The Issues
Biological diversity is declining in many ecosystems. Beyond the ethical issues this raises and the potential economic loss this represents, some scientists are arguing that there could be negative consequences for the functioning of ecosystems and the associated goods and services they provide. Does the functioning of ecosystems -such as cycling of nutrients, carbon and water - depend on the number and kind of species that are present? Eight hundred of the world?s leading environmental scientists attending a meeting sponsored by GCTE/LUCC in Barcelona, Spain, on March 14-18, 1998, will examine the consequences of the loss of biodiversity on ecosystem functions.
The Science
Practical information
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning will be discussed on the third day of the conference (March 16) at 9:00 in session 4 "Global change and ecological complexity ", chaired by Dr. Osvaldo Sala and in the poster session following immediately.
Contact: Press Officer GCTE/LUCC Conference: Anne Larigauderie
Université Paris-Sud, Ecologie des Populations et Communautes, Bat. 362,
F-91405 Orsay Cedex, France
Phone/Fax: +33 1 69 15 56 92/6
E-mail: anne.larigauderie@epc.u-psud.fr
Conference Secretatiat, Barcelona, Spain:
Tel: +34 3 233 2387 FAX: +34 3 233 2575