Conservation Biology
Lecture Syllabus
Spring 2007

Date

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Reading Assignments

1/17

What is Conservation Biology?

303 KB

January 17. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp.15, 17-24).

Hardin, G. 1968. The tragedy of the commons. Science 162:1243-1248. [PDF]

Leopold, A. 1949. The Land Ethic. In, The Sand County Almanac. Oxford University Press, New York. [PDF]

1/22

Conservation: A Historical Perspective

433 KB

January 22. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp.7, 9-15, 119-131).

1/24

Wild By Law

 

Film

1/29

How many Species are there?

1.3 MB

January 29. May, R.M. 1988. How many species are there on earth? Science 241:1441-1449. [PDF]

1/31

Loss of Biodiversity: Rates, Causes, Consequences, Perspectives

1 - 561K

2 - 54KB

January 31. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp. 63-89).

2/5

Monitoring Biodiversity

482 K

February 5. Cort, C.A. 1996. A survey of the use of natural heritage data in local land-use planning. Conservation Biology 10:632-637. [PDF]

2/7

Population Bottlenecks & Genetic Diversity

1.5 MB

Feb 7-19. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp. 373-414).

2/12

Effective Population Size & Fluctuating Numbers

64K

2/14

Gene Flow/Management Measures; One-Migrant-Per-Generation Rule

147 K

2/19

Selection and Migration; Inbreeding/Outbreeding Depression

782 K

2/21

Molecular versus Quantitative-Genetic Perspectives & Conservation

432 K

February 21. Reed D.H. and R. Frankham. 2001. How closely correlated are molecular and quantitative measures of genetic variation? A meta analysis. Evolution 55:1095-1103. [PDF]

2/26

EXAM #1

 

 

2/28

Demographic versus Genetic Considerations in Conservation

422 K

February 28. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp. 419-424).

3/5

Habitat Fragmentation

323K

March 5-7. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp. 213-250).

3/7

Island Biogeographic Theory & Conservation Practice

547K

3/12

Single Species Conservation - Choosing Species

370 K

March 12, 26, 28. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp. 90, 106, 569).

3/14

Conservation Forensics

4.4MB

 

3/17-3/25

Spring Break

 

 

3/26

Endangered Species Act

1.7 MB

 

3/28

Endangered Species Act

 

 

4/2

Community Level Conservation - How do we view the community?

1.6 MB

 

4/4

Community Level Conservation - Ecological and Evolutionary

 

April 2-4. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp. 419-464).

4/9

EXAM #2

 

 

4/11

Invasive Species

12.6 MB

April 11. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation. (Read pp. 293-331)

4/16

Ecological Restoration

2.8 MB

April 16. Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp. 553-589).

4/18

Oil on the Ice

 

Film

4/23

Ecosystem Stress

108K

April 23. Odum, E.P. 1985. Trends expected in stressed ecosystems. BioScience 35:419-422. [PDF]

4/25

Ecosystem Management - What is it?

 

April 25. Grumbine, R.E. 1994. What is Ecosystem Managment? Conservation Biology 8:27-38. [PDF]

4/30

Politics & Economics

 

April 30. Costanza, R. and H.E. Daly. 1992. Natural capital and sustainable development. Conservation Biology 6:37-46. [PDF]

 

Groom et al. 2006. Principles of Conservation Biology. (Read pp.137-169).

5/2

Class Discussion/ Evaluation/ Concluding Comments

 

 

5/4-5/11

Finals Week

 

 

5/9

Final exam 7-10 PM