Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation
What this domain tests
This domain covers genetic, species and ecosystem diversity, hotspots, IUCN categories, threats and conservation strategies. The exam tests in situ and ex situ conservation, wildlife law, invasive species, habitat fragmentation and the difference between richness and evenness.
Core rules and concepts
- Biodiversity has three levels: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
- Species richness is the number of species; evenness describes how individuals are distributed among species. Two communities can have equal richness but different diversity.
- IUCN categories include Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and Extinct.
- Major threats are habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive alien species, pollution, climate change and disease.
- In situ conservation keeps species in their habitat (national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves); ex situ conservation keeps them outside (zoos, seed banks, botanical gardens, cryopreservation).
Worked example
Two communities each have four species. Community A has counts 70, 10, 10, 10; Community B has 25, 25, 25, 25. For Simpson's index D = Σp², A gives 0.7² + 3(0.1²) = 0.52; B gives 4(0.25²) = 0.25. For Simpson, a lower D means higher diversity, so B is more diverse despite equal richness. Reason: A is dominated by one species, so its evenness is lower.
Traps that cost marks
Do not treat richness as the whole of biodiversity. Endemic does not mean endangered. A hotspot needs both high endemism and serious habitat loss. Ex situ conservation is a backup, not a substitute for protecting habitat. Remember that wildlife protection also requires corridors and community participation.