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Assignment Content Many people see the conservation of biodiversity as an impossible task

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Assignment Content
Many people see the conservation of biodiversity as an impossible task. The sixth mass extinction has been forecasted by many as a virtual inevitability. However, conservation biologists know that much can be done to forestall the extinction of endangered species with sufficient research and effort. The key is to understand what is needed. Your mission is to research the systems that cause a species to become endangered. 

Instructions
To complete Assignment 1, complete all three of the following steps:
Sign up for a species: Sign up on the official SPECIES SIGN-UP LIST (). There can be only one student working on each species, so sign up early.
Research your species. Research the biology and ecology of your species. Look up its current conservation status, population trends, and the major threats to its population.
Write and edit a detailed conservation report. Write a 1000-word report that includes the following four sections (use subheadings):
Biology and Ecology: Describe the ecosystem that your species belongs to, the main interacting species (e.g. prey, predators, competitors etc.), the functional role your species plays within that ecosystem (e.g. seed disperser, nutrient cycler, apex predator, habitat engineer, prey, etc.). Describe your species’ habitat requirements (e.g. climate, food, shelter, special nursery habitat, special mating areas etc.), its reproductive capacity (e.g. how many offspring and how quickly it could bounce back if threats were reduced), and its range (previous extent and current extent of species distribution). This section should answer the conservation needs and capabilities of your species. Be sure to cite (APA intext) and reference (APA) all your sources.
History and Current Status: Describe how the population and range of your species has declined over the past 100 years (give numbers). Explain how much habitat has been lost or degraded, and/or other factors that have decreased its population over time. Describe current threats to your species such as climate change and invasive species. Describe conservation plans that have been put in place to protect your species and how they have fared. This section should explain in detail the change in population and habitat over time, using numbers wherever possible. Be sure to cite (APA intext) and reference (APA) all your sources.
Systems Map and Systems Analysis: 1) Create a 'System Map' that details the main human activities, conditions, and human groups that cause(d) the decline of your species population and habitat. You can use any type of Systems Map that shows the multiple factors that have caused the decline in this species' population and habitat over time. Be sure to consider the interactions between these underlying causes. 2) Provide written analysis of how your system operates including credible evidence to support your conclusions. This section should identify the interacting systems that endanger your species. Be sure to cite (APA intext) and reference (APA) all your sources.
References: This section is the full APA Style references list for every in-text citation. You need an APA intext citation for every statement of fact or group of facts in your paper. You should have cited in your paper at least four peer-reviewed journals as well as at least four other credible sources. You should have at least 8 cited sources in total. Use proper APA style for each citation; it is not sufficient to include just the URLs. See Important Guidelines section below for more details.
 
Important Guidelines
Pick a species that no one else has chosen
Pick your species before the posted deadline (week 3).
Be concise; this is a short paper, which should be clear and logical.
Use your own words, simplify the terminology in the articles you use, and define the terms you use. A non-scientist classmate should be able to understand your paper.
If you are guessing or making an arbitrary judgment, be clear about your level of uncertainty (e.g. “it seems likely that ... given ...”).
Italicize scientific names (Genus species).
Make sure that it is easy to trace the logic of your paper through all sections.
Make sure to edit and proofread carefully. Plan on editing to clarify key points. Do not hand in your first draft.
Do not use direct quotes; instead you should paraphrase and cite.
Citations are required for every statement of fact. If in doubt, cite it. You won’t lose marks for too many in-text citations. But you will lose marks if your claims aren’t cited.

Avoid Plagiarism
Make sure to carefully review and follow Humber College's guidelines for avoiding plagiarism. As a tool to help you improve the integrity of your written work, your report will be checked using the SafeAssign tool in Blackboard. You will receive a SafeAssign originality report after your first attempt, showing you the 'score' of how much of your report has been matched with other written sources. Your references will be flagged in the report, but this is not a problem. You can resubmit your report as many times as you wish, before the final project deadline, but only the final copy will be graded.
 
Submission Details
Your report should be submitted by the deadline listed on the Critical Path. The report should be submitted ONLY to Blackboard in the Assignments folder, and NOT by email. Emailed projects will NOT be accepted for grading. The report MUST be submitted in a Word format (.doc, .docx).
By submitting this paper, you agree: (1) that you are submitting your paper to be used and stored as part of the SafeAssign™ services in accordance with the Blackboard Privacy Policy; (2) that your institution may use your paper in accordance with your institution's policies; and (3) that your use of SafeAssign will be without recourse against Blackboard Inc. and its affiliates.

Course Learning Outcomes
This assignment aligns with the following course learning outcomes:
  1. Describe the current and past trends of global biodiversity decline.
  2. Evaluate various economic, social, and moral reasons for conserving biodiversity.
  4. Evaluate the utility of different conservation strategies, including conservation of functional diversity,
    biodiversity hotspots, keystone species, and endangered species.
  5. Analyze strategies to control and regulate overhunting and overfishing.
  6. Explain the mechanism of climate change, its impacts on biodiversity, and what can be done to mitigate for it.
  7. Evaluate strategies to limit the spread and impact of invasive species.
  8. Analyze various causes of habitat loss and strategies to improve, expand, and connect it.
  9. Formulate a plan to conserve an endangered species
  10. Develop and present a comprehensive plan to protect an ecosystem.