Contributions to biodiversity theory: the importance of formal rigor

Abstract. In this short paper, some consideration is given to the term biodiversity. We stress the need for a strong formal rigor in using this term in order to maintain the credibility by non-ecologists and environmental agencies over the scientific community involved in biodiversity studies. After a historical introduction to the use and concept of the term biodiversity, this paper presents some theoretical aspects, concrete methodological proposal, and discussion for the further scientific and consistent use of the term biodiversity.