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Jan. 20 (W)
Cl #1 |
Introduction. A road map for the course.
What is conservation biology and what does one need to learn to be conversant in this field of study?
Three philosophical approaches to conservation biology.
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Hunter & Gibbs Chapter 1
(For this class only, this assignment relates to class 1 but need not be done until class #2. Normally, the assignments should be done as of the listed class.)
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Jan. 22 (F)
Cl #2 |
Philosophical bases of conservation biology,continued.
Discussion of conservation ethics and Leopold essay. Discussion will continue on Moodle.
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Same H&G reading as for class #1 |
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Jan. 25 (M)
Cl #3 |
Discussion of conservation ethics and Leopold essay. Discussion will continue on Moodle.
Section 1. About Science for the Non-Scientist.
The philosophical underpinnings of science in general and biology in particular. |
Science as a way of knowing.
The philosophical basis and processes of science.
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Jan. 27 (W)
Cl #4 |
The role of certainty in science and conservation biology.
An introduction to hypothesis testing.
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Jan. 29 (F)
Cl #5 |
The use of statistics in hypothesis testing.
Revolutions in science.
Variation, scale and organization in biology: concepts relating to organization and to time and space.
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Feb. 1 (M)
Cl #6 |
Section 2. Boot Camp for Conservation Biology Students -- Relevant Biological Principles
A. The sources of biological diversity at the individual and sub-individual level. |
Biodiversity overview.
Begin an overview of basic genetics needed for conservation biologists.
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Feb. 3 (W)
Cl #7 |
Simple genetic concepts and individual variation.
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Feb. 5 (F)
Cl #8 |
FIRST PAPER DUE BY START OF CLASS (HARD COPY AND E-COPY)
Simple genetic concepts, continued.
Macro and micro-traits.
Chromosomes & ploidy. NEXT WED QUIZ MATERIAL ENDS HERE -- NO HARDY-WEINBERG OR POPULATION GENETICS ON THE EXAM.
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Genetics and individual variation handout -- previous class |
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Feb. 8 (M)
Cl #9 |
B. Genes, populations, and evolution |
Population genetics and microevolution.
The conditions for stasis -- the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
The concept of allele frequencies.
Modeling the genetics of populations: the Hardy-Weinberg equation.
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Feb. 10 (W)
Cl #10 |
25 minute, 50-Point Quiz -- through BASIC genetics (class #8)
Finish Hardy-Weinberg.
Begin the genetics of small populations.
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Feb. 12 (F)
Cl #11 |
Genetic drift, bottlenecks, and founder effects.
Begin natural selection.
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Feb. 15 (M)
Cl #12 |
Natural selection -- random and directed features of evolution by natural selection
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Same reading from Life as previous class
(The mechanisms of evolution) |
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Feb. 17 (W)
Cl #13 |
Chance factors and evolution -- founder effects
Genetic bottlenecks and evolution
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Feb. 19 (F)
Cl #14 |
C. Species Definitions and Speciation |
Species concepts
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Feb. 22 (M)
Cl #15
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Species concepts, continued
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Same reading as previous class
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Feb. 24 (W)
Cl #16 |
How are species formed?
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Feb. 26 (F)
Cl #17 |
Section 3. Let's Apply what we have learned: Conservation and Diversity at Population Level
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What is biological diversity?
How is diversity measured? Abundance,rare and common species, species richness, evenness.
Mathematical indices to measure richness -- The Simpson Index.
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Feb. 26 to March 7: Spring Break! |
March 8 (M)
Cl #18 |
Measurements of species diversity, continued.
Species diversity and spatial scale.
The instrumental and intrinsic values of species diversity.
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March 10 (W)
Cl #19 |
Species diversity -- Threatened and endangered species: an introduction to the IUCN Red List. END MATERIAL FOR EXAM 1 with "red list."
REVIEW SESSION 5:30 PM IN CLASSROOM.
