BIO 3436 Winter 2007
Room H105
Time 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Click on the actual lesson in the table below if you wish to navigate directly to that lesson.
| Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 |
| Lesson 4 | Lesson 5 | Lesson 6 |
| Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 |
| Lesson 10 | Lesson 11 |
Introductions
Student expectations
Course description and marking scheme
Describe: Ranking factors that threaten endangered species in Ontario written assignment due next week
Definition of conservation biology, why study conservation biology?
Philosophy of conservation, religion and conservation, ethics and conservation
Video on Achievements and challenges in conservation of biodiversity in Kenya
Discussion on what were the solutions used, their impact and consequences
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Lesson 2: Jan 18th
Expected trends of global biodiversity to 2050 A.D.
Causes of changes to biodiversity
Sustainability,
Negative and positive feed back mechanisms, linking socio-economic and ecological systems.
Criteria and indicators of sustainability
Case studies: forest certification, land use planning (e.g. Ontario Living Legacy), market incentives: carbon credits, air pollution, acid precipitation
Ranking factors that threaten endangered species in Ontario written assignment due by end of class today. Hand in a paper copy or e-mail an electronic copy.
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Lesson 3: Jan 25thth
Understanding biodiversity: ecosystem, species, genetic; alpha, beta and gamma
Case study: Life history of pitch pine and red spruce; genetic diversity, reproduction and old growth red spruce and pitch pine
Measuring diversity: species richness, abundance and evenness
Examples of common indices of biodiversity: Simpson’s and Shannon Weiner indices
Assignment: calculating diversity indices. Require calculator, natural log table and seed envelops.
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REMINDER: There is no class on February 1st
Lesson 4: February 8th
Note that Lessons four and five will occur on Feb 8th
Ecosystem resilience and recovery
Speciation
Distribution of species diversity,
Hot spots of biodiversity,
Class exercise: rate species
Flagship spp, Key stone spp, foundation spp, featured spp, umbrella spp, indicator sppReturn to the table at the top of this page.
Lesson 5: February 8th
Island biogeography theory
Meta-population theory
Hand in the diversity indices assignment by the end of class today. If you have an electronic copy of the assignment e-mail it to me.
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Lesson 6: February 15th
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February 22th This serves a reminder that it is Reading Week and there is no class this week.
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Lesson 7: March 1st
Minimum viable population
Population viability exercise
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Lesson 8: March 8th
Modelling ecosystem processes
Genetic diversity and conservation
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Lesson 9: March 15th
Class discussion: what would you include in SAR legislation?
Species at Risk legislation: Canada, US, provinces and territories
Case study: bioprospecting and international Convention on Biodiversity
Classifying threatened species
Strategies to conserve endangered species
Endangered species and external factors affecting population viability
Endangered species exercise
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Lesson 10: March 22th
Marine biodiversity
Understanding marine ecosystems
Human activities and their impacts on marine life
Lessons learned: Cod fishery in the North Atlantic and Barents Sea
Fresh water ecosystems:
Impacts and prevention of damage due to development, fishing and forestry on fresh water fisheries
Endangered species exercise assignment is due by end of class today. Hand in a paper copy or e-mail an electronic copy.
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Lesson 11: March 29th
Theoretical basis to understanding and resolving conservation dilemmas
Game theory
Prisoners’ dilemma game
Tragedy of the commons
Examples of successful conservation projects in Zimbabwe and India
Group discussion on elements of projects that may lead to success
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