Editorial

Abstract

The subject of biological diversity is a highly complex one; its treatment must accordingly be comprehensive and varied. This volume does not aim at merely adding to the immensely grown and meanwhile apparently incalculable number of individual publications on “bioliversity”, all the more since already many excellent articles and books have been published (see e.g. List of References Kratochwil in this volume). It is rather our objective to investigate biodiversity on the up to now little studied coenosis and landscape levels. Phytosociological and animal-ecological fields are considered, as well as theoretical approaches to biodiversity and ascepts of its application in nature and landscape protection and preservation. Since biodiversity has so far been predominantly studied in the Anglo-American area, it seemed to be of value to discuss this complex topic from a Central and southern European viewpoint, based on data gathered in these regions, and to thus promote a global discussion.