We are in the midst of the greatest biodiversity crisis the world has ever seen. The rate of extinction today (the anthropocene) is the highest in the history of the earth. Yet we still have a really poor understanding of the other species inhabiting our planet. For example, we don’t really know how many species there are (current estimates range wildly between 8 and 12 million), and we have only put names to approximately 10-15% of these.
But at the same time there is cause for hope. We live in a period where our rate of technological development and discovery is the greatest in human history. Massive advances in our understanding of the building blocks of life and of their interactions have been aided considerably by developments such as computing, online access and of course the genomics revolution.
This is a time of Biodiversity Revolution, in both positive and negative senses. As a society interested in conserving our biodiversity and biological resources, we ought to be able to use this burgeoning knowledge base to better manage and improve the fate of biodiversity. This collection of articles is dedicated to using technology to increase our rate of discovery of biodiversity and ecosystem processes, and to using science to ensure the continued survival of the planet’s species and ecosystems.
This blog is run by Professor Andy Lowe and his group who are focused on a range of ecological and evolutionary questions and issues, and research spans areas such as:
- how species and ecosystems respond and adapt to climate change;
- DNA barcoding, particularly as used to track illegally logged timber;
- the monitoring and management of biodiversity over time;
- development of policy and decision-making to preserve and value biodiversity;
- the restoration of future resilient, functional and valued ecosystems.
Disclaimer
The contributors to this site do so in a personal capacity and their posts do not represent the views of the organizations for which they work, nor those of any organisations which fund them or with which they are associated. The contributors are solely responsible for the content of the site and receive no remuneration for their contributions.
Biodiversity Revolution 
How do you do, Professor Andy Lowe? SoundEagle is glad to be acquianted with you here.
It seems that SoundEagle is the first living being to click the “Like” button and the first to comment here.
Happy July to you and your team, and to your inspirational blog exploring biodiversity and documenting your findings! Since SoundEagle’s writing here is the very first comments on this “About” page since your blog’s inception, SoundEagle would like to wish you a new dawn and an even more satisfying journey of research and discovery in the second half of 2013.
SoundEagle hopes that you continue to do very well and find fulfillment in whatever you enjoy doing and savouring, especially through formulating and sharing your “Thoughts from the vanguard of biodiversity research.”
To conclude, here is a post to share with you: http://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/facing-the-noise-music-grey-barriers-and-green-frontiers-of-sound-society-and-environment/
Thanks, SoundEagle. I’m answering on behalf of Andy since he’s incredibly busy with his multitude of jobs. We’re trying to build up a strong readership to get information about biodiversity more widely known, so I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog.
Hi Andy – short notice but I thought you might like to submit some photos from your extensive library to the Thomas Cook photo comp. Ends tomorrow. http://sustainabilitysoapbox.com/2015/03/15/explore-the-elements-thomas-cook-photography-competition/
Cheers
Pip