Understandings:

• An indicator species is an organism used to assess a specific environmental condition.
• Relative numbers of indicator species can be used to calculate the value of a biotic index.
• In situ conservation may require active management of nature reserves or national parks.
• Ex situ conservation is the preservation of species outside their natural habitats.
• Biogeographic factors affect species diversity.
• Richness and evenness are components of biodiversity.

Applications and skills:

• Application: Case study of the captive breeding and reintroduction of an endangered animal species.
• Application: Analysis of the impact of biogeographic factors on diversity limited to island size and edge effects.
• Skill: Analysis of the biodiversity of two local communities using Simpson’s reciprocal index of diversity.