Assignment:
1. Explain what CITES is and how does it contribute to conservation biology.
2. Explain how remote sensing can be used to measure NPP in terrestrial ecosystems.
3. Explain what mesopredator release is, including its potential effect, in the context of trophic cascade.
4. List and explain the main components of landscape heterogeneity.
5. Explain the similarities and differences between introduced species and invasive species.
6. Explain the function of genetic rescue in conservation biology and why is it considered somewhat controversial.
7. Explain how does the color of the vegetation or surface of an area affect its climate.
8. Explain the similarities and differences between a parasite and a parasitoid.
9. Explain why female tends to be the choosier sex in intersexual selection. What qualities or behavior would likely afford a male to be choosier in intersexual selection?
10. List and explain the different components of trophic efficiency. What are the factors affecting each component? Provide explanation for each factor.
11. List and explain the major drivers of decline in biodiversity. Give an example of each driver.
12. Explain what edge effect is and its potential effects on both abiotic and biotic factors. Describe one example from a peer-reviewed study. Give the citation by including the URL of the article.
13. Explain what an extinction vortex is. List and explain all the potential factors contributing to the phenomenon. What type of population is the most vulnerable to an extinction vortex and what conservation methods can potentially mitigate it?
14. Explain how does resource partitioning (niche partitioning) contribute to the structuring of a community. Describe one example from a peer-reviewed study demonstrating this phenomenon. Give the citation by including the URL of the article.
15. Explain the differences between species richness and species evenness of a community. How is each value quantified? Describe one example from a peer- reviewed study using one or both of these values in studying a community. Give the citation by including the URL of the article.
Answer the following.
B1. Do you consider soil as non-living or living entity? Justify your answer.