Biological diversity, or biodiversity, can be defined simply as the totality and diversity of life at different levels of biological organization. The tremendous diversity in the manifestation of life is the very basis of biological knowledge and existence. Therefore, it is extraordinarily important to all people, including the scientists who study it. The word “biodiversity,” first used in the 1980s, has become ubiquitous in both scientific and common usage (including politics) and is often associated with concerns regarding the natural environment and its conservation.