This exercise presents a scenario and raw data on a realistic conflict between parrot conservation and palm tree harvest. It requires that students analyze data very comparable to what would be gathered in the field, to 1) construct a life tables for the palm and parrot, 2) extract vital statistics about both the palm and parrot population from the life tables, 3) estimate maximum sustainable yield for both species, and 4) make a decision about the sustainability of harvest intensity. It illustrates the importance of data analysis skills for conservation.

Featured in: Lessons in Conservation: Student Learning Issue

See also:
What Is Biodiversity? Analyzing Data to Compare and Conserve Spider Communities
Practice Your Data Analysis Skills!
Parrot Conservation in the Neotropics
Applied Demography

Theme: Communicating and Teaching Science

Language: English

Region: South America

Keywords: conservation, threats, data analysis, management, sustainable, modeling, population dynamics

Components: 2

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