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Learning outcomes
Describe the scientific principles that underpin the theory of conservation biology and the social, legal and political frameworks within which practitioners must operate
Know how various factors, individually or collectively, that have lead to the human caused 6th mass extinction crises
Apply reflective and argumentative thinking to find solutions to overcome conflicting scientific, societal and personal views that impact on conservation outcomes
Date Lecturer Lecture Topic Part 1: Biodiversity and Its Importance 17 Jan VT What is conservation ecology? 19 Jan VT The three forms of biodiversity 31 Jan VT How to measure biodiversity? 02 Feb VT How is global biodiversity distributed? 07 Feb VT Why is biodiversity important? 09 Feb VT Climate change and biodiversity Part 2: Threats to Biodiversity 14 Feb CY Extinction processes and rates 16 Feb CY Habitat degradation and loss 21 Feb CY Pollution 23 Feb CY Collection and overharvesting 28 Feb CY Exotic species 1 Mar CY Disease 13 Mar CY Small populations 15 Mar YS Case study: marine and freshwater fishes Part 3: Maintaining Biodiversity 20 Mar CY Zoos and gardens 22 Mar CY Species reintroductions and translocations 27 Mar CY Designing and managing protected areas 29 Mar CY Conservation refugees 03 Apr LK Case study: marine mammals Part 4: Human Dimensions of Conservation 05 Apr VT Conservation organizations and legal foundations 10 Apr VT Economics of conservation 12 Apr VT Conservation and Restoration 17 Apr YS Marine Conservation 19 Apr YS The future of conservation
Readings1 Chapter 1 Chapters 2-5 Chapters 2-5 Chapters 2-5 Chapters 2-5 TBA
Chapters 6,7 Chapters 6,7 Chapters 8-10 Chapters 8-10 Chapters 8-10 Chapters 8-10 Chapters 8-10 TBA
Conservation Biologist/Ecological Economist in GOV/NGO/other organization Serve as medical doctor for Biodiversity crisis Motivated student to pursue higher education in Conservation Biology
Conservationists who?
Conservationists: advocates or practices the sensible and careful use of natural resources. E.g. foresters, hunters, and farmers Preservationists: advocates for habitat protection from human interference Environmentalists: who are concerned about negative impacts of human on environment Ecologists: who study the relationship between organisms (including human, plants and animals) and environment
Conservation Biologists view their main task as providing the intellectual and technological tools that will anticipate, prevent, minimize, and repair ecological damage
At 5 p.m., 8 May 1985, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the end of the Second Conference on Conservation Biology
Evolutionary Change
Evolutionary-Ecological land ethics
Evolutionary Change
This is based on the work of population geneticist Theodosius Dobzhansky. He stated that "nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution". Evolution is the most plausible explanation for the immense pattern of biodiversity that exists on the planet. The genetic composition of organisms is continuously changing. Consequently the goal of this principle is to allow populations to change in response to environmental changes through adaptations.
Dynamic Ecology The ecological world is seen as dynamic; largely functioning through nonequilibrium principles.
E.g. Victoria Harbor
Dynamic ecology specifically rejects the equilibrium viewpoint. This non-equilibrium view sees the regulation of ecological structure as not being maintained through internally generated processes but through external processes, in the form of natural processes.
Between 1985-87 Conservation Biology emerged as an individual scientific discipline - Biodiversity became its focus