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.

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

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

30-Oct

30-Oct

30-Oct

30-Oct

30-Oct

30-Oct

30-Oct

30-Oct

6-Nov

6-Nov

6-Nov

6-Nov

6-Nov

6-Nov

6-Nov

6-Nov

20-Nov

20-Nov

20-Nov

20-Nov

20-Nov

20-Nov

20-Nov

20-Nov

4-Dec

4-Dec

4-Dec

4-Dec

4-Dec