Biodiversity and Conservation: Study Guide and Key Concepts

Biodiversity and Conservation

Introduction

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in all its forms, levels, and combinations. Conservation biology is the study and practice of protecting Earth's biological diversity. This study guide covers the measurement of biodiversity, threats to biodiversity, conservation strategies, and the importance of ecosystem services.

Reading and Interpreting Graphs

Steps to Reading a Graph

• Step 1: Identify the variables (independent and dependent).

• Step 2: Examine the axes and units.

• Step 3: Interpret the trends, patterns, and relationships shown.

Example: In a graph showing corn yield over time, the independent variable (e.g., year) is on the x-axis, and the dependent variable (e.g., yield) is on the y-axis.

Types of Graphs

Type	Scatterplots and Line graphs	Bar charts	Histograms
Purpose	Show relationships or trends over time	Compare categories or groups	Show frequency distribution of data
Example	Population growth over years	Number of species in different habitats	Distribution of species sizes

Measuring Biodiversity

Biodiversity Measures

Biodiversity measure	Definition/explanation
Species richness	The number of different species present in an area.
Species evenness	How evenly individuals are distributed among the species present.
Genetic diversity	Variation in genetic makeup among individuals within a species.
Ecosystem diversity	Variety of ecosystems in a given region.

Example: Tropical rainforests have high species richness and genetic diversity.

Global Patterns of Biodiversity

• Biodiversity is highest in tropical regions, especially near the equator (Figure 54.3).

• Trends show decreasing biodiversity toward the poles.

Threats to Biodiversity

Major Threats

Threats	Specific Local Examples
Habitat destruction	Deforestation for agriculture in local forests
Habitat degradation	Pollution of rivers affecting aquatic life
Overexploitation	Overfishing in local lakes
Invasive species	Introduction of non-native plants outcompeting natives
Climate change	Rising temperatures affecting local species distributions

Comparison: Habitat destruction involves complete removal of habitat, while habitat degradation refers to a reduction in habitat quality.

Threats to Vertebrates

• Freshwater, terrestrial, and marine vertebrates face different threats, such as pollution, habitat loss, and overfishing.

• According to data, a significant percentage of birds, mammals, and amphibians are threatened or critically endangered.

Definitions:

• Threatened species: Species likely to become endangered in the near future.

• Critically endangered species: Species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Scientific Process in Conservation Biology

Experimental Design and Hypothesis Testing

Component	Description
Hypothesis	Testable statement predicting an outcome
Null hypothesis	Statement that there is no effect or difference
Experimental setup	Brief description of how the experiment is conducted
Random assignment	Ensures unbiased results
Prediction	Expected outcome if hypothesis is correct
Results	Summary of findings
Conclusion	Interpretation of results

Example: Testing the effect of habitat restoration on species richness.

Ecosystem Services

Types of Ecosystem Services

Type of ecosystem service to humans	Specific examples
Provisioning	Food, water, timber
Regulating	Climate regulation, flood control
Supporting	Nutrient cycling, soil formation
Cultural	Recreation, spiritual value

Example: Forests provide timber (provisioning), regulate climate (regulating), and offer recreational opportunities (cultural).

Conservation Strategies

Types of Conservation Strategies

Type of conservation strategy	Specific local examples
Protected areas	Establishing wildlife reserves
Restoration ecology	Replanting native vegetation
Sustainable resource management	Regulating fishing quotas

Example: Creating a local park to protect endangered species.

Key Concepts and Models

Resistance vs. Resilience

• Resistance: The ability of an ecosystem to remain unchanged when subjected to disturbance.

• Resilience: The ability of an ecosystem to recover after disturbance.

Model: Draw a diagram showing an ecosystem's response to disturbance, with resistance as minimal change and resilience as rapid recovery.

Species Richness and Plant Biomass

• Generally, higher species richness leads to greater plant biomass due to complementary resource use.

Equation: $\text{Plant Biomass} \propto \text{Species Richness}$

Human Niche and Future Changes

• The human niche is expected to change due to technological advances, population growth, and environmental pressures.

Reflection and Ethical Considerations

• Biodiversity is important for ecosystem stability, human well-being, and ethical responsibility to future generations.

• Conserving biodiversity ensures the continued provision of ecosystem services and the survival of species.

Additional info: Some content was inferred and expanded for completeness and clarity, including definitions, examples, and academic context.