Evolution and biodiversity in a changing world

Biodiversity and the biodiversitety crisis

Biodiversity includes all the variation that exists on Earth between and within species and habitats, as well as between different habitats and ecosystems. Human impacts on ecosystems are becoming increasingly evident and climate change, urbanisation, and pollution of natural environments threaten the diversity of species, their genetic diversity and ecosystem functions.

The current concept of the 'biodiversity crisis' describes the fact that more species are currently becoming extinct than are being created and is described as a sixth mass extinction comparable to previous mass extinctions that define the Earth's geological epochs, such as the extinction of the dinosaurs. The difference is that today it is human impact and not geological phenomena that is causing the extinction. How to favour and preserve biodiversity nationally and globally is a crucial issue in our efforts to achieve long-term sustainable development on Earth.

To do so, we need better predictions of how organisms and ecosystems respond to changing conditions and the spread of invasive species, and the consequences for ecosystem processes and humans. We therefore need to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes that favour biodiversity and the survival of threatened species in ecosystems, as well as the effects of biodiversity change on ecosystem functioning. We also need to explore societal adaptations that limit human threats to biodiversity.

• Research challenges in Biodiversity
• Competence Center for Hidden Biodiversity
• Integrated research and outreach - interactions with society to monitor, quantify and restore biodiversity and ecosystem functions