Measuring and managing biodiversity

Students should be able to describe and assess various techniques for estimating biodiversity, including the use of pitfall traps, pooters, quadrats, and transects, as well as random and systematic sampling methods. They should apply these sampling techniques to new scenarios and evaluate both national and international strategies for conserving biodiversity and genetic resources, such as sustainable harvesting of wild species, sustainable forestry and agroforestry, national parks, wildlife reserves, extractive reserves, biosphere reserves, seed banks, and the roles of zoos and captive breeding, along with sustainable tourism and ecotourism. Case studies should include the examination of deforestation causes and effects in a specific area, the conservation of a particular species, and the study of a designated biosphere reserve. Additionally, students should be able to formulate aims and hypotheses, design effective questionnaires for data collection, create simple experiments with appropriate controls, and understand the evaluation of sampling techniques. They should also be proficient in mathematical skills, including basic operations, averages, percentages, ratios, and the interpretation of data through tables, charts, and graphs, as well as understanding geometric terms and map scales.