The study of biodiversity began in the later part of the twentieth century. The word was coined by Edward O. Wilson to explain the biological living resources and wealth lost when whole areas of tropical rainforest were destroyed by clear-cutting and burning. Many, if not all, of these tropical rainforests were in remote areas, often in developing countries, untouched by modern civilization, and relatively unstudied by scientists. As a result, many of the plants and animals, especially insects,... więcej

Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, 2023. 3p.