Abstract

Two phrases — biological integrity and biological diversity—have joined the lexicon of biologists and natural resource managers during the past two decades. The importance of these phrases is demonstrated by their influence on environmental research, regulatory, and policy agendas. The concepts behind the phrases are central to strategies being developed to sustain global resources. Unfortunately, the phrases are widely used by the media, citizens, policy makers, and some biologists without adequate attention to the concepts they embody. Precise use of the terms integrity and diversity can help set and achieve societal goals for sustaining global resources; imprecise or inappropriate use may exacerbate biotic impoverishment—the systematic decline in biological resources.