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March 12 (F)
Cl #20 |
EXAM #1 (100 pts.) -- ALL material through SPECIES DIVERSITY.
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March 15 (M)
Cl #21 |
Genetic diversity.
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March 17 (W)
Cl #22 |
Genetic diversity and its determinants, continued.
Heterozygosity.
Effective population sizes.
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H&G Ch 5 (questions with last class) |
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March 19 (F)
Cl #23 |
Finish genetic diversity and its determinants:
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Models of the effects of bottlenecks, drift and inbreeding on genetic variation.
- Outbreeding depression.
Section 4. Back to Boot Camp for Conservation Biology Students -- Relevant Ecological Principles
A. Population & Evolutionary Ecology |
Overview of ecology.
Begin the ecology of populations -- spatial distributions.
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March 22 (M)
Cl #24 |
Age distributions.
Population ecology -- the growth of populations.
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March 24 (W)
Cl #25 |
Finish population ecology
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same reading as previous class |
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March 26 (F)
Cl #26 |
Evolutionary ecology, -- biotic interactions
Species Interactions
Begin community ecology
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Solutions to Problems given in classes #s22&24.
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PP
CHC access only |
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March 29 (M)
Cl #27 |
Finish evolutionary ecology.
Community ecology.
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same assignment in Life as previous |
PP
CHC access only |
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March 31 (W)
Cl #28 |
Continue community ecology.
What structures a community?
Trophic structure of communities and ecosystems.
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same assignments as previous class |
PP
CHC access only |
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April 1 (Thurs) thru 5 (Mon): Easter Break |
April 7 (W)
Cl #29 |
Ecological succession.
Disturbances.
Models of community diversity. Basic biogeography.
An introduction to ecosystems and the notion of ecosystem services.
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April 9 (F)
Cl #30 |
Basic biogeography, continued.
An introduction to ecosystems and the notion of ecosystem services.
Section 5. Threats to Biodiversity |
Why are extinctions bad?
The history of extinctions.
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April 12 (M)
Cl #31 |
Historical causes of extinctions -- a review of mass extinction events and their causes.
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same assignment as previous class |
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PP
CHC access only |
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April 14 (W)
Cl #32 |
Comparisons of extinctions. MATERIAL FOR EXAM 2 ENDS
New Material for final exam begins: Factors that predispose populations to extinction.
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April 16 (F)
Cl #33 |
EXAM #2 (100 pts.) Coverage -- Diversity through extinction (Feb. 23 to mid class April 3)
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April 19 (M)
Cl #34 |
Estimating the chance that a population will go extinct -- population viability analyses (PVA).
Overexploitation -- types and history.
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reading: same as previous class |
PP
CHC access only |
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April 21 (W)
Cl #35 |
TERM PAPERS DUE (ELECTRONIC AND PAPER SUBMISSION BY START OF CLASS)
Consequences of over-exploitation of biological resources.
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Thursday April 22 -- Earth Day |
April 23 (F)
Cl #36 |
Rational models of exploitation of biological resources.
Invasive species -- how do species move about -- with our help and on their own.
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April 26 (M)
Cl #37 |
Characteristics of invasive species.
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same reading |
PP
CHC access only |
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April 28 (W)
Cl #38
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Discussion of factors that degrade ecosystems.
Fragmentation and habitat loss.
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April 30 (F)
Cl #39 |
Finish ecosystem degradation and fragmentation.
Section 4. Techniques to conserve and to maintain biological diversity. |
Managing and restoring populations
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May 3 (M)
Cl #40 |
Case study -- management of the West Indies Manatee. Dr. Catherine Langtimm of the Sirenia Project, USGS, will visit.
Managing populations
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same assignment as previous class |
PP
CHC access only |
extra credit opportunity (20 pts) |
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| May 5 (W) |
Study Period Begins |
| May 14 (FRIDAY) |
175 pt Comprehensive Final Exam 2:30 PM |
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