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Academic Year 2000/2001


Conservation Biology
BIOL 220 FA

This course focuses on the biological and ecological aspects of the conservation of species and communities, integrating concepts from ecology, evolution, population biology, genetics, biogeography, and systematics. The course material derives from various ecosystems and natural communities, such as neotropical migratory birds, vernal pools, prairies, declining amphibian species, island biotas, desert spring fishes, tropical wet forests, caves, coral reefs, anadromous fishes, riverine mollusks, old growth forests, the Great Lakes ecosystem, and others. Specific topics include the nature of conservation data, patterns of biodiversity, patterns of extinction and species endangerment, conservation status ranking systems, factors involved in the prioritization of conservation actions, federal and international conservation regulations and treaties, attributes that make certain species and systems vulnerable to imperilment, conservation relevance of paleohistory, theoretical and empirical conseque nces of habitat fragmentation, the problem of introduced species, applications of metapopulation and island biogeographic theory, population monitoring and management, and ecosystem restoration.

MAJOR READINGS

PRINCIPLES OF CONSERVATION BIOLOGY by Meffe & Carroll
Miscellaneous journal and review articles to be placed on reserve.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Two short research papers, two take-home exams.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: NONE    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: BIOL207 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001


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