Alexandre Antonelli | hardcover | 288 pages | 2022
Adventures in Biodiversity
Everything you need to know about biodiversity – what it is, how it works, and why it’s the single most important tool to battle climate change – from the Director Science at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.
We don’t know what we’ve got until it’s gone…
This brief, lucid book by the Director of Science at Royal Botanical Gardens takes you on an unforgettable tour of the natural world, showing how biodiversity – the rich variety of life in the world and in our own backyards – provides both the source and the salvation of our existence. Combining inspiration stories and the latest scientific research, Alex Antonelli reveals the wonders of biodiversity at a genetic, species and ecosystem level – what it is, how it works, and why it’s the most important tool in our battle against climate change.
A deeper understanding of biodiversity has never been more important, as the slow violence of habitat loss has put the fate of almost one-fifth of all species on Earth at risk of extinction in the coming decades. These building blocks of life form a network that underpins almost every aspect of our lives, providing invaluable sources of food, medicine, fibre, clothing, building material and more. With simplicity and clarity, The Hidden Universe shows you not only what’s at stake, but what can be done (and is already being done) to protect and restore biodiversity around the world. It marks the arrival of a bold new voice in popular science.
"Alessandro Antonelli, ""Mambo yote unayohitaji kujua kuhusu bio-mabadiliko - ni nini, inafanyaje kazi, na kwa nini ni chombo muhimu zaidi cha kupambana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa,"" kutoka kwa Mkurugenzi wa Sayansi katika Royal Botanical Gardens huko Kew." "Hatujui tunacho mpaka tumekwisha... Kitabu hiki kifupi, cha uwazi kilichoandikwa na Mkurugenzi wa Sayansi katika Royal Botanical Gardens kinakupeleka kwenye ziara isiyoweza kusahaulika ya ulimwengu wa asili, ikionyesha jinsi utofauti wa kibiolojia - aina tajiri ya maisha ulimwenguni na katika bustani zetu za nyuma - hutoa chanzo na wokovu wa kuwepo kwetu. """ Kwa kuchanganya hadithi za msukumo na utafiti wa kisayansi wa hivi karibuni, Alex Antonelli anafunua maajabu ya bioanuwai katika kiwango cha maumbile, spishi na mazingira - ni nini, inafanyaje kazi, na kwa nini ni chombo muhimu zaidi katika vita vyetu dhidi ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Uelewa wa kina wa utofauti wa kibiolojia haujawahi kuwa muhimu zaidi, kwani nguvu ya polepole ya kupoteza makazi imeweka hatima ya karibu moja ya tano ya spishi zote duniani katika hatari ya kutoweka katika miongo ijayo. Vitu hivi vinavyojenga maisha hufanyiza mtandao ambao unategemeza karibu kila sehemu ya maisha yetu, ukitoa vyanzo vya thamani vya chakula, dawa, nyuzi, nguo, vifaa vya ujenzi na zaidi. Kwa unyenyekevu na uwazi, Ulimwengu uliofichwa unakuonyesha sio tu kile kilicho hatarini, lakini kile kinachoweza kufanywa (na tayari kinafanywa) kulinda na kurejesha utofauti wa kibiolojia ulimwenguni kote. Inaashiria kuwasili kwa sauti mpya yenye ujasiri katika sayansi ya kawaida.