In his role as director of science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, author Alexandre Antonelli has the experience and perspective needed for a knowledgeable, elegant presentation of the biology of our world. The concept and importance of biodiversity is at the core of The Hidden Universe. The book is divided into four sections: “Biodiversity: More Than Meets the Eye,” “The Values of Biodiversity,” “The Threats to Biodiversity,” and “Saving Biodiversity.”
The first section focuses on defining and understanding biodiversity through the lenses of species, genes, evolution, biological function, and ecosystems – the apex points on the “Biodiversity Star,” each a way of looking at the natural world. Each chapter is relatively short but rich in information, emphasizing the interconnections between organisms and their environment. Concepts such as species richness, island biogeography, microhabitats and wind shadows, nutrient cycle, and distribution of ecosystems are explained clearly and concisely with excellent examples....