Course Schedule -- note that most links to course downloads are not yet active.
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Jan. 14 (W)
Cl #1
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What is conservation biology?
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Groom et al. Ch. 1 (24 pp.) |
Jacobson article
(CHC access only) |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Jan. 16 (F)
Cl #2 |
Conservation values and ethics.
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Groom et al. Ch. 4 (24 pp.) |
Leopold & Hardin essays
(CHC access only) |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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| Jan. 19 (M) |
| No Classes -- The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
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Jan. 21 (W)
Cl #3 |
Conservation values and ethics continued. Anthro- and eco-centricism.
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Same readings as previous class. |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Jan. 23 (F)
Cl #4 |
Global Biodiversity - Patterns and Processes over spatial and temporal distance.
The concept of species richness.
a, b and g diversity.
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Groom et al. Ch. 2 (34 pp.)
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May article on number of species
(CHC access only) |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Jan. 26 (M)
Cl #5 |
An introduction to biodiversity, continued.
Species richness patterns in space and time .
Basic island biogeographical theory.
Disturbance and its effects on richness.
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Same reading assignment as previous class. |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Jan. 28 (W)
Cl #6 |
Threats to Biodiversity.
Extinction and anthropogenic causes of extinctions.
The IUCN red list.
ESSAY #1 DUE AT START OF CLASS
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Groom et al. Ch. 3 (38 pp.)
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Jan. 30 (F)
Cl #7 |
IUCN red list, continued.
Have we started a sixth mass extinction?
Case studies -- mystery amphibian extinction and monarch butterfly case studies.
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same as above |
Postel article on water resources and diversity
Pounds et al article on amphibian extinctions.
(CHC access only) |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 2 (M)
Cl #8 |
Key US laws to protect biodiversity.
The economics of conservation.
Cost - benefits analysis to conservation.
Values of biodiversity -- methods of evaluation.
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Groom et al. Ch. 5 (31 pp.) |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 4 (W)
Cl #9 |
Methods of ecological economics, continued. Environmental impact statements -- a critical view.
Converting biodiversity into monetary terms
Assignment -- same as previous.
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 6 (F)
Cl #10 |
Case studies -- Biodiversity preservation in Uganda & cost-benefit analysis of a post-industrial site landscape restoration.
Assignment -- same as previous.
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 9 (M)
Cl #11
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Habitat degradation and loss. What is degradation and what processes affect it?
Groom et al. Ch. 6 (39 pp.)
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 11 (W)
Cl #12 |
Habitat degradation, continued.
Debt for nature, offsets, use of agricultural land for biodiversity conservation.
Assignment -- same as previous.
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 13 (F)
Cl #13 |
Case studies
Land use and Mississippi river water quality
Ozone effects on forests,
Endocrine disruptors and conservation -- Case study and critical review
END MATERIAL EXAM #1
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Turner and Rabalais paper on 200 years of Mississippi River history
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 16 (M)
Cl #14 |
Habitat Fragmentation. Fragmentation & heterogeneity.
Tools to estimate fragmentation quantitatively
Shannon-Weiner diversity index
Proximity index
Use of
fractal dimensions and geostatistics.
Use of GIS.
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Groom et al. Ch. 7 (40 pp.) |
Problem Set #1 -- Diversity & Proximity Indices |
Solutions to problem set #1 |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 18 (W)
Cl #15
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EXAM #1 (100 pts.) - all material through habitat degradation |
Feb. 20 (F)
Cl #16 |
Discussion of problems.
Biological effects of fragmentation.
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Assignment -- same as previous. |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 23 (M)
Cl #17 |
Case studies-- subdividing an area, fragmenting aquatic systems, and the effects of land bridges on natural island systems.
Same as previous |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 25 (W)
Cl #18 |
Overexploitation of biological resources.
Impacts on target and non-target species.
Case studies -- fisheries collapse
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Groom et al. Ch. 8 (40 pp.)
