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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 4 Practice Exercise: Island Biogeography Theory
IBT is pillar of conservation science because it provides a way to predict species diversity based on two habitat characteristics that are widely used in conservation planning—area and isolation. In this practice exercise, you will watch tutorial videos and complete spreadsheet exercises that teach you how to use IBT to predict how species diversity will respond to changes in habitat area and isolation.
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 4 – Video Topics: Island Biogeography
- Island biogeography model
- Defining immigration rate
- Defining extinction rate
- Estimating species richness at equilibrium
- Estimating species turnover rate at equilibrium
- Area effects on species richness
- Isolation effects on species richness
Bonus Videos
- Lotka Volterra competition model
- Lotka Volterra predation model
Download this spreadsheet shell, 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.