Course review
Review each learning objective in this topic, then open its concept explanation or question set.
Learning objective
• Biodiversity is the variety of life in its forms, levels, and combinations • It includes ecosystem, species, and genetic diversity • Species diversity depends on richness and evenness; Simpson's reciprocal index compares communities
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Learning objective
• About 9 million species are estimated, with many still undescribed • Fossils and radiometric dating give incomplete evidence of past biodiversity • Current species diversity may be higher than in the past, but fossil gaps make this uncertain
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Learning objective
• Human activity is driving a sixth mass extinction • Hunting, habitat change, and resource use caused extinctions such as North Island giant moa • Caribbean monk seal loss shows how removing a top predator can alter food webs
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Learning objective
• Ecosystem loss is mainly caused by anthropogenic disturbance and habitat conversion • Mixed dipterocarp forests in Borneo are lost through logging and oil palm plantations • Great Barrier Reef loss is linked to climate, pollution, fishing, and other human pressures
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Learning objective
• IPBES reports and repeated biodiversity surveys provide evidence of crisis • Richness, evenness, and Simpson's reciprocal index can compare disturbed and undisturbed habitats • Peer-reviewed studies and citizen science both contribute data, with reliability checks needed
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Learning objective
• Human population growth increases demand for food, housing, energy, and land • Major drivers include overexploitation, urbanization, deforestation, agriculture, mining, and pollution • Invasive species such as lionfish and water hyacinth can outcompete or disrupt native species
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Learning objective
• Conservation needs multiple approaches because species and threats differ • In situ conservation uses protected areas, reserve design, corridors, active management, and rewilding • Ex situ conservation uses zoos, captive breeding, botanic gardens, seed banks, and tissue banks
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Learning objective
• EDGE prioritizes evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered species • It combines phylogenetic uniqueness with IUCN extinction risk • The goal is to prevent disproportionate loss of evolutionary history
Start with the concept explanation, then practise to create mastery evidence.