Chapter 3 Practice Exercise Instructions

Instructions for Exploring the Conservation Biology Practice Exercises

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

Chapter 3 Practice Exercise: Measures of Diversity

Effective conservation relies on having accurate and precise estimates of biodiversity. Therefore, it is essential that practitioners know how to quantify biodiversity at multiple biological levels (genetic, species, communities) and multiple scales (local, regional). Use the tutorial videos and spreadsheet exercises to practice quantifying genetic diversity, species diversity, and community/ecosystem level diversity. Bonus videos provide advanced training in species accumulation and rarefaction curves, as well as descriptive measures of food web structure.

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 3 Video Topics: Measures of Diversity

Community/ecosystem level diversity measurements

  • Alpha
  • Gamma
  • Beta
  • Rarity-Weighted Richness Index (RWRI)

Species level diversity measurements

  • Simpson’s index
  • Shannon-Wiener index
  • Simpson’s measure of evenness

Genetic diversity measurements

  • Importance of genetic diversity
  • Key terms (gene, locus/loci, allele, diploid, genotype, homozygous, heterozygous, gene pool)
  • Allele diversity measure: polymorphism
  • Genotype diversity measure: heterozygosity

Bonus Videos

  • Species accumulation curves
  • Rarefaction curves
    • Individual-based
    • Sample-based
  • Food webs
  • Descriptive measures (# trophic links, # nodes, density, connectance, trophic vulnerability, trophic generality)

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

You can check your work using this completed spreadsheet.

2. Examine the Questions

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

Many 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.

3. Watch the Bonus Videos

Conclude the Practice Exercise by watching the Bonus Videos that dive deeper into chapter topics and methods.

Bonus Video Topics: Species accumulation curves

Rarefaction curves

  • Individual-based
  • Sample-based

Food webs

  • Descriptive measures (# trophic links, # nodes, density, connectance, trophic vulnerability, trophic generality)
Back to top