C.4 Conservation of Biodiversity

Essential Idea

• Entire communities need to be conserved in order to preserve biodiversity.

Understandings

1. An indicator species is an organism used to assess a specific environmental condition.

2. Relative numbers of indicator species can be used to calculate the value of a biotic index.

3. In situ conservation may require active management of nature reserves or national parks.

4. Ex situ conservation is the preservation of species outside their natural habitats.

5. Biogeographic factors affect species diversity.

6. Richness and evenness are components of biodiversity.

Applications

1. Case study of the captive breeding and reintroduction of an endangered animal species.

2. Analysis of the impact of biogeographic factors on diversity limited to island size and edge effects.

Skills

1. Analysis of the biodiversity of two local communities using Simpson’s reciprocal index of diversity.

Key Vocabulary

• Conservation

  • In situ

  • Ex situ

    • Captive breeding

    • Reintroduction

• Preservation

• Biodiversity

  • Biogeographic factors

    • Island size

    • Edge effect

  • Simpson's Diversity Index

    • Richness

    • Evenness

• Indicator species

• Biotic index

Textbook Reading and/or Activities

Click HERE for a pdf of chapter 9.

• Pages 476-493

  • Worked Example (p.481)

  • TOK (p.481)

  • Challenge Yourself (p.488)

  • Worked Example (p.489)

  • Challenge Yourself (p.490)

  • Exercises (p.491)

  • Practice Questions (p.491-493)

Notes

C.4 Conservation of Biodiversity

A detailed set of notes, prepared by Bob Smullen, examining U1-U6, A1-A2 and S1.

i-Biology

A detailed set of notes, prepared by Stephen Taylor, examining U1 - U6.

i-Biology Notes

A set of notes, prepared by Stephen Taylor, examining S1.

Bioknowledgy Notes

A detailed set of notes, created by Chris Paine, examining all of the IB learning expectations.

Bob Smullen Ecology Review

A series of questions, prepared by Bob Smullen, to help check your understanding of both Topic 4 and Option C based on Ecology. This is VERY GOOD practice.

Learning Activities

Investigation into the Effect of an Environmental Disturbance in an Ecosystem (p.481-483)

This lab activity, prepared by Pearson, will help you improve your sampling techniques and better understand how to determine Simpson's Diversity Index values.

Lab - Diversity of Cars

This lab activity will help you improve your understanding of Simpson's Diversity Index.

Supplemental Reading

Abiotic vs. Biotic

This reading (<15 mins), prepared by Diffen, clearly outlines the differences between abiotic and biotic components of the environment. It includes a relevant SlideShare and two videos to help clarify each concept.

Should Watch Videos