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Classify different aspects of biodiversity including: population, species, community, and ecosystem
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Define the concepts of population, species, community, and ecosystem
Differentiate between examples of populations, species, communities, and ecosystems
Compare biodiversity between different sites/stands/communities
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Classify different aspects of biodiversity including: genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Define the concepts of alpha, beta, and gamma diversity
Differentiate between alpha, beta, and gamma diversity using data
Calculate alpha, beta, and gamma diversity when provided with appropriate data
Interpret alpha, beta, and gamma diversity when provided with appropriate data
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Classify different aspects of biodiversity including: genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Define the concepts of genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
Differentiate between the concepts of genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
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Interpret diversity metrics
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Calculate appropriate biodiversity metrics
Analyze biodiversity metrics
Interpret biodiversity metrics
Compare biodiversity metrics between biological communities
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Explain the importance of biodiversity to humans and to the environment
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Explain the values of biodiversity and ecosystems
Identify and differentiate ecosystem services
Determine the ecosystem services provided by aspects of biodiversity
Describe alternative valuation methods for biodiversity
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Assess the threats to a given species when provided with appropriate data
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Describe the effects of human activities on species
Using published information or other sources, identify the risks of extinction that a given species faces
Rank or otherwise prioritize threats and risks to a given species
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Explain the causes and implications of the “biodiversity crisis,” including the seven major threats to biodiversity: Habitat destruction, Habitat fragmentation, Habitat degradation, Global climate change, Overexploitation of species for human uses, Invasion of nonnative species, and Spread of disease
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Identify each of the anthropogenic causes of the biodiversity crisis
Rank anthropogenic threats to a given species
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Assess the risks of extinction for a given species
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Determine what data would be required to assess the risks of extinction
Discuss the role of abiotic and biotic factors in species success or survival
Use the results of a population viability assessment to assess the risk of extinction for a population or species
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Critique the ethical implications of human actions on biodiversity
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Explain the ethical considerations of biodiversity loss
Develop critiques of human impacts on biodiversity using ethical frameworks
Evaluate statements about biodiversity loss
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Critique conservation plans (reserve design, species management plan, etc.) from the perspective of different at-risk species, using appropriate ecological theories and data
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Assess the validity of conservation plans in addressing threats to biodiversity
Identify misleading or incorrect findings
Recommend viable conservation plans
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Prioritize conservation goals and efforts using multiple approaches
Assessment Strategies
Written Product, Quiz, and/or Exam
Criteria
Rank conservation goals
Determine priorities for action
Identify misleading or incorrect findings
Rate the viability of proposed solutions