Learning outcome

After completing the course, the students should have the following qualifications regarding knowledge, skills, and general competence:

• Be familiar with the basic and important terms in conservation biology
• Understand how human activities negatively affect species and populations
• Be able to use this knowledge to prevent further loss of biological diversity
• Be able to manage small, fragmented and isolated populations in the best way possible
• Be able to run a simple population viability analysis (PVA) to predict the future development of endangered species and populations

Course Description

Main topics:

• Conservation biology: definition, purpose and future goals
• Biological diversity: definition, global distribution and measurement
• Valuation of biological diversity: direct and indirect economic values, ethical values
• Threats to biological diversity: habitat fragmentation, invasive species, overexploitation, climate change, etc.
• Conservation of species and populations: genetic variability, demographic and environmental stochasticity, catastrophes
• Applied conservation biology: designing and establishing protected areas, restoration ecology
• IUCN and NATURA 2000: definitions, purpose and contents
• Population Viability Analysis (PVA): excercise in PVA-modelling

Assessment Methods

Student performances will be evaluated through a written exam (4 hours), where A and F denotes the best and lowest grades, respectively. The exam counts for 100% of the final grade. In order to pass the course and to get a final grade the students will also have to attend the entire 5 day field trip. Students may be charged for some expenses for the excursion.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean