Date

Topic

Readings & Assignments

PART I

SCIENCE AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Week 1

What is Conservation Biology?

1/13/09

Biodiversity; Course Format & Group Work

Syllabus & Course Web Page, Moodle Site

1/15

Biodiversity Tour

Wilson ch. 1; Primack p.1-11, box 1.2; Kolbert ch.4

Week 2

Science, & Other Perspectives

1/20

 Doing Science

 Moodle assignment; Kolbert Preface

1/22

The Nature of Scientific Debate

Wilson ch.2-3; Kolbert ch.1

Available 1/22(pm)-1/27(am)

PART II
 

ORIGINS OF DIVERSITY

Week 3

What is a Species?

1/27

Species – What Are They? What are the sources of genetic diversity?

Wilson ch. 4, p38(mid)-45(mid), & last paragraph; ch.6 p75-80;
 Primack p.12-18, p.30-34
 

1/29

Species - Nuts & Bolts  How Many, & Who's related to Whom?

Wilson ch. 5, p.51-64(top); ch.8 p.131-141; Primack p.18-19

Week 4

Mysteries of “Creation”

2/3

Wilson ch. 5 - last 2 paragraphs; ch.6 p.75

2/5

Mechanisms of Evolution

Wilson ch. 6, p.80-88(top); Primack box 1.1

Week 5

Ecosystems

2/10

Evolution  & Adaptation: Ecology!

Wilson ch. 6, p.80

2/12

Food Webs & Keystones

Wilson ch.4, p.35-36; ch. 9, p.163-169, 176(mid)-182; Primack p.19-27; Coyote Case Study

Week 6

Ecosystems, cont'd.

2/17

Food Webs & Keystones

Coyote Case Study worksheet

2/19

Mini-Exam 1 
PBS Video – “Extinction!”

Available 2/17(pm)-2/23(am)

PART III
 

THREATS TO DIVERSITY

Week 7

The History of Life

2/24

Life - and Death - on Earth

Wilson ch. 3; ch. 10, p.183-194(mid) & p.211; Primack p.34-36, p.62

 2/26

*Who gets hit first by Extinction? The Extinction Vortex...

Wilson ch. 11, p.215-220(top), & 227(mid)-end; Primack p.113-117, 124-132, 135

Week 8

Extinction & The Role of Humanity

3/3

*Of History, Humans, and the Price of Expansion

Wilson ch. 12, pt. 1; Primack p.63-68, 100-104

3/5

*Habitat Loss & Fragmentation

Niles Eldredge essay online;Wilson ch. 12, pt. 2; Primack p.68-89

Date

Topic

Readings & Assignments

3/9-3/13

 Spring Break!!!
 

Week 9

Extinction’s New Face

3/17

*Invasive Species: - Hawaiian Tragedy

 Primack p.105-113; Hawaii Birds case study

3/19

Kolbert ch.2-3; Primack p.95-99

 3/20

 Field Trip: Snow experiment set-up; exact date depends on weather & snow conditions

Half-day field trip, sign-up req'd.; If not attending either organized field trip, plan on attending an alternate activity!

Week 10

The Next Major Threat…

3/24

*Predicting Climate Futures

Kolbert ch. 5-7

*3/26-

*Field Trip: Wolfwood Refuge

Half-day field trip, sign-up req'd.; those not attending this field trip, NO CLASS - but plan on attending an alternate activity!

Available 3/26(pm)-3/31(am)

Homework: calculate your Ecological Footprint (Due next class)

PART IV
 

SOLUTIONS

Week 11

3/31

Mini-Exam 2
Exotic Species: examples & solutions

4/2

Viable Population Sizes & Captive Breeding: in situ vs. ex situ Preservation; Cranes

Primack p.121-124,136-171

Week 12

Saving Habitats

4/7

Reserve Design & Island Biogeography

Wilson ch.11, p.220-228(top); Primack p.183-186, 189-197, 200-210

4/9

Legal Aids – Some Case Studies

Primack p.171-177, 239-244

Burning Season? 

Week 13

Sustainable Development

4/14

Including Humanity; The Shaman’s Apprentice

Primack p.210-234, 244-251

4/16

Guest Speaker Jim Dyer – Sustainable Agriculture & Habitat Preservation

 (exact date of this guest lecture may change)

Available 4/16(pm)-4/21(am)

Week 14

Ethics & Human Values

4/21

What Tools to use for Saving Biodiversity? --- DEBATE

Debate, in class; Kolbert ch.8&10;
Wilson ch. 13; Primack p.36-54

4/23

Closing – Biophilia: Saving “The Creation”

Wilson ch. 15 (& skim 14); Primack p.54-58, 265-273; Kolbert ch.9

Week 15

FINAL EXAM WEEK

T 4/28

2:15-4:15 pm, BH 235

Final Cumulative Exam - sample Qs