Luther 2003a (Article) Ecuador

Twenty Years of Bromeliad Research in Ecuador

Author(s):—H.E. Luther

Publication:—Selbyana 24(1): 113-115. (2003)

Abstract:—Numerous people talk about biodiversity in the tropics. As a botanist, I am frequently asked what I am doing to protect biodiversity. I typically respond that my most valuable and basic contributions are the three Ds—discovery, documentation, and dissemination of information for people who need to know what lives where. The three Ds are time-consuming but intellectually stimulating and essential for conservation. Tropical wet forests contain a high concentration of the earth's biodiversity, and there are not enough people available to go out and find it. We are always racing against the clock—actually, racing against bulldozers.
Questions frequently asked of tropical biologists include how many bromeliads are there? Or even more detailed questions such as, how many bromeliads occur in Ecuador? How many earthworms occur in Paraguay? How many ants are found on a single tree in Costa Rica? These kinds of questions are common, but when it comes to answers, we mostly do not know. We can make educated guesses, but these estimates frequently go down the drain once you take a closer look.