Updated Syllabus, with links to readings other than text

Conservation Biology (ECOL 406R/506R)
 aka GEOS 406R/506R, RNR 406R/506R, Fall 2004

--Readings not to be accessed except by students currently enrolled in course--

Last Updated 09 Dec 2004

Check back often for changes to readings and schedules…

Date Topic (Reading; please complete before class)
Most of the readings are saved as .PDF files which require the Free Adobe Acrobat Reader Software

Chapter reading assignments are from your textbook unless otherwise noted:
Van Dyke, Fred. 2003. Conservation Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications. McGraw-Hill, New York. 413+xvii pages.

Aug 24
Introductions and photos
Syllabus, philosophy, and context
(Ecological footprint: MEC in Canada, or Redefining Progress)
(Optional, more in-depth excel-based footprint calculator)
Lecture 1 (pdf file)

Aug 26
What is conservation biology?
(Van Dyke CH1; Noss 1999)
(optional: Meffe and Carroll 1997, Chap 1 [Part 1, Part 2])
Lecture 2 (pdf file)

Aug 31
Conservation Ethics and Rationale
(Noss 1999)
(Van Dyke CH3; Callicott, Chap 2 of Meffe and Carroll 1997 [Part 1, Part 2])
Lecture 3 (pdf file)

Sep 2
Conservation Ethics and Rationale
(Van Dyke CH3; Leopold readings...)
Required:
Leopold writing about Arizona
Leopold writing about his Land Ethic
Leopold writing about Health of the Land and Wildlife
Recommended (better yet buy these books for yourself and read them cover to cover!):
Leopold writing about Wisconsin
Leopold writing about Chihuahua and Sonora
Leopold writing about being your own Emperor
References:
Leopold, A. 1966 (1949). A Sand County Almanac with Essays on Conservation from Round River. Oxford Univ. Press.
Leopold, A. 1999. For the Health of the Land: Previously Unpublished Essays and Other Writings. Island Press.
Lecture 4 (pdf file)

Sep 7
History of conservation biology/Legislation (Endangered Species Act)
(Van Dyke CH2)
Sherry Barrett, Paul Barrett, USF&WS
Paul Barrett, USFWS powerpoint
See Sherry Barrett's handout (SDCP) for other half of their presentation
Endangered Species Act
National Environmental Policy Act: NEPA document, NEPA information, NEPA and EIS
Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan

Sep 9
History of conservation biology/Legislation
(Van Dyke CH2; Leopold readings)
Endangered Species Act
National Environmental Policy Act: NEPA document, NEPA information, NEPA and EIS
UA Info/Research on Mt. Graham
Lecture 6 (pdf file)

Sep 14
Role playing exercise (Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan)
Students will represent various interests and debate merits of proposals. Afterward, students will write up very short summary identifying which groups did well, and why, which groups did poorly, and why, and what information was lacking to make informed decisions.
PLEASE READ: Role Playing Assignment Document (with links and background information)
Endangered Species Act
National Environmental Policy Act: NEPA document, NEPA information, NEPA and EIS
Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan

Sep 16
Biodiversity
(VanDyke CH4)
(Costanza et al. 1997, Nature)
(optional: Driessen 2004, DDT, Malaria, EcoImperialism)
Reference cited in lecture: Miller, G. Tyler Jr. 2004. Sustaining the Earth, 6th Edition. Brooks-Cole-Thomson Learning, Pacific Grove, CA.
Lecture 8 (pdf file)

Sep 21
Biodiversity, Paradigms and Theories
(Costanza et al. 1997, Nature)
(Van Dyke CH4and5)
Lecture 9 (pdf file)

Sep 23
Paradigms and Theories
(Van Dyke CH5)
Lecture 10 (pdf file)

Sep 28
Exam 1 (through ~23 Sept. over CH1-5 and associated readings)
(First Exam from 2003)
(2004 review topics for first exam)

Sep30
Populations
(Van Dyke CH7)
Metapopulation Supplement by David Hall
David Hall, (local aquatic desert populations (turtles, frogs, fish) and their conservation)

Oct 5
Conservation Genetics
(Van Dyke CH6)
Culver et al. 2000
Tingay et al. 2002
Melanie Culver (Mt. Lions etc.)
Melanie Culver's Lecture (pdf file)

Oct 7
Conservation Genetics
(Van Dyke CH6)
(optional: Fergurson et al. 2002 chapter from Quantitative Methods for Conservation Biology, Ferson and Bergman, eds.)
First article/summary write-up due
Lecture 14 (pdf file)

