WEEK ONE

Introduction To Course: What Is Conservation Biology?

SECTION I. BIODIVERSITY AND EXTINCTION

What Is Biodiversity? Why Preserve Biodiversity?

How Is Biological Diversity Distributed?

Reading: What is biodiversity? Why preserve biodiversity?

Textbook: Chapter 1. What is Conservation Biology?, pp. 3-27.

How is biological diversity distributed?

Textbook: Chapter 4. Global biodiversity I: patterns and processes, pp. 87-121.

WEEK TWO

Evolutionary Origins of Biodiversity/Species And Speciation

Extinction As A Natural Process

Vulnerability To Extinction/Rarity

Reading: Evolutionary origins of biodiversity, species and speciation

Textbook: Chapter 3. The species in conservation, pp. 57-86.

Chapter 5. pp. 154-155 only. The future of evolution: A process at risk.

Extinction as a natural process/vulnerability to extinction

Textbook: Chapter 5. Global biodiversity II: losses, pp 123-158.

WEEK THREE

Holiday---Labor Day

Extinction Processes

Population Viability (MVP, PVA, etc.)

Reading: Extinction processes and population viability

Textbook: Chapter 7. Demographic processes: population dynamics on heterogeneous landscapes, pp. 203-223.

WEEK FOUR

SECTION II. CONSERVATION GENETICS

Overview of Conservation Genetics

Review of Basic Genetics, Genetic Diversity

Genetic Diversity

Reading: Overview of conservation genetics.

Textbook: Essay 6C, What can molecular biology contribute to conservation?, pp. 188-189.

Genetic diversity Textbook: Chapter 6, Genetics: conservation of diversity within species, pp. 161-172. (Note: you may omit the Box 6A. )

WEEK FIVE

Genetic Drift/Inbreeding

Effective Population Size

PM -- First mid-term exam

SECTION III. CONSERVATION PROBLEMS AT COMMUNITY, ECOSYSTEM, LANDSCAPE LEVELS

Diversity at the Community and Ecosystem Levels

(Alpha, beta, compositional, structural, and functional)

Reading: Genetic drift, inbreeding, and effective population size

Textbook: Chapter 6, Genetics: conservation of diversity within species, pp. 172-201.

Diversity at the Community and Ecosystem Levels Review -- Textbook:Chapter 4. Essay 4A, Hierarchial indicators for monitoring changes in biodiversity, pp. 88-89.;

Local species richness, pp. 100-103.

WEEK SIX

Interactions Within Communities and Ecosystems

Ecological Redundancy, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function

Keystone Species

Reading: Interactions within Communities and Ecosystems, etc.

Textbook: Chapter 8, Community- and ecosystem-level conservation, pp. 235-243.

WEEK SEVEN

Species Invasions

Habitat Fragmentation, Landscape Structure, Island Biogeography

Metapopulations -- within vs. between population processes

Reading: Species Invasions Textbook: Chapter 8, Community- and ecosystem-level conservation, pp. 243-267.

Habitat Fragmentation, Island Biogeography, Landscape Structure

Textbook: Chapter 9, Habitat fragmentation, pp. 269-284.

Metapopulations, Source-Sinks, and Spatial Regulation of Wildlife Harvest

Review – Textbook: Chapter 7, Habitat-specific demography, pp. 211-215.

Habitat Fragmentation and Edge

Textbook: Chapter 9, Habitat fragmentation, pp. 284-304.

WEEK EIGHT

Source-Sinks and Spatial Regulation of Wildlife Harvest

Habitat Fragmentation and Edge

PM – Second midterm exam

Reserve Design

Reading: Reserve Design Textbook: Chapter 10, Conservation reserves in heterogeneous landscapes, pp. 305-343.

WEEK NINE

The Balance of Nature or the Flux of Nature?--Ecosystem Stability and Dynamic Processes in

Landscapes

Natural Disturbance and Reserve Design

Ecological Restoration

Reading: The Balance of Nature or the Flux of Nature?--Ecosystem Stability and Dynamic Processes in

Landscapes Review – Textbook: Chapter 8, The importance of disturbance regimes, pp. 243-245.

WEEK TEN

Adaptive Management

SECTION IV. INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS AND GLOBAL LINKAGES

Ecosystem Management

Sustainable Development

Reading: Ecological Restoration Textbook: Chapter 14, Ecological restoration, pp. 479-511.

Adaptive Management Textbook: Chapter 11, Management to meet conservation goals, general principles, pp. 347-383.;

Ecosystem Management Textbook: Chapter 12, Management to meet conservation goals, applications, pp. 385-417.

Sustainable Use as a Conservation Strategy, Sustainable Development Textbook: Chapter 18, Sustainable development case studies, pp. 599-642.

WEEK ELEVEN

Amazonia: Deforestation is Only One Problem in the Rainforest

Summary and Review

Summary and Review

Reading: Amazonia: Deforestation is Only One Problem in the Rainforest

Summary and Review Textbook: Chapter 19, pp. 657-673.

WEEK TWELVE

WEEK THIRTEEN

WEEK FOURTEEN

WEEK FIFTEEN