation
This center's "activities integrate scientific research, education, and outreach so that people, themselves major catalysts in the rapid loss of biodiversity, will become participants in its conservation." The site features center publications, information about symposia, and an overview of center activities in areas such as invertebrate conservation and remote sensing. Searchable. Part of the American Museum of Natural History. http://cbc.amnh.org/ Topics: Biology Last updated Jul 30, 2008 Center for Biological Diversity
This advocacy site links to research, petitions, action alerts, and relevant news items to further the goal of "protecting endangered species and wild places through science, policy, education, and environmental law." Searchable. http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/ Topics: Animals, Biology Last updated Oct 26, 2009 Conservation International (CI)
This nonprofit organization "applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal diversity." The site profiles CI's work in tropical wilderness areas, marine ecosystems, regions of the world (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Mesoamerica, South America), and the Hotspots, "the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on Earth." http://www.conservation.org/ Topics: Biology, Economics Last updated Dec 11, 2007 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
This agreement, adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, "establishes three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources." This site contains news and documents related to the convention, a biosafety clearinghouse, and publications, links, and other resources on biodiversity. Searchable. A United Nations program. http://www.cbd.int/ Topics: Biology, Environment, Government, International Governments, International Law, Treaties, & Agreements, Technology Last updated Jun 12, 2007 Crop Diversity: What is Crop Diversity
This presentation looks at crop diversity and its importance in agriculture and food security. It discusses the conservation of crop diversity (including gene banks), threats to crops, and priority crops such as bananas, maize, sorghum, and cassava. From the Global Crop Diversity Trust, an organization whose mission is "to ensure the conservation and availability of crop diversity for food security worldwide." http://www.croptrust.org/main/whatis.php Topics: Agriculture, Biology Last updated Jun 27, 2006 Diversity Endangered
This "exhibition from SITES, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, examines the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to the loss of biological diversity. Included are reproductions of color photographs, artists' renderings, and text for 15 posters. Rain forest, coral reefs, and wetlands are among the issues covered." From the New York Public Library. http://www.nypl.org/admin/exhibitions/endangered/ Topics: Biology, Environment Last updated Mar 16, 2004 Encyclopedia of Life (EOL)
This website "is an unprecedented global effort . ... by [n]atural history museums, botanical gardens, other research institutions, and dedicated individuals ... to create the most complete biodiversity database on the Web." As of March 2008 there were about 25 exemplar species pages, covering species such as the yellow fever mosquito, peregrine falcon, death cap mushroom, and cacao. Materials include photos, description, and details about ecology and cultural relevance. http://www.eol.org/ Topics: Biology Last updated Mar 3, 2008 Exotic Species: Asian Carp
Fact sheets and photos of the Asian carp, and information on efforts to create a barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to block the fish, which are "a significant threat to the Great Lakes because of their size, fecundity, and ability to consume large amounts of food." Includes video clips and an identification chart. From the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a joint effort of the governments of the United States and Canada. http://www.glfc.org/fishmgmt/carp.php Topics: Agriculture, Biology, Fish, Reptiles, & Amphibians, Geography, Photograph Collections, Photograph Collections: Nature & Wildlife, Photograph Collections: Regional, Water Last updated May 19, 2005 Forces of Change
This site explores the natural and human forces that contribute to changes in our environment and how life on earth adapts to these changes. Topics include warming and erosion in the Arctic, changes in the composition of the atmosphere throughout earth's history, El Niño, current conditions (temperatures, precipitation, earthquakes and volcanoes, and vegetation), and a 2008-2010 exhibit on soil. From the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. http://forces.si.edu/ Topics: Environment Last updated Jul 28, 2008 History of Life Through Time
A survey of "biodiversity through time, focusing on major lineages of organisms. Many of these lineages have gone extinct or currently exist at a much lower diversity than in the past." Covers the three domains of life (bacteria, eukaryota, and archaea), phylogeny and cladistics, and evolution. From the Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/historyoflife.php Topics: Biology Last updated Feb 17, 2007 International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE)
Website for this institute whose mission is to "enable the advancement of taxonomy and exploration of earth's species." Features announcements of newly discovered species (such as a giant duck-billed dinosaur and a "shocking pink" millipede), image gallery, links to related news, and project details. A research unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Science at Arizona State University. http://species.asu.edu/ Topics: Biology Last updated Aug 13, 2008 International Society for Ecology & Culture (ISEC)
This nonprofit organization "is concerned with the protection of both biological and cultural diversity." The site presents a description of programs and projects "promoting locally based alternatives to the global consumer culture," online articles on topics relating to globalization, a list of publications, and a calendar of ISEC events. Searchable. http://www.isec.org.uk/ Topics: Biology, Environment, Technology Last updated Sep 15, 2003 Invasivespeciesinfo.gov
On this site "you can learn about the impacts of invasive species and the Federal government's response, as well as read select species profiles and find links to agencies and organizations dealing with invasive species issues." Also find laws, news, tips for managers, and the Invasive Species of the Month. Maintained by the National Agricultural Library. http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/ Topics: Agriculture, Biology, Gardening, Plants Last updated Aug 31, 2005 Life Has a History
