Conservation Biology (Biology 45300)

An Ecology Course for the Fall of 2008 with RF Rockwell

 

 

Both Steller’s and Spectacled eiders are threatened species of ducks living in Alaska and Siberia. Their population sizes have declined precipitously over the past 10 years. The reasons have to do with basic demography, environmental contamination and global warming. Our attempts to reverse the declines rely on quantitative models of their population and community biology as well as models of ecosystem processes.  These models build on information covered in our core undergraduate population and community biology course and form a natural follow-up for those interested in how basic ecology can be applied to conservation and wildlife management issues.

In Conservation Biology, we will 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.

The course meets on Thursday from 9:15AM to noon in Marshak 043.

The Text for the course is: Primack, RB. 2008. A Primer of Conservation Biology, Fourth Edition, Sinauer, Sunderland. ISBN: 978-0-87893-692-2.

 

date topic reading
08/28 introduction  
09/04 review of population growth models  
09/11 biodiversity and value pages 1-72
09/18 threats to biological diversity pages 73-124
09/25 extinction pages 125-156
10/02 conservation of populations and species pages 157-200
10/09 no class  
10/16 conservation of populations and species pages 157-200
10/23 conserving biological communities pages 201-264
10/30 conserving biological communities and student presentations pages 201-264
11/06 student presentation  
11/13 no class  
11/20 student presentations  
11/27 no class  
12/04 student presentations and a review for the exam  
12/11 final exam  

readings are from Primack, RB. 2008. A Primer of Conservation Biology, Fourth Edition.

Presenetations will be given over a 4 week period including. On a given day, order of presentation will be determined by random draw. The schedule is given below.

 

Your grade in the course will be based on a final exam (50%) and your oral (25%) and written (25%) presentation of your endangered species or habitat project.

Student presentations will begin 10/30 and the names will be listed above. On a given date, order of presentation will be by draw of a card. Remember you have only 10 minutes for your presentation followed by 3 minutes of questions and discussion. You may use POWERPOINT but make sure your file is compatible with Office 2003

Your written report (no more than 5 pages, double spaced and at least 10 pitch) are due 12/16/08. It must be submitted electronically and be in a format compatible with WORD for OFFICE 2003

 

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

 

Conservation Biology Presentations - Fall 2008

Yaemel Alvarez Boisduval's blue butterfly

30-Oct

Kimesha Daley Fishing cat

30-Oct

Adyesha Ibrahim speke's gazelle

30-Oct

Vanessa Monsalve African elephant

30-Oct

Jessica Phipps white-backed vulture

30-Oct

Mahmoud Salem ivory billed woodpecker

30-Oct

Kamilah Thomas wild apricot

30-Oct

Albana Toci coral reefs

30-Oct

William Aiken Scandinavian tree fungus

6-Nov

Dennis Githui bonobos

6-Nov

Roberto Gordillo panda

6-Nov

Menakuma Jorree honey bee

6-Nov

David Lowenstein red wolf

6-Nov

Mariya Shcheglovitova kapo parrot

6-Nov

Darla Thomas osprey

6-Nov

Chester Uwoghiren spotted owl

6-Nov

Faysal Ahmed Egyptian vulture

20-Nov

Joseph Aning bald eagle

20-Nov

Ninad Choudhury black rhino

20-Nov

Bianca Hill eastern chimpanzee

20-Nov

Corey King beluga whale

20-Nov

Yoorim Lee gorilla

20-Nov

Towfiq Majumder blue whale

20-Nov

Joan Ng'ongolo zebra

20-Nov

Edith Chen Maui's dolphin

4-Dec

Ibrahim Choudhry telestis polypsis

4-Dec

Nison Kandkhorov hyacinth macaw

4-Dec

Azizul Rehman snow leopard

4-Dec

Nelson Rodriguez leatherback turtle

4-Dec

 

 

 

 

 

 


last revised 10/23/08