What are Ecologists Doing to Understand Biodiversity? Ecological Society of America 02.01.01 Knowledge of biodiversity has increased in the last ten years, as has the realization that something must be done to counteract the loss of species, populations, and ecosystems. There is still much to be learned about biodiversity and its relationship to the functioning of our world, so scientific research and debate continues. And results are being applied to efforts to conserve biodiversity now.     Ecologists conduct research to better understand biodiversity, quantify its loss, and develop strategies for conserving and using it. Much is still unknown as to what species exist, where they occur, and the relationships between them. By inventorying and monitoring biodiversity, ecologists study species abundance, functions, interactions, and importance to maintaining or enhancing the quality of human life. Prepared by the Ecology Society of America   1707 H St., NW   Suite 400   Washington, DC 20006 ©2001 The Aurora Collection, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site Development by: Interactive Multimedia. Inc.