Conservation Biology – Superior Studies

                                                                        Summer 2003

 

Instructor:           Dr. Cindy Johnson-Groh (Gustavus Adolphus College, cjgroh@gac.edu)

 

Textbook:           Primack, Richard.  2000. A Primer of Conservation Biology, 2nd ed.

 

Grading:              Final exam--short answers and essay                                                               125

                                    Biodiversity                                                                                                               15

                                    Invasive Species                                                                                                     25

                                    Con Bio Meeting Summaries                                                                               20

                Ecological Site Assessment: Worms                                                                 45

                Participation (discussion, lectures, labs)                                                           15

                Bird banding                                                                                                             5                                                       

                                                                                                                            Total           250

           

·Projects, papers or exams submitted or taken late will be worth 10% less each day delayed (including weekends).   

·Participation in discussions, field trips, lectures and projects is essential.  Degree of participation (engagement in discussion, preparation, questions, etc.) will determine the participation grade. 

·Students may work cooperatively on data analysis, however each student must submit an independent assessment. 

 

Course Schedule:

                Date                       Activity                    Topic                                                                                                           Text Reading

               

                June       3              Lecture:                                 Introductions, Biodiversity - species                                Tester 67 -129

                                                                                Select WRELC Biodiversity group                                       

                                4              Lecture:                 Biodiversity – measures, ecosystems, genetics                            Primack   1-62

                                                                                Discussion:           Minnesota Worms

                                                Lab:                        WRELC Worms

                                5              Lecture:                 Biodiversity – measures, ecosystems, genetics                                             1-62

                                                                                Discussion:           Molecular Conservation Genetics

                                                                                Reports:                  WRELC Biodiversity due  / Declare Invasive species

                                6                                              Bird banding (5 am)

               

                June       9              Lecture:                 Extinction – processes, vulnerability                                                               63-120

                                                                                Discussion:           Human Extinction Birds

                                10           Lecture:                 Habitat – degradation, fragmentation

                                                            Discussion:  Roads 

11           Lecture:                                 Overexploitation, invasive species

                                                                                Discussion:           Biological Invasions

                                                Lab:                        Worms / Peregrine Banding

12           Lecture:                 Invasive species

Invasive species presentations

Bird banding (5 am)

               

June       18           Lecture:                 Population dynamics – small populations                                                    121-182

Lab:                        Worms

19           Lecture:                 PVA, metapopulations, new populations

                               

 

June       23         Lecture:                                 PVA, metapopulations, new populations

4              Lecture:                 Managing populations, ex situ

                                                Discussion:           Black-footed Ferret / Endangered Plants

                                25           All day Lab            Worms

                                26           Lecture:                 ESA                                                                                                                        183-280

                                                                                Discussion:           Biodiversity Hotspots

                                                            Bird banding (5 am)

               

June       30           Society of Conservation Biology Meetings – Duluth, all day      

July         1                                              no class

                                2              Lecture:                 Preserves, management

Discussion:           Ecotourism- Gorillas

                                                            Con Bio Mtg summaries due

                                    Lab:                        Data analysis

                                3              Lecture:                 Preserves, management, restoration

Discussion:           Community Conservation - Africa

Final biodiversity Assessment paper due  July

                                4              FINAL EXAM

 

Course Description: The course is designed to give students a broad overview of conservation biology and is organized starting with species-level considerations followed by population-level issues, ecosystem issues and concludes with management applications.  Lectures and discussions will focus on conservation issues such as biodiversity, extinction, management, sustained yield, exotic species and preserve design.  Labs will focus on ecosystem assessment with a particular focus on the impact of exotic earthworms on northern habitats. 

 

Assignments:

●Biodiversity  (due 6 June)
handout provided

 

●Invasive Species Report (due 12 June)

1.       Introduction (5 points)

Common and Latin name of species

Place of origin

Brief description of reproductive biology and ecology

What are the species ecological requirements?

2.       Problem (9 points)

Why does this species create a problem?

What effect does it have on the ecology of the area to which it has been introduced?

What native species are displaced?  (Be specific.)

How widespread is the problem? 

When was the species introduced? Is the species spreading and at what rate?

Why was this species introduced?

3.       Solutions (8 points)

What kinds of solutions have been attempted?  (Chemical, biocontrol, hand irradication)

Are these successful and to what degree?

Where have these solutions been applied?  Do they work equally well across the range of the species?

What’s the outlook for this species?

4.  Citations (3 points)

You should have at least 4 verified sources cited properly as noted in examples below.  (Note the credentials of your internet sources.  E. g.  Expert scientist vs. student report.)

Engel, S.  1995.  Eurasian water milfoil as a fishery management tool.  Fisheries 20:20-27.

Smith, C., and J. Barko.  1990.  Ecology of Eurasian water milfoil.  J. Aquatic Plant Management 28:55-64.

Mooney, H. and J. Drake, eds.  1986.  Ecology of biological invasions of North America and Hawaii.  Springer-Verlag, New York.

Simberloff, Daniel.    Impacts of Introduced Species in the United States. http://gcrio.ciesin.org/CONSEQUENCES/vol2no2/article2.html

 

●Society of Conservation Biology Meeting Summaries (due 2 July)                                 

Each student must attend 4 different presentations and write a short summary of each (5 pts each)

Use the following guidelines to briefly review the presentation: 

1.       (2 pts.)  Brief summary (methods, results)

2.       (1 pts.) What was the main point of this presentation?  Was it clearly stated and supported by data?  What faults and/or criticisms do you find with this work?   Are the conclusions the presenter arrived at justified by the facts presented? 

3.       (2 pts.) What is the significance of this paper to conservation biology?  What is the “take home lesson” for you from this presentation?

 

●Ecological Site Assessment (Worms) (due 3 July)

handout provided

 

●Bird banding:

Each student must attend at least one banding session.  A short description of what you learned and birds banded must be submitted to earn the points.  A maximum of 5 extra credit points may be gained by attending a 2nd banding session.