Trident ECOL100 2019 April Module 4 Case & SLP Latest

Module 4 - Case

HABITAT LOSS, LAND USE AND CONSERVATION

Assignment Overview

In this module, you have learned about how carrying capacity imposes restrictions on population growth, and how human economic growth and land use can threaten biodiversity. In this Case Assignment you will look at these topics from three perspectives:

• Case studies of government regulation of land and trade restrictions to address threatened species in the Economist article: “Political Responses: Where eagles dare”

• Examples of large mammals and the size of the habitat necessary to support them

• The cost of conservation in a Botanical Garden case study

Case Assignment

Part I

To prepare for this Case Assignment, answer the following in paragraph format (one paragraph should be plenty):

1. Define “invasive species” using the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website: National Invasive Species Information Center. USDA. invasivespeciesinfo.gov

2. Provide three examples of invasive species in your region.

3. Define “endemic species,” and provide an example of an endemic species from anywhere in the world. If you can find an example of an endemic species in your region, please include it as well.

Now read the following article:

Where eagles dare: The more prosperous countries now favour protecting wildlife, not killing it. (2013). The Economist. Available in the Trident Online Library.

After you have read the article, answer the following questions in paragraph format by using an introduction sentence, related topic sentences, and a conclusion statement that draws connections between the ideas presented.

1. Name some ways that governments are trying to redress threats against endemic species. Briefly, describe the examples presented in this article.

2. What is described as the biggest challenge for governments?

3. How are governments addressing this challenge?

Part II

With habitat loss, less land and resources mean lower carrying capacity. For the second part of this assignment, you will apply the readings from your Module 4 Homepage to two cases in which conservation of habitat applies to carrying capacity and economics. Choose one of these large predators to investigate: One of the large cats (i.e., lions, cougars, panthers, etc.) or polar bears.

1. What size of land/water is required to support this animal?

2. What pressures threaten this organism’s habitat?

3. What role do international trade and political regulation play in protecting this organism? Are these in place and enforced?

Resources

Braun, D. (2012). Lion numbers plunge as African wilderness succumbs to human pressure. National Geographic Society. Retrieved from https://voices.nationalgeographic.org/2012/12/06/lion-numbers-plunge-as-african-wilderness-succumbs-to-human-pressure/

Murdock, E., Harrison, R., Frank, A., & Bonnardeaux, D. (n.d.). Endangered cats of North America. National Wildlife Foundation. Retrieved fromhttps://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Wildlife/catsreport.ashx

Polar Bears International. Accessed August 1, 2017, at https://polarbearsinternational.org/polar-bears.

Part III

Finally, examine the costs and benefits of conservation using the Montgomery Botanical Centre as a case study. View the results of a study on the costs and benefits of preserving a collection of plants at the following site: http://www.bgci.org/resources/article/0634/

1. What are the costs associated with maintaining this collection (generally speaking, not exact numbers)?

2. What are the benefits of preserving this collection and how are they measured? (Hint: They are described as “conservation success.”)

3. What part of this collection gives diminishing returns and why?

4. How does collection size relate to the efficiency of management of the collection?

5. When is it most valuable to preserve a plant species?

Assignment Expectations

Organize this essay assignment using subtitles that summarize the topic from each question above. For example, to answer Question 1, use a descriptive subtitle like the following: Part I: Invasive Species.

Answer each question under the subtitle using complete sentences that relate back to the question. Be sure to use APA formatting throughout your essay with 1-inch margins, 12-point type, and double spacing throughout. Include a title page, introduction, answers to the questions with subtitles, and concluding paragraph. Remember to include in-text citations within the body of the essay referencing your resources (e.g., Murray, 2014). Also, be sure to include a reference section at the end of your assignment listing all required readings and any additional resources you used to complete your essay. A helpful guide to writing a quality essay can be found in Trident's Student Guide to Writing a High-Quality Academic Paper. This guide also provides links to example essays written in APA format.

Direct quotes should be limited and must be designated by quotation marks. Paraphrased ideas must give credit to the original author, for example: (Murray, 2014). Direct copying from “homework help” websites will not receive credit. Once you have completed your assignment within a Word document, please upload your final version to the Case 4 Dropbox. Please also note your Turnitin originality score and make revisions as needed. Please contact your instructor with any questions.

Module 4 - SLP

HABITAT LOSS, LAND USE AND CONSERVATION

For this SLP project, you will research four different species: one that is extinct, one that is critically endangered, one that is endangered and one that is (Threatened) Vulnerable. One species must be a Plant or Fungus, the three remaining species each must be from a different Animal category (Avian, Amphibian, Reptile, Mammal, or Aquatic/Ocean).

Resources

Endangered animals. Accessed July 31, 2017, at https://a-z-animals.com/animals/endangered/.

Endangered Species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Accessed July 31, 2017, at https://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/us-species.html.

One of the most comprehensive lists of endangered and extinct animals and plants can be found atThe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: http://www.iucnredlist.org/

Slide 1: Title Slide

Student Name, Course Title, and Date

Slide 2: Introduction

Topics to be covered in outline form

Slide 3: Extinct Species

Research an extinct species. Include an image of this species. Discuss the following questions: Where does this species live (biome, niche, environment, country)? What is its status on the food chain? When did it go extinct? What was the major cause of its demise?

Slide 4: Critically Endangered Species

Research a critically endangered species. Include an image of this species. Discuss the following questions: Approximately how many are left? When is the estimated time they will become extinct? What is the major cause of their future demise?

Slide 5: Endangered Species

Research an endangered species. Include an image of this species. Discuss the following questions: Approximately how many are left? When is the estimated time they will become extinct? What is the major cause of their future demise?

Slide 6: Vulnerable Species

Research a vulnerable (threatened) species. Include an image of this species. How many are there left or have reappeared? What is being done to help them come back? What was the cause of their decline or demise?

Slide 7: Ecological Impacts

Discuss what will happen or has happened because of the loss of these species you researched to their environment? (What does it mean to be a keystone/indicator species?) What are the ecological ramifications on the community or habitat of other species in the environment as a result of the decline or loss of these species you researched?

Slide 8: Human Intervention

What are we as a human species doing to stop the loss of these vulnerable species or what did we try to do for those species that became extinct? (Discuss examples such as organization/agency involvement and/or government involvement/education).

Slide 9: Conclusion

Summarize your project findings.

Slide 10: References

List the sources used in APA format.

SLP Assignment Expectations

For this SLP assignment, you will develop a PowerPoint Presentation that is 1-10 slides in length and addresses the requirements outlined above. Place the text containing the answers to the questions above in the slide area, summarizing each topic using bullet points (in your own words, expand in more detail using the notes area).

Be sure to include citations referencing your sources on each slide (use either the slide or notes area). Include a descriptive title for each slide that describes the topic being discussed. Be sure to include a title slide with your name, assignment type (e.g., SLP Module 4) and course title. Include an introduction slide with the subjects you will cover in outline form. Include a slide summarizing your project findings (Conclusion slide). Your final slide should contain a list of references cited in APA format.

Please upload your final presentation to the SLP 4 Dropbox. Please also note your Turnitin originality score and make revisions as needed. Please contact your instructor with any questions.