Chapter 11 Practice Exercise Instructions

Instructions for Exploring the Conservation Biology
Practice Exercises

This chapter of the Second Edition of Conservation Biology concludes with a Practice Exercise, which provides students the opportunity to learn and apply research skills and concepts related to the chapter content.

Chapter 11 Practice Exercise: Species Distribution Models

Invasive alien species (IAS) are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Because of this, practitioners must be adept at predicting the introduction and spread of IAS. Use the tutorial videos and spreadsheet exercises to practice constructing species distribution models (SDMs), which are a key tool that conservation biologists use to predict the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.

1. Begin with the Videos

Each Practice Exercise begins with videos from author James D. Murdoch that 1) introduce the Practice Exercise and concepts involved; 2) explore and explain the concepts in depth; and 3) demonstrate tools used in the practical study of those concepts.

For each Chapter Practice Exercise, the student should watch these videos first!

Chapter 11 Video Topics: Protected Area Networks

Species distribution models (SDMs)

  • Logistic regression
  • Maximum likelihood
  • Constructing linear models that predict species occurrence
    • Single covariate models
    • Additive covariate models

Model selection

  • Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC)
  • Determining the “best” model among a group of models

Prediction

  • Using a model to predict distribution across a landscape: mapping an invasive species distribution

Bonus Video

Building an SDM (occupancy model) that accounts for detection probability

Download this spreadsheet, and use it as you follow along with the videos.

You can check your work using this completed spreadsheet. For the Bonus Video, follow along with this bonus spreadsheet, and check your work with the completed spreadsheet.

2. Examine the Questions

Each Practice Exercise features a series of questions, which guide students through key questions and concepts.

Some questions may ask you to utilize different parts of the spreadsheet you used in the videos. They also provide a space to upload completed spreadsheets and to record any other responses or information requested.

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