Biodiversity: How Does it Help Create the World's Most Special Places?

Discover why biodiversity is so important to humans and the Earth, how it’s changed over time, and which places are considered the "most diverse" and why. Join Eleanor Edye, a former biologist at the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, to examine the concept of "hotspots"—special places where the biodiversity index is higher than anywhere else on the planet. Eleanor will share insights into why certain refugia have such high rates of endemism, and why preserving these unique locations is critically important for so many species. Learn how assessing ecosystems’ overall biodiversity is helping scientists to better understand ecosystem health and support the recovery of threatened species, especially apex predators. You’ll find out how biologists are setting biodiversity targets to effectively manage conservation efforts worldwide, with an inside look at local and global examples of some of the important biodiversity initiatives underway.


Originally presented May 24, 2021

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