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Hutchinings and Reynolds article on fisheries collapses
(CHC access only) |
PP Notes
(CHC access only)
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Feb. 27 (F)
Cl #19 |
Review of population ecology -- application to modeling of sustainable exploitation.
Mathematical models of sustainable exploitation
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same as previous class
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Feb. 28 to
March 8 |
Spring Break |
March 9 (M)
Cl #20 |
Finish models of sustainable exploitation.
Case studies -- Overfishing of sharks. Bushmeat crisis. Sustainable forestry in the tropics.
Same as previous |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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March 11 (W)
Cl #21 |
Species Invasions.
How are species introduced and how do we manage introductions?
Impacts of invasions
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Groom et al. Ch.9 (40 pp.)
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Pimental et al. article on economics of non-native species.
(CHC access only) |
PP Notes
(CHC access only)
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March 13 (F)
Cl #22 |
Species invasions, continued.
Measuring the effects of invasions.
Factors that determine if a non-native will become an invasive.
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same as above |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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March 16 (M)
Cl #23 |
Managing invasions. Case study -- control of introduced rabbits in Australia.
A critical look at biological control as a tool against invasives.
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same as above |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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March 18 (W)
Cl #24 |
Impact of climate change. Predicted impacts of climate change.
Case studies -- Discussion of Root et al. paper.
TERM PAPER TOPICS DUE
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Groom et al. Ch.10 (42 pp.)
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Root et al. on species changes with global warming
(CHC access only) |
PP Notes
(CHC access only)
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March 20 (F)
Cl #25 |
Biological impacts and climatic change & conservation implications.
Case studies -- Costa Rican cloud forest, Adapting lowlands to rising seas.
END MATERIAL FOR EXAM #2
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same as above |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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| March 23 (M)
Cl #26 |
Conservation genetics.
Measures of genetic variation -- polymorphism and heterozygosity. .
Effective population size and genetic drift.
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Groom et al. Ch. 11 (40 pp.)
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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| March 25 (W)
Cl #27
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EXAM #2 -- material through climate change
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March 27 (F)
Cl #28
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Population size and inbreeding.
Inbreeding and outbreeding depression.
Gene flow between populations and its effects.
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same reading
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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March 30 (M)
Cl #29 |
Fixation statistics and their calculation.
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same reading
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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April 1 (W)
Cl #30 |
Case studies -- Genetic analysis and grizzly bears; genetic analysis and salmon populations.
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Conservation genetics problems
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Solutions to problems |
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April 3 (F)
Cl #31 |
Species and landscape approaches to conservation.
Mechanisms of population regulation.
Density dependence, independence, catastrophes and demographic uncertainty.
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Groom et al. Ch. 12 (48 pp.)
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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April 6 (M)
Cl #32 |
Source -sink concept.
Metapopulations and extinction thresholds.
Introduction to population viability analysis (PVA) and stochastic models.
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same reading
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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Easter Break (April 7 - 13) |
April 15 (W)
Cl #33 |
Population viability analysis in dept. The concept of ecologically functional populations and its relation to PVA.
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same reading
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PVA simulation instructions |
PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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April 17 (F)
Cl #34
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Landscape level conservation.
Case studies -- migratory songbirds, Bolivian landscapes, crane conservation.
TERM PAPER DUE
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same reading
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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April 20 (M)
Cl #35 |
Ecosystem approaches to management and restoration.
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Groom et al. Ch. 13 (42 pp.)
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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EARTH DAY!
April 22 (W)
Cl #36
EARTH DAY!
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EARTH DAY
Adaptive management strategies.
Case study of ecosystems restoration - the Everglades.
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same reading
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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April 24 (F)
Cl #37
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Considerations for the creation of protected areas
ESSAY #2 DUE
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Groom et al. Ch. 14 (42 pp.)
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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April 27 (M)
Cl #38 |
Ecological restoration.
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same reading
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PP Notes
(CHC access only) |
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April 29 (W)
Cl #39 |
Study Period Begins
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| TBA |
180 pt Comprehensive Final Exam and Essay #3 Due No Later than Final Exam
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