Biodiversity Informatics, 19, 2025, pp. 85 85 Book Review THE GAME OF SPECIES. AN INTRODUCTION TO BIODIVERSITY. J. S. López. Pelagic Publishing, 2022 Sara Gamboa MapasLab, Ecology and Animal Biology Department, University of Vigo, Spain The Game of Species: An Introduction to Biodiversity offers a distinctive synthesis of evolutionary and ecologi- cal thought, presented through the powerful metaphor of a game. The “pieces” are species, the “boards” are ecological and evolutionary arenas, and the “rules” are the processes that generate and sustain diversity. This framing, at once playful and rigorous, provides an accessible yet sophisticat- ed introduction to biodiversity science. The book is an English-language adaptation and ex- pansion of López’s earlier El Juego de las Especies (2019), originally published in Spanish. In revising the text for an international audience, the author has updated examples, in- tegrated recent literature, and refined the pedagogical flow. The result is not merely a translation, but a thoughtful re- working that situates the book ideally within broader de- bates in biodiversity and conservation. Each chapter builds progressively: from the origin of species (On the Origin of Pieces), to their ecological func- tions (On the Roles of Pieces), the environments that struc- ture them (On the Boards), and the dynamic processes that animate them (On the Dynamics of the Game). The treat- ment of coevolution and the Red Queen hypothesis (Van Valen), the presentation of the classic framework of island biogeography (MacArthur & Wilson), and the discussion of adaptive radiations place the book firmly in the lineage of modern evolutionary ecology. Darwin’s legacy is present throughout, not in a purely historical sense but as an ongo- ing influence on how we ask and answer questions about the diversity of life. One of the book’s strengths is its ability to convey com- plexity without resorting to unnecessary jargon. López ex- plains why biodiversity is unevenly distributed across the planet, why extinction is as important as speciation, and why ecological interactions create functional rather than merely numerical diversity. The discussion is enriched by careful illustrations that serve not only as visual aids, but as integral components of the narrative. Inclusion of a glossary further enhances the accessibility of the text, making it par- ticularly valuable for students and non-specialists who may be encountering these concepts for the first time. At the same time, the book does not shy away from pre- senting the field’s major theoretical frameworks. Readers are introduced to the Red Queen hypothesis, island bioge- ography, ecological niches, keystone species, and function- al diversity. These explanations are faithful to the original sources while presented in a way that highlights their con- tinuing relevance. For evolutionary biologists, this balance of synthesis and pedagogy is particularly appealing: the text revisits familiar debates while offering a fresh metaphorical lens. The closing chapters (Redux and The Future of Life) provide both a synthesis and a call to action. López em- phasizes that understanding biodiversity as a game entails recognizing our own disruptive role as players who alter the rules. The urgency of conservation emerges as a natu- ral consequence of the scientific narrative, rather than as a moral afterthought. The intended audience is broad: undergraduate and graduate students in biology will find it an accessible entry point; educators will appreciate its clarity and illustrative richness; and professionals will enjoy the reflective value of revisiting foundational questions. It also works as a piece of high-level science communication for readers outside aca- demia, who will find in it both intellectual stimulation and aesthetic pleasure. If there is a limitation, it is the book’s relatively cursory treatment of microbial diversity. This gap is acknowledged by the author from the outset. Still, the book’s candor about its scope, its elegant prose, and its integration of illustration and glossary compensate amply for this omission. In conclusion, The Game of Species is a lucid, engag- ing, and beautifully produced introduction to biodiversity science. By combining metaphor, illustration, classical theory, and contemporary concerns, López has produced a work that informs, inspires, and challenges. For those of us trained in evolutionary biology, it is a welcome reminder of why biodiversity matters: not only as an object of study, but as the living game in which we, too, are players.