This site "provides [K-12] students with an introduction to the history of life and how it results in the biodiversity of today. During this tour students learn about geologic time, fossils, ancestral relationships, cladograms, variation, natural selection, and extinction." Includes lesson plans for teachers. From the Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/intro/ Topics: Biology, K-12 Education, Science, Social Issues Last updated Aug 10, 2003 Living Lakes: The International Network
"The main purpose of this international initiative is the conservation and protection of ... the drinking water reservoirs of the earth." Site includes information about projects currently under way, activities and campaigns, and international conferences. Also features official publications of the sponsoring organization, the Global Nature Fund, a "non-profit, private, independent international foundation for the protection of environment and nature." http://www.globalnature.org/docs/02_vorlage.asp?id=28219&domid=1011&sp=E&addlastid=&m1=11089&m2=28219 Topics: Biology, Environment, Geography, Water Last updated Mar 19, 2009 MaNIS: Mammal Networked Information System
"Provides access to mammal specimen records from a variety of museum databases. ... [Includes a list] of the institutions that collaborated in the original project. The specimen data from these and additional participating institutions can be searched, mapped, and downloaded." Collection data may be searched by factors such as scientific name, location, and date collected. Funded by the National Science Foundation and member institutions, and curated by individuals at the University of California, Berkeley. http://manisnet.org Topics: Biology, Mammals Last updated Sep 4, 2006 NatureServe
This searchable site contains "conservation status, taxonomic, and distribution information" for tens of thousands of plants, animals, and ecological communities in the United States and Canada. Includes information for rare and endangered species as well as common plants and animals. Search by scientific name, common name, or ecological community. Also find a glossary of terms. From the Association for Biodiversity Information (ABI). http://www.natureserve.org/ Topics: Animals, Biology, Regions of the World Last updated Jul 5, 2004 Save Mount Diablo
The mission of this San Francisco Bay Area organization "is to preserve Mount Diablo's peaks and surrounding foothills ... to: protect the mountain's natural beauty, integrity, and biological diversity ... and provide recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources." The site features a mountain history, hiking information, images, news (such as the May 2005 rediscovery of the Mount Diablo buckwheat, which was thought to have been extinct), and links to related sites. Searchable. http://www.savemountdiablo.org Topics: Biology Last updated May 30, 2005 Selected Biological, Ecological, and Genetic Literature Relevant to Monterey Pine
A bibliography of over 300 titles, "this selection of the biological literature for Monterey pine focuses on studies of genetic diversity and genetic structure of this species, with some references on inheritance, reproductive biology, and ecology of the native Monterey pine forests. Also included here are some general references...." Browsable. http://www.grcp.ucdavis.edu/projects/MPRefs/MPRefList.htm Topics: Biology, Nonfiction by Genre Last updated May 5, 2004 The Society of American Foresters (SAF)
Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot to advance the knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic of the forestry profession, and to ensure the continued health of forest ecosystems and natural resources. The site contains facts about forests, policy and position papers (topics include biological diversity, clearcutting, endangered species, grazing, and herbicide use), and links to releated resources. http://www.safnet.org/ Topics: Agriculture, Biology, Environment, Plants Last updated Jul 5, 2004 United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
This program "provides biodiversity information for policy and action to conserve the living world. ... Programmes concentrate on species, forests, protected areas, marine, mountains and freshwaters; plus habitats affected by climate change such as polar regions." It also addresses "the relationship between trade and the environment." The site features reports for habitats, a species database (with thousands of plant and animal species), list of protected areas, international agreements, maps, and more. http://www.unep-wcmc.org Topics: Biology, Environment Last updated Mar 27, 2006 VN Illustrated Database of Mexican Biodiversity
This Web site is "dedicated to Mexican fauna, flora and ecosystems." Browse by common name for animal information and images, read about floral biodiversity and find images of plants, and learn about ecosystems such as forests, tropical coasts, and arid areas. Also provides animal sounds, thematic maps, satellite images, and related links. http://www.vivanatura.org/ Topics: Biology, Plants, Science, Science Last updated Jul 22, 2003 The Wilderness Society
The mission of this group is to "deliver to future generations an unspoiled legacy of wild places, with all the precious values they hold: Biological diversity; clean air and water; towering forests, rushing rivers, and sage-sweet, silent deserts." The site features a discussion of issues, information about regional activities and advocacy options, press releases, and a library of reports, fact sheets, legal documents, and more. Searchable. http://wilderness.org/ Topics: Biology Last updated Dec 2, 2008 World Biodiversity Database
"A continuously growing taxonomic database and information system that aims at documenting all presently known species (about 1.7 million)." It "contains taxonomic information (hierarchies), species names, synonyms, descriptions, illustrations and literature references when available...link[s] provide genetic information on protein sequence, nucleic sequence and 3D structures for each taxon." No pictures. http://www.eti.uva.nl/Database/WBD.html Topics: Biology, Science, Science Last updated Aug 20, 2002 WWF Virtual House
This site from the World Wildlife Fund invites users to "come in and make yourself at home — and learn about our connections to biodiversity" through answering questions related to touring a house. This interactive game features facts and statistics on topics such as forests, toxic chemicals, wildlife, and global warming. Also includes links to detailed topical information. http://www.worldwildlife.org/fun/games.cfm Topics: Animals, Biology, Environment Last updated Jun 24, 2004 |
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