Science·Animals of the World·conceptual
The Biodiversity Crisis
Quantify the current biodiversity crisis: extinction rates 100-1000x the background rate; explain methods for measuring biodiversity loss (species-area relationship, population viability analysis, IUCN Red List categories); evaluate rewilding case studies — Yellowstone wolf reintroduction triggering a trophic cascade that changed river courses; Iberian lynx recovery; describe minimum viable population theory and conservation triage; examine ethical debates in deciding which species to prioritise
Suggested ages 12–14
Evidence of understanding
No evidence statements are recorded.
Assessment prompt
Can The Biodiversity Crisis describe what happened to Yellowstone National Park after wolves were reintroduced — what unexpected changes rippled through the whole ecosystem, including effects on rivers, as a result of one predator coming back?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.