Prerequisites:         Introduction to Ecology BISC 204

Additional Instructions: Students would also benefit from taking BISC 300 and either BISC 304 or 404 prior to this course

 

Overview:

 

Conservation biologists seek solutions to the daunting problem of how to preserve the evolutionary potential and ecological viability of the world’s biodiversity in the face of increasing pressure from human activities. In this course we will examine the primary threats to biological diversity, assess how genetic, ecological, and landscape level processes contribute to the persistence of populations and the structure of communities, and explore species and landscape approaches to managing biodiversity on a local and global scale. The course will be organized around lectures, readings from the primary literature and discussions linking scientific research with conservation decisions in the real world.

 

Text:

 

Recommended but NOT required and available on reserve.

Principles of Conservation Biology 3e (2006)

This is the best general conservation biology text available and covers a diversity of subjects some of which we will cover in this course. However, the majority of readings will be from the primary literature.

 

Distribution of Marks:

 

Midterm                           20%

Final                                20%

Presentation                     15%

Participation                      5%

Newspaper article             15%

Scientific review               25%