Conservation Biology (Biology 45300)

An Ecology Course for the Fall of 2009 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 506.

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
09/03 introduction  
09/10 review of population growth models  
09/17 biodiversity and value pages 1-72
09/24 pest control and potatoes  
10/01 threats to biological diversity pages 73-124
10/08 extinction pages 125-156
10/15 no class  
10/22 conservation of populations and species pages 157-200
10/29 conservation of populations and species pages 157-200
11/05 conserving biological communities and student presentations pages 201-264
11/12 student presentation  
11/19 student presentations  
11/26 no class  
12/03 student presentations and a review for the exam  
12/10 final exam  

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

 

2009 Conservation Biology Presentations
On a given day, order of presentation will be determined by random draw. The schedule is given below.

 

date name topic
11/12/09 Bacchus honey bees
11/12/09 Chin ocelot
11/12/09 Clery fin whale
11/12/09 Fayet bonobo
11/12/09 Gragjevi large flying fox
11/12/09 Mujaj rain forest
11/12/09 Nag fishing cat
11/12/09 Ochoa-Trochez grey bat
11/12/09 Rivas snow leopard
11/12/09 Singh Java rhino
     
11/19/09 Akinleye white-throated guenon
11/19/09 Ali slender-billed vulture
11/19/09 Azad tricoloured blackbird
11/19/09 Eapen dhole
11/19/09 Garlick ivory billed wiidpecker
11/19/09 Glickman Galapagos penguin
11/19/09 Sanchez Amazonian manatee
11/19/09 Sano right whale
11/19/09 Uddin kakapo
11/19/09 Walker West Indian manatee
     
12/03/09 Alberto Tasmanean devil
12/03/09 Augustin alligator snapping turtle
12/03/09 Cortes Lopez European eel
12/03/09 Filip African wild dog
12/03/09 Flores peacock parachute tarantula
12/03/09 Jean-Charles striped narrow-headed softshell turtle
12/03/09 Olla Irish deer
12/03/09 Rivera Iberian lynx
12/03/09 Saini Lysan albatross

 

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 11/05 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 2 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 12/15/09. 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

last revised 11/11/09