Oct 12
Biodiversity/Genetic Diversity
(Van Dyke CH4, CH6)
Rob Robichaux (Hawaiian Silversword Alliance)
Friar et al. 2001 (incl. Robichaux, re: silverswords)
506R topic and annotated refs due

Oct 14
Invasive Species
(Van Dyke CH7)
Kathy Gerst
Gerst Biological Invasions Lecture (pdf file)

Oct 19
Population Viability Analysis , Minimum Viable Population Size
PVA intro by Gilpin
PVA Panther Example Chapter: Part I, Part II, Part III
(Van Dyke CH7)
Lecture 17 (pdf file)
Pister Pupfish Recollections

Oct 21
Habitat and Reserve Design
(Van Dyke CH8)
Bill Mannan
Mannan's PowerPoint Lecture

Oct 26
Conservation Practices
(Van Dyke CH10)
Lecture 19 (pdf file)

Oct 28
Conservation Practices (Aquatic)
(Van Dyke CH9)
student-led lecture (5 topics; prepare in groups outside of class)
PDF file of all 5 group presentations in order

Nov 2
Global Climate Change
(Walther et al. 2002, Hayhoe et al. 2004)
(30 Oct NYTimes Article, 31 Oct AZDStar Article)
Lecture 21 (pdf file)

Nov 4
Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP)
(Van Dyke CH7,8,10)
(SDCP writeup by Chuck Huckelberry in the Endangered Species Bulletin)
(Pima County SDCP website)
Bob Steidl (how the scientists came up with the proposed plan)
Steidl's Lecture (pdf)

Nov 9
Exam 2 (covers CH5-10 and associated readings)
Exam 2 Review Questions, 2003 EXAM2, 2003 EXAM3

Nov 11
Veteran's Day (no class)

Nov 16
Professional Panel
(Van Dyke CH13)
Margi Brooks (NPS), Mima Falk (USFWS), Dana Backer (TNC)

Nov 18
Restoration Ecology/Practicing Conservation Biology
(Van Dyke CH11)
Student-led debate about conservation biology; student groups assigned to support the point of view of a well-known conservation biologist
Kathy sent email to students about the debate on 12 November 2004. If you didn't get the email please contact her.

GROUPS:
1. What Environmental Crisis?
Bjorn Lomborg (author of The Skeptical Environmentalist[2001])
Check out his website, and the first chapter of his book

2. Malthusian Crises of Epic Proportions:
Paul Ehrlich (author of The Population Bomb [1968])
Check out his Stanford website
Daily and Ehrlich 1992, BioScience
Die Off
Review of Betrayal of Science and Reason 1996
Very negative review of Betrayal of Science and Reason

3. Reconciliation Ecology:
Michael Rosenzweig (author of Win-Win Ecology)
Rosenzweig Website
Win-Win Page, Win-Win Chapter 6
Brief definition of Reconciliation Ecology
Rosenzweig 2001 PNAS
Another potential reference: Rosenzweig. 2003. Reconciliation ecology and the future of species diversity. Oryx 37(2):194-205.

4. Deep Ecology (Arne Naess), Biocentrism:
Interview with Arne Naess
Arne Naess website
Deep Ecology
Deep Ecology Perspectives
A Taste of Green Web Writings and Left Biocentrism
Wildlands Project


5. ~EcoTerrorism Links for even another perspective:
EcoDefense: A Field Guide to Monkey Wrenching
Interview with Dave Foreman by Derrick Jensen
Earth Liberation Front


Nov 23
The four spikes (LECTURE FILE - as pdf)
Guy McPherson
506R Written Research Project due

Nov 25
Thanksgiving (no class)

Nov 30
Economics and Sustainable Development
(Van Dyke CH12)
(Herman Daly Speech on Economics at World Bank)
Wendell Berry essay in Orion (Nov/Dec 2004)
Exhibit criteria due.
Lecture 27 (pdf file)

Dec 2
EXHIBIT - art/literature project due today, peer grading
PHOTOS

Dec 7
Last Lecture
Wrap-Up, Sustainability, Course evaluations
Second article/summary write-up due.
Lecture 29

Dec 16
Cumulative Final Exam: 1100-1300h, Thursday
Exam 3 Review Questions


(29 Class meetings)



Link to Conservation Biology Lab Schedule 2004, Meets Friday 9-noon

RETURN TO ECOL 406/506, 2004 HOMEPAGE