Biodiversity is the study of the distribution of the natural habitats of plants and their climatic conditions. The diversity of these natural habitats has expanded over the course of history through natural selections and through introductions. As climatic conditions in a given habitat change, so do the inhabitants of that habitat due to the ability or inability of a plant specie to adapt to that change. Those that can adapt will continue to grow and prosper, while those populations which cannot will dwindle and die out. These conditions include such factors as light, wind, rain, fires, floods, change in soil composition due to erosion and other natural conditions. Introductions also effect the biodiversity of an area. This may be the result of wind dispersing spores or seed, rains transporting seed from one area to another, birds carrying seed to different aras, or as a result of mankind being the vehicle of distribution. The latter instance is usually the vehicle that causes the widest distribution. Regardless of the cause or vehicle for a change in the biodiversity of a natural area, the importance of studying these plants is to learn about the physical requirements of the plants that live in the area and the changes that had to be overcome in order to adapt to this environment. By studying these conditions and changes, we are able to determine whether a desired specie will be able to adapt to a different geographical habitat which has similar climatic conditions. Also we can draw conclusions with respect to the aggressiveness of a specie based on the mamnner in which it performed in its native habitat under similar conditions. It is through these types of studies that we can give our students a sense of reason for physiological changes they are observing in these plants as they study them. As observations in the biodiversity of an area is made, we are also able to draw comparisons between regions in which the same specie is growing under similar conditions. This provides insight as to the aggressiveness and hardiness of a particular specie. With this information in hand we are enabled to make predictions as to how a particular specie would perform if introduced into an entirely new geographical region. This also would allow us to make a determination as to whether introduction of this specie would yield positive or negative results. Recently, there has been much discussion regarding invasive species. We would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge the fact that there is good reason for concern in this area. We do not want our native habitats to be overun or destroyed by foriegn invasives, and must protect the biodiversity of natural habitats. Equally, however, it must be pointed out that a given specie which is a fastidious grower in one region, may not be fastidious in another. With this in mind we must be careful not to attach a label to a specie based on what we observe in one particular region. It is also important to point out that because of different growth rates between regions, what is considered fastidious or invasive in one region might in fact be considered endangered or threatened in another. The best solution we can offer for this problem is control as opposed to hahazard eradication. Our work in this area therefore will involve careful analysis of the biodiiversity of particular region, the species represented, and their growth habits in order to make sound scientifically based recommendations as to whether a particular specie needs confinement to a restricted space such as an arboretum or botanic garden, a severely restricted space such as a conservatory or greenhouse environment or recommended for general use in landscape situations by the public. we will also use this knowledge to encourage the controlled use of aggressive species from one region to address the endangered or threatened status of that specie in another geographical region whenever possible. © BOTRESEARCH USA 1998-2008