The study of biodiversity is not just about counting species. It also includes genetic, evolutionary, and functional diversity. Simply looking at species diversity is not enough to understand biodiversity. Regions can have the same number of species but very different levels of genetic and functional diversity. This means we need to consider all aspects of biodiversity to truly understand it. Ecologists are now focusing on studying the relationships between species diversity, functional traits, and evolutionary history to get a better understanding of biodiversity patterns. This new approach is leading to a better understanding of how biodiversity is formed.