IB Conservation of Biodiversity

1. C4: Conservation of Biodiversity

2. Understandings Applications/Skills
 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.
 Biogeographical factors
 A: Case study of the
captive breeding and
reintroduction of an
endangered animal
species.
 A: Analysis of the impact
of biogeographic factors
on diversity limited to
island size and edge
effects.
 S: Analysis of the
biodiversity of two local
communities using
Simpson’s reciprocal
index of diversity.
Guidance: Simpson’s

4. Macroinvertebrates as indicator species

5. Evenness vs Richness
- Both are a way to measure biological diversity
- Richness: number of different types of organisms
- Evenness: how the quantity of each organism compares to
More
species
therefore
highest
richness
Greatest
eveness as the
two populations
have similar
abundance.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v405/n6783/images/405212aa.2.jpg
An ecosystem is not considered diverse if it is dominated by o

6. Simpson’s reciprocal index can be used to calculate
biodiversity.
D =
N (N - 1)
Σ n (n - 1)
Simpson’s
Reciprocal Index
total of organisms of all species
number of organisms of a
single species
the sum of (all
species)
• It takes into account both richness and evenness
• The greater the biodiversity the higher the value of D
• The lowest possible defined value of D is 1 (only one
species found)
• The maximum value is equal to the number of species
found, this only occurs if all species are equally abundant.

7. Compare the biodiversity of the two
samples:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v405/n6783/images/405212aa.2.jpg
Species
*
Count
A 6
B 1
C 1
Total 8
*correct names not required
Species
*
Count
A 4
B 4
Total 8

8. D =
N (N - 1)
Σ n (n - 1)
Simpson’s Reciprocal Index
total of organisms of all species
number of
organisms of a
single species
the sum of
(all
species)
Species* Count
A 6
B 1
C 1
Total 8
Sample A
D =
8 (8 - 1)
6 (6 - 1) + 1 (1 - 1) + 1 (1 - 1)
D = 1.87
56
30 + 0 + 0
=

9. D =
N (N - 1)
Σ n (n - 1)
Simpson’s Reciprocal Index
total of organisms of all species
number of
organisms of a
single species
the sum of
(all
species)
Species* Count
A 4
B 4
Total 8
Sample B
D =
8 (8 - 1)
4 (4 - 1) + 4 (4 – 1)
D = 2.33
56
12 + 12
=
Sample B has slighter higher
biodiversity

13. General Principles of Nature Reserves (exceptions may exist depending on
composition of local wildlife)

15. Impact of the edge effect on biodiversity
1. Describe the relationship shown in the
abundance graph.
1. Deduce the edge effect upon
biodiversity in Araucaria forests.
2. Suggest a reason why both
abundance and richness is greatest at
the forest edge.
3. Suggest a reason why abundance and
richness decrease after 100 m from the
forest edge.
The graphs show changes in plant community
diversity and composition across an edge
between Araucaria forest and pasture in South
Brazil
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0100-84042006000100008&script=sci_arttext

17. Captive breeding
- Artificial insemination
- Embryo transfer to a surrogate mother
- Cryogenics
- Human raised young
- Keeping a pedigree
Methods
Drawbacks
- Reintroduction into the wild can spread disease
- Captive species at a disadvantage due to inexperience

18. Threats during the 1900s:
• Hunting/predator control programs
(deemed to be a pest)  why?
• Destruction / alteration of habitat
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service initiated a
captive breeding
program enabled the
species to be
reintroduced.
The Mexican Gray Wolf
What were some of the effects of the reduction of the wolf population?
http://ultraculture.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/wolves1.jpg

19. Biogreographical Factors
Three factors
- Latitude gradient: the farther away from the equator, the fewer
the species
- Elevation gradient: species richness increases as you travel up
in altitude until a certain point (mid-point bulge); then it
decreases again
- Area effect: the larger the area, the more species it can support
- “island”- any very isolated area; not necessarily a literal
island

20. Impact of island size on biodiversity
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Area_species_curve_herp
etofauna.svg/2000px-Area_species_curve_herpetofauna.svg.png
1. Describe the
relationship shown
in the graph.
1. Estimate the
number of reptile
and amphibian
species likely to be
found on an island
of 1,000 km2
Total number of reptilian and amphibian species on
seven small and large islands in the West Indies

21. Homework
Vocab
 Indicator species,
biotic index, biological
diversity, evenness,
richness, restoration,
in situ conservation,
ex situ conservation,
latitude gradient,
elevation gradient,
area effect, island,
edge effect
 Pg 693- challenge
yourself 27,28
 Pg 694- challenge
yourself 29
 Pg 695- challenge
yourself 30-32;
Exercises 10-12