This course involves three hours of lectures and/or in-class exercises and one hour of tutorial or student-led seminar per week. Both aspects may integrate active learning, and discussion of primary literature and current events.
1. History of conservation biology, including a review of the scientific method
2. Fundamentals of conservation – focus will be on reviewing concepts pertinent to conservation biology that were introduced in the prerequisite courses
a. Genetic bottlenecks
b. Mutation, speciation and extinction rates
c. Ecology of small populations
d. Metapopulations
e. Landscape ecology
f. Trophic levels, bioaccumulation and food webs
g. Nutrient cycling
h. Invasion biology
3. Biodiversity
a. Patterns of biodiversity at different ecological scales (i.e. genetic, species, ecosystem, biome)
b. Value of biodiversity
c. Measuring biodiversity
4. Problems and threats
a. Loss of diversity
b. Habitat loss/fragmentation
c. Pollution
d. Climate change
e. Exploitation and invasive species
5. Solutions
a. Genetic- and species-level
i. Species-at-Risk assessment and legislation
ii. In situ vs. ex situ conservation
b. Community- and ecosystem-level
i. Protected areas
ii. Conservation outside protected areas
iii. Restoration ecology
6. Human impacts on conservation. Topics may include:
a. Conservation efforts by hunting and fishing groups
b. Citizen science
c. Conservation on private land
d. Variation in legislation among governmental units (within and among countries)
e. The tragedy of the commons (possibly as it pertains to international waters or another global resource)
f. Ascribing economic value to biodiversity
g. Impact of conservation measures on non-target species
7. Further special topics will be covered in student-led discussions and/or guest lectures
By the end of the course the successful student will be able to:
-
Place the current study of conservation biology within a historical and scientific context.
-
Apply ecological, evolutionary and genetic theory to specific problems in conservation biology.
-
Evaluate the relationship between humans and biodiversity.
-
Identify the means by which species’ declines can be detected, diagnosed, and remedied.
-
Identify the means by which community and ecosystem declines can be detected, diagnosed and remedied.
-
Recognize and appreciate some of the controversial issues in biological conservation.
-
Recognize the practical and economic limitations of implementing management actions to conserve species and habitats.
-
Evaluate current issues related to conservation during class discussions and in formal presentations.
Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøÆØÒ»Çø¶þÇø policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:
| Evaluation | Marks |
| Seminar | 10-20 |
| Participation | 5-10 |
| Midterm examination | 15-25 |
| Final examination | 15-25 |
| Final project | 25-35 |
| TOTAL | 100 |
Students should consult the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøÆØÒ»Çø¶þÇø Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. For example, textbooks and materials may include:
Primack, Richard B. Essentials of Conservation Biology, current edition, Sinauer Press.
BIOL 3305 or permission of the instructor.
None
None
None