Date

Topic

Readings & Assignments

PART I- SCIENCE AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Week 1

What is Conservation Biology?

8/30/11

Biodiversity; Course Format & Group Work

Syllabus & Course Web Page, Moodle Site

9/1

Biodiversity Tour

Wilson ch. 1

Week 2

Science, & Other Perspectives

9/6

 The Nature of Scientific Debate

 Wilson ch.2-3

9/8

Doing Science

Moodle assignment 

FRIDAY

Available Fri (7am)-Mon (11pm)

PART II - ORIGINS OF DIVERSITY
 

Week 3

What is a Species?

9/13

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.19-22, 24-26
 

9/15

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

Wilson ch. 5, p.51-64(top); ch.8 p.131-141; Primack p.23-24, 33-40

Week 4

Mysteries of “Creation”

9/20

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

9/22

Fri 9/23

Field Trip 1: Water quality testing with S. Ute Tribe water specialists

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

Week 5

Ecosystems

9/27

Evolution  & Adaptation: Ecology!

Wilson ch. 6, p.80

9/29

Food Webs & Keystones

Wilson ch.4, p.35-36; ch. 9, p.163-169, 176(mid)-182; Primack p.26-33, 51-53; Coyote Case Study

FRIDAY

Available Fri (7am)-Mon (11pm)

Week 6

Ecosystems, cont'd.

10/4

Food Webs & Keystones

Coyote Case Study worksheet

10/6

Mini-Exam 1 
PBS Video – “Extinction!”

PART III - THREATS TO DIVERSITY
 

Week 7

The History of Life

10/11

Life - and Death - on Earth

Wilson ch. 3; ch. 10, p.183-194(mid) & p.211; Primack p.125-130

 Th 10/13

No Class for those not on trip
Half-day field trip, sign-up req'd.; those not attending this field trip, plan on attending an alternate activity!

Week 8

Extinction & The Role of Humanity

10/18

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

Wilson ch. 11, p.215-220(top), & 227(mid)-end; Primack p.130-132, 135-140, 143-154

10/20

Of History, Humans, and the Price of Expansion

Wilson ch. 12, pt. 1; Primack p.73-77, 104-109

Date

Topic

Readings & Assignments

Week 9

The Next Major Threat…

10/25

10/27

 Primack p.98-103

Extinction’s New Face:

11/1

*Habitat Loss & Fragmentation

Niles Eldredge essay online;Wilson ch. 12, pt. 2; Primack p.77-92

11/3

*Invasive Species:  Hawaiian Tragedy

 Primack p.109-117; Hawaii Birds case study

FRIDAY

Available Fri (7am)-Mon (11pm)

PART IV - SOLUTIONS
 

Week 11

11/8

Mini-Exam 2
Exotic Species: examples & solutions

11/10

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

Primack p.140-143, 157-159, 163-165, 172-191

Week 12

Saving Habitats

11/15

Reserve Design & Island Biogeography

Wilson ch.11, p.220-228(top); Primack p.133-135, 201-224

11/17

Legal Aids – Some Case Studies

Primack p.168-172, 191-197

Burning Season? 

Week 13

Sustainable Development

11/29

Including Humanity; The Shaman’s Apprentice

Primack p.226-236,  ch. 8, 267-287

12/1

Guest Speaker  Dr. John Byrd – Sustainable Economics & the Tragedy of the Commons

 (exact date of this guest lecture may change)

FRIDAY

Available Fri (7am)-Mon (11pm)

Week 14

Ethics & Human Values

12/6

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

Debate, in class;
Wilson ch. 13; Primack ch. 3

12/8

Closing – Biophilia: Saving “The Creation”

Wilson ch. 15 (& skim 14); Primack p.64-68, 287-291

Week 15

FINAL EXAM WEEK

T 12/13

2:15-4:15 pm, Chem 130

Final Cumulative Exam - sample Qs