Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the general term used to describe the variety in the living world. It reflects on both the variety and complexity of life. Biodiversity can be considered at different levels and can be applied to a small local habitat or to the Earth itself.
It is possible to measure biodiversity by use of an index of diversity, also called species diversity. This is a calculation which refers to the number of different species and the number of individuals of each species within any one community.
Two communities may have the same number of species but the proportions of the community made up of each species may differ. This may be due to external factors such as impact of agriculture, impact of deforestation or overfishing.
Because biodiversity reflects how well an ecosystem functions, maintaining biodiversity is important. The higher the species diversity index the more stable an ecosystem usually is. Actions to maintain biodiversity can be seen at local, national and global levels.
Biodiversity is often a topic used in A level biology to introduce ecology, providing ample opportunities to undertake practical investigations, compile results which can be analysed using species diversity index and subsequently interpreted to compare particular habitats. Often in A level biology exams, questions ask students to compare habitats and comment on how each habitat may be affected by climate change, or the impact on the habitats from farming, deforestation etc.
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Biodiversity *suitable for home teaching*
This colourful leaflet from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) looks at what biodiversity is and why it matters. It also explains how human activities threaten the natural environment, endangering species and habitats and what we are doing about the problem.
The leaflet would work best projected and magnified onto an interactive whiteboard or put on hand held devices as it is quite difficult to read in paper copy. Pairs of students could be asked to read particular sections, for example, pair one-what is Biodiversity? Pair two-why does Biodiversity matter? Pair three-what is a species? Bees on brink and nutrient pollution etc. Each pair has five minutes to read their allocated section and then they must present a one minute summary of their section (without any reference to the original leaflet or written material)
The resource also includes a list of research centres funded by NERC and other agencies and programmes investigating biodiversity. Students could be set research related activities to find three of these websites and provide a summary of findings.
Linnean Learning Posters
This resource is a set of four posters, the one on biodiversity being the most applicable here. This poster could be used in a similar way to the NERC leaflet also included in this list. Pairs or small groups of students could be asked to read particular sections (there are five clear sections on the poster), and then be asked to provide a one minute summary without reference to the original poster or to any written material.
This poster is very easy to read and does print well as an A4 sheet. It would also work as a revision sheet or could be used as a guide in answering an exam question, to provide students with a good model answer that they can then use to revise from.
Galapagos Conservation (Ages 16 to 19) *suitable for home teaching*
This is an off the shelf resource that could be used successfully with A level biologists. It provides a case study approach to studying biodiversity. It would work well as an in-class activity once the initial concepts of biodiversity have be covered. The activities require some individual work and some group work. There are presentations that teachers can use to provide background to the case study and illustration of species. There are also some detailed teacher notes.
It would also be possible for teachers to add some additional data to this case study to allow for the calculation species diversity.
This activity fits into the topic of human impact on ecosystems in terms of considering effective conservation methods
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How Rich Is Your Habitat?
This is a modelling activity on calculating species diversity. The activity demonstrates the principles of random sampling and how to estimate biodiversity. Students use different coloured sugar balls to represent different species in order to calculate Simpson's diversity index and assess its effectiveness.
This would be a useful introductory activity to both sampling techniques and calculation of species diversity, before students took on actual investigations in the field.
Foraging Behaviour in Bumblebees *suitable for home teaching*
This is a very interesting and detailed resource, which provides an opportunity for an alternative range of ecological studies for A level students.
The presentation and teacher notes provide all the information needed to set up these ecological investigations focused on bumble bees.
There are a number of further resource links provided so that students could undertake further research. Once completed the results from investigations would provide the basis for A level students to complete a detailed report linked to biodiversity and impact of human activity on the environment.
Heather Distribution
This is an extensive resource pack linked to a specific field study trip to investigate the distribution of heather on a heathland. To use the pack as it is teachers would need to identify a suitable location - for many this will be possible, but not for all.
It would be possible however to still make use of this resource as the material provides an excellent template for any field study, so if the investigation was changed to seaweed distribution on the beach , the relevant material could be inserted into the presentations and workbooks provided in this resource.
