Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts. Conservation biology is multidisciplinary in its approach and is variously referred to as resource ecology, applied ecology, and a crisis discipline. In this course, we will first examine mankind's impact on species, populations, and ecosystems, and then consider ways in which ecological principles can aid in population recovery, conservation management, and the design of nature reserves. Some discussion will be given the role of government and private organizations in addressing conservation issues. Major emphasis, however, will be placed on defining the problems and identifying scientific solutions.
Conservation biologists are problem solvers.
Thus, your participation in class discussions is crucial as is your ability to critically evaluate problems and their solutions. BIO 101, BIO 102. Labs will involve the use of computer software in order to analyze data from actual case studies. The idea is to examine the effects of conservation strategies on populations. You are expected to do outside readings related to the lab topics and to discuss this information during lab.