Conservation Biology (Biology 45300)

An Ecology Course for the Fall of 2011 with RF Rockwell

 

 
 
This course meets in a secure area of the American Museum of Natural History.  Until I can arrange access for each student, please go to the Security Desk at the 77th Street entrance no later than 12:15.  We will meet you there and go to the classroom.  Thanks!

 

Is this polar bear upset because global climate change is thawing the arctic?

Could it be he is hungry since the warming makes it more difficult to catch seals? Could it be that he is tired of humans thinking he (and his species) can not again survive a period of warming?

This is one of many problems we will examine this Fall semester in Conservation Biology. We will also examine how simple models coupled with natural history can be applied to complex, real-world situations. We will explore demography, population dynamics (including epidemics), community dynamics (including herbivory, predation, and competition) and ecosystem functioning (including nutrient cycling and energy flow).

We will draw on real world studies and problems involving various animal and plant species that are in some sort of trouble. We will also explore how hard science often has to be softened to reach conservation goals acceptable to a diverse society.

You will gain personal experience at this by advocating for an endangered or threatened species and part of your grade will depend on your success.

The course meets on Wednesdays from 12:30to 3:30pm in the Ornithology classroom at the American Museum of Natural History. It is limited to 20 students.

The Text for the course is: Primack, RB. 2010. Essentials of Conservation Biology, Fifth Edition, Sinauer, Sunderland. ISBN: 978-0-87893-640-3.

Contact information for rf rockwell is:

212.769.5795 and rfrockwell@gmail.com (subject=conservation biology) to avoid the spam pit.

 

date topic reading
08/31 conservation biology and biological diversity  chapters 1-2
09/07 more on biodivdersity and its global distribution  chapters 2-3
09/14 biodiversity and its value: economic and ecological chapters 4-5
09/21 biodiversity and its value: indirect and ethical chapters 5-6
09/28 no classes
10/05

threats to biodiversity: extinction and vulnerability          project species choice due

 chapters 7-8
10/12 threats to biodiversity: habitat, environment, exploitation, invasives and disease  chapters 9-10
10/19 population biology chapters 11-12
10/26 reintroductions and ex situ conservation chapters 13-14
11/02 practical applications  chapters 15-16
11/09 practical applications chapters 17-19
11/16 student presentations  
11/23 thanksgiving break  
11/30 student presentations  
12/07 student presentations and a review for the exam  
12/14 reading day
12/21 final exam and papers due  

readings are from Primack, RB. 2011. Essentials of Conservation Biology, Fifth Edition.

Your grade in the course will be based on a final exam (40%), your oral (25%) and written (25%) presentation of your endangered species or habitat project and (10%) on class participation during the weekly conservation events portion of the class.

You must select your endangered species by 10/05 or I will assign one you have never heard of.  Only one person can have a given species and it is first come first served.

Student presentations will begin 11/16 and the names will be listed above. On a given date, order of presentation will be by draw of a card. Remember you have 15 only minutes for your presentation followed by 5 minutes of questions and discussion.

Your written report (no more than 5 pages, double spaced and at least 10 pitch) are due 12/21/11.

 

Endangered Species Project Topics

For your endangered species, you must consider the following:

1. Basic biology of the species that is relevant to its being endangered.

2. Historic population size and distribution

3. Current population size and distribution

4. What are the primary causes of the change in population size and distribution?

5. What actions are being taken to “help” the species? (e.g. what are the recommendations in the endangered specie’s management plan?)

6. Do you think these are the appropriate actions? Why?

7. What would you do to “help” the species?

Best starting point for your project is the red list of endangered species

 
Presentations

date surname species
16-Nov amin brazilizn atlantic rain forest
16-Nov ishtihar andean cat
16-Nov jaijairam bengal tiger
16-Nov perez loggerhead sea turtle
16-Nov rizzo yellow-legged frogs
16-Nov villar northern hairy-nosed wombat
16-Nov wagner asian elephant
30-Nov ahkamuzzaman siberian tiger
30-Nov ahmad polar bear
30-Nov ahmeti african lion
30-Nov duong roseate spoonbill
30-Nov gilles giant panda
30-Nov javed blue whale
30-Nov rahman green sea turtle
7-Dec casseus alabama sturgeon
7-Dec jimenez red wolf
7-Dec mayan snow leopard
7-Dec polycarpe sand cat
7-Dec raghunauth tasmanean devil

 

last revised 07/02/11