Lecture schedule

Date
 Description
29 Aug Course overview. Introduction to conservation biology.
31 Aug Patterns of extinction
05 Sep
Labor Day -- no class
07 Sep
Case study: Biodiversity - blessing or blunder?
12 Sep Biology of small populations -- introduction
14 Sep Biology of small populations -- demographics
19 Sep Biology of small populations -- genetics
Project #1 assigned
21 Sep Population viability analysis -- introduction
26 Sep Population viability analysis -- northern spotted owl
Project #1 due
28 Sep Population viability analysis -- bay checkerspot butterfly
03 Oct
Peer evaluations of Project #1
05 Oct Systematics and biodiversity conservation
06 Oct
Chris Elphick -- Conservation in an era of climate change: Can we save saltmarsh birds as the oceans rise?
10 Oct Estimating extinction risk and setting conservation priorities
12 Oct
Case study -- conservation of sea turtles
17 Oct Diversity, stability, and ecosystem functioning
Guest lecture by Mike Willig
19 Oct Ecosystem management
20 Oct
Green fire: Aldo Leopold and a land ethic for our time
24 Oct Ecosystem management
Project #2 assigned
26 Oct Landscape change and conservation objectives
31 Oct Species invasions
02 Nov Ecological restoration
Project #2 due
03 Nov
Norm Ellstrand -- Crops gone wild: the evolution of weeds and invasives from domesticated ancestors
07 Nov Theory and design of conservation reserve systems
09 Nov
Peer evaluations of Project #2
10 Nov
Tracy Rittenhouse -- Up-scaling wildlife response to global change: Mechanistic research that informs management
14 Nov Decision making under uncertainty
Project #3 assigned
16 Nov Setting conservation priorities
17 Nov
Naomi Oreskes -- Merchants of doubt: How a handful of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco smoke to global warming
21 Nov
Thanksgiving break -- no class
23 Nov
Thanksgiving break -- no class
28 Nov Valuing biodiversity -- economics
30 Nov Valuing biodiversity -- ethics and aesthetics
Project #3 due
05 Dec Valuing biodiversity -- ethics and aesthetics
07 Dec
Peer evaluations of Project #3
08 Dec
Daniel Esty -- Integrating energy and environmental policy: The path forward for protecting our natural resources and building our economy
14 Dec
Final project due
EEB 5310