ECOLOGY 6080 Syllabus - Fall 2003
Principles of conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development



Ron Carroll (C)              139 Ecology Building
                                          rcarroll@sparrow.ecology.uga.edu; tel: 542-6018
Catherine Pringle (P)    308 Biological Sciences Building;
                                          Pringle@sparc.ecology.uga.edu;  tel: 542-1120.

Lecture: 8-9:15 AM, Tuesday and Thursday, Ecology Auditorium (Rm 201)
Discussion Section: 10:10 ? 11:00 AM Wednesday, Ecology Seminar Room; Readings for discussion will be passed out on Thursday of the preceding week.
Text: Principles of Conservation Biology, 2nd edition by Meffe and Carroll
Grading:  Midterm (40%) and final (60%) both comprehensive; You are responsible for ALL lecture and discussion content, text readings, videos and any additional readings assigned for discussion.

Date                    Lecture/Discussion/Text                            Lecturer(s)

Week 1:  Text: Chaps 1, 2, 3

T  19 Aug           Introductions, class format and questionnaire                               P & C

W 20 Aug           Discussion

Th  21 Aug         Dominant paradigms in conservation biology                              C
 

Week 2: Text: Chap 11
 
T  26 Aug           Coastal Ecosystem ? Complex social                                           C
                          and biological webs

W  27 Aug          Discussion

Th  28 Aug         Science-management connections: Balancing water                     P
                         use with ecosystem integrity in the Caribbean National
                         Forest, Puerto Rico
 

Week 3:  Text: Chaps 12, 13

T  2 Sept            Management of complex ecosystems: Chesapeake                       C
                         Bay, USA, and the Choco-Andean Corridor Project,
                         Ecuador

W 3 Sept            Discussion

Th  4 Sept          Our threatened public lands and the importance of                       P
                         ecosystem management.í
.

Week 4: Text: Chaps 4, 5

T  9 Sept           How scale and disturbance regimes influence ecosystem               C
                        patterns and processes

W  10 Sept        Discussion

Th  11 Sept       Historical and current losses in biodiversity                                   P
 

Week 5: Text: Chaps 6, 7

T  16 Sept       Marine ecology and conservation                                                     C

W  17 Sept      Discussion

Th  18 Sept     Conservation genetics and evolutionary viability                              C
 

Week 6: Text: Chaps 8, 10
 
T  23 Sept       Linking population ecology to ecosystem                                        P
                      management: Case studies from South Africaís
                      Krueger National Park

W  24 Sept       Discussion

Th  25 Sept      Population biology: scale, environmental                                         C
                      heterogeneity, and extinction
 
 

 Week 7: Text: Chap 9

T   30 Sept        Community ecology in conservation and ecosystem                       C
                        management: protecting keystone species and
                        processes

W  1 Oct            Discussion

Th  2 Oct           Introduction to habitat fragmentation and loss of                          P
                        ecosystem integrity
 

Week 8:  Text: Revisit  Chaps 9, 10

T  7 Oct             Conservation implications of habitat                                             P
                         fragmentation in aquatic ecosystems

W  8 Oct            MIDTERM

Th 9  Oct            Introduction to exotic species with emphasis on                         P
                          aquatic species
 

Week 9: Text: Revisit Chap 13

T  14 Oct             nvasive species in terrestrial ecosystems                                   C

W  15 Oct            Discussion

Th  16 Oct           Species recovery                                                                       P
 

Week 10:  Text: Chap 14

T  21 Oct             Pathogens and parasites: Emerging challenges in                     P &  C
                            conservation biology

W  22 Oct            Discussion

Th  23 Oct            Ecological restoration of aquatic ecosystems                           P
 

Week 11: Text: Chap 14

T  28 Oct              Ecological restoration of degraded terrestrial                           C
                           ecosystems

W  29 Oct             Discussion

Th 30 Oct             HOLIDAY ? FALL BREAK                                                   --
 
 

Week 12: Text: Chap 16

T   4 Nov              Conservation policy: Endangered Species Act and                   C
                            other legislation

W  5 Nov               Discussion

Th  6 Nov              Habitat conservation plans                                                      C
 
 

Week 13: Text: Chap 15

T  11 Nov              Ecotourism: boon or bane and for whom?                              C

W  12 Nov             Discussion

Th  13 Nov             How does globalization affect environmental                         P
                             conservation?
 
 

Week 14: Text: Chap 17

 T  18 Nov             Raising public awareness of conservation issues                    P
                             through environmental outreach

 W  19 Nov            Discussion

Th  20 Nov             Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica:                            P
                             A success story in conservation?
 
 

Week 15: Text: Chap 18

T  25 Nov                 Climate change:  Conservation planning for                         C
                                an increasingly uncertain future

W  26 Nov                THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Th  27 Nov                THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
 
 
 

Week 16: Text: Chap 19 (revisit Chap 17)

T  2 Dec                    The next generation of questions in conservation                C & P
                                ecology

W  3 Dec                   Discussion

Th  4 Dec                   How can scientists and other professionals make              P & C
                                 a difference?
 
 
 

FINAL EXAMINATION - DECEMBER 11TH 8 - 11AM IN THE ECOLOGY AUDITORIUM, RM 201