3. Biodiversity and conservation

3.1 An introduction to biodiversity   

Significant ideas: Biodiversity can be identified in a variety of forms including species diversity, habitat diversity and genetic diversity. The ability to both understand and quantify biodiversity is important to conservation efforts.

Resources:

Power points	Case Studies	Activities	Useful Links
Biodivesity and conservation	Global levels of biodiversity could be lower than we think, new study warns	Why Biodiversity matters/ Questions review	Biodiversity-Population Matters

3.2 Origins of biodiversity

Significant ideas: Evolution is a gradual change in the genetic character of populations over many generations achieved largely through the mechanisms of natural selection. Environmental change gives new challenges to species, which drives evolution of diversity. There have been major mass extinction events in the geological past.

Resources:

Power points	Case Studies	Activities	Useful Links
Origins of biodiversity	Natural Selection : Biston betularia  Camels were not originally Desert Animals The Anthropocene epoch: scientists declare dawn of human-influenced age Fossils and Evolution Factsheet Disappearing snakes and the Biodiversity crisis Scientists reconstruct extinct species using fossils found in northern Mali from ancient seaway	IB questions review with MK Plate Tectonics Simulation Assignment The call of Life: Facing the Mass extinction ( Documentary)	Natural Selection and Evolution-Science Sauce Isolation of Population- Science Sauce Mass extinctions-Science Sauce

3.3 Threats to biodiversity

Significant ideas: While global biodiversity is difficult to quantify, it is decreasing rapidly due to human activity. Classification of species conservation status can provide useful tool in conservation of biodiversity.

Resources:

Power points	Case Studies	Activities	Useful Links
Threats to biodiversity	Borneo's Rainforest Case Study Madagascar- a biodiversity Hotspot	IUCN Red List assignment For a named endangered species, discuss why it is endangered and why it should be conserved( Practice Essay question) Invasive Species Project	OCEAN CONSERVANCY's Blog

3.4 Conservation of biodiversity

Significant ideas: The impact of losing biodiversity drives conservation efforts. The variety of arguments given for the conservation of biodiversity will depend on environmental value systems. There are various approaches to the conservation of biodiversity, with associated strengths and limitations.

Resources:

Power points	Case Studies	Activities	Useful Links
Conservation of biodiversity	Keystone sp. Case Study SeaWorld responds to questions about captive orcas, 'Blackfish' film	CITES: solving the extinction crisis A protected Area Case Study Captive Breeding Project	Shape of Nature Reserves-Science Sauce Protected Areas- IUCN OCEAN CONSERVANCY's Blog A Plan to Save Wildlife May Have Done More Harm Than Good