Instructor: Dr.
Anne
Stork
Office: Administrative Annex 119
Office Phone: 274-3575
Email- astork@ithaca.edu
Office Hours: email
me to set up an appointment
Course Description: Currently, we are experiencing an unprecedented loss in species number and are probably in the midst of the sixth mass extinction. This extinction event is unlike past mass extinction events in that humans are largely responsible for such species loss. In this course, we will investigate how we can apply biological principles to reverse the trends in species loss that we are currently experiencing. We will focus on case studies to develop our understanding of what maintains, reduces, and restores biodiversity on this planet.
In addition, we will examine local conservation efforts around Ithaca, NY by working with the staff of the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, the Finger Lakes Land Trust, the Community Science Institute, and the Ithaca College Natural Lands.
Student
Learning
Objectives:
Students will:
·
Review current
topics in conservation biology, including status and trends,
case studies, and
theories in a multidisciplinary setting;
·
Understand root
causes of the conservation crisis using principles of
genetics, ecology,
biogeography, and evolutionary biology;
·
Study linkages
between the conservation crisis and philosophical, economic,
social, and
political perspectives;
·
Discuss problems
and synthesize solutions in an objective manner, based on
scientific training;
·
Research,
present, and write concise but descriptive summaries of
conservation issues.
Text: Kays, J. et al. 2006. The Woods in Your Backyard. Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service. Ithaca, NY.
Carson, R. 1962. Silent Spring. Houghton Mifflin. Boston, MA.
Additional readings, including all course materials, will be posted on Sakai.
Grading:
Reading/homework assignments 49 %:
There will be frequent reading/homework
assignments/presentations due on Sakai
to help everyone prepare for our class discussions. If the assignment isn’t submitted to SK before our
class discussion,
then you will only receive 50% credit for the assignment. If
you submit the
assignment and miss class due to an unexcused absence, you
will only receive
50% credit.
Laboratory
assignments-
25%: We will
have
assignments to prepare for our laboratories and to synthesize
what we have learned
from the lab. If the
assignment isn’t
submitted to SK before our lab, then you will only receive 50%
credit for the
assignment. If you miss lab due to an unexcused absence, you
will not receive
any credit for lab assignments related to that lab.
Take home essay exams 16%: There will be mid-term and final take home essay (8% each)exams that you can work on collaboratively, but you will turn in individually.
Final project 10%: You will tackle a problem that interests you in conservation biology. You will present your findings to the class during the last lab period and the final exam.
Attendance:
This
is an interactive class and your participation is critical to
the success of
the entire class. You
are expected to
attend every class, and get to every class session on time. If
you miss class
due to an excused absence, you are still responsible for
material presented
during class.
Plagiarism:
Please
review the College’s definition of plagiarism is it appears in
the Student
Handbook. I will
report all plagiarism
offenders to Judicial Affairs. In a collaborative project, all
students in a
group may be held responsible for academic misconduct if they
engage in
plagiarism or are aware of plagiarism by others in their group
and fail to
report it. Students who participate in a collaborative project
in which
plagiarism has occurred will not be held accountable if they
were not
knowledgeable of the plagiarism.
Accommodations: Every effort will be made to accommodate special needs of students. Please consult the Student Handbook for procedures and policies regarding accommodations.
"In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Students must register with Student Disability Services and provide appropriate documentation to Ithaca College before any academic adjustment will be provided."
Conservation Biology
Fall 2012
This schedule is for
planning purposes
and is subject to change. All assignments are due to SAKAI BEFORE class/lab
starts
|
Date |
Topic |
Reading
Assignments |
What’s due by
10:30 am day of class |
WED Lab Topic |
What’s due by
lab |
|
8/30 Th |
Intro |
Order Silent Spring
for Sept 27! |
|
|
|
|
9/4 Tu |
What is
conservation biology? |
Chapter 1 Hardin, G. 1968.
The tragedy of
the commons. Science 162:1243-1248. Silent Spring Chapters 1-2 |
HW 1 What is CB. |
Field trip with
ICNL stewards. |
Lab 1 Assignment
What is stilt
grass? -And visit http://www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/ |
|
9/6 Th |
Conservation
biology in action |
“Value and
Advocacy in Conservation Biology: Crisis Discipline or
Discipline in Crisis?” “Optimism and
Hope in a Hotter Time”
Visit the
journal Conservation
Biology through the IC library's website or in
person Silent Spring Chapters 3-4 |
HW 2 CB in action. |
|
|
|
9/11 Tu |
Conservation
ethics |
Leopold, A.
1949. The Land Ethic. The Sand County Almanac. Oxford
University Press, New York. Jacobson, S. K.
and M. D. McDuff. 1998. Training idiot savants: the lack
of human dimensions in conservation biology.
Conservation Biology 12(2):263-267. Silent Spring Chapters 5-6 |
HW 3
Conservation ethics . |
Stream
monitoring with CSI |
Lab 2 Assignment
Stream
monitoring PDFs |
|
9/13 Th |
What is
biological diversity and why should we value it? |
Last name A-O Chapter 2-
What is biodiversity? Last name P-Z Chapter 3
Where is the World’s Biodiversity Found http://www.worldwildlife.org/home-full.html Silent Spring Chapters 7-8 |
HW 4
Biodiversity . |
|
|
|
9/18 Tu |
Where is
biodiversity found? |
Chapters 4 and 5 Silent Spring Chapters 9-10 http://www.life.illinois.edu/ib/451/lab-syllabus.html |
HW 5
Biodiversity continued . |
Constructed
wetlands- Beaver Dams, NY
with Jim Curatola |
Results section
of stream monitoring data
due. |
|
9/20 Th |
Economics and
conservation |
Costanza, R. et al. 1997. The
value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural
capital. Nature 387:253-260. Lant, C.L. et al. 2008. The
Tragedy of Ecosystem Services. BioScience 58:969-974. Maguire, L. and J. Justis. 2008.
Why intrinsic value is a poor basis for conservation
decisions. BioScience 58:910-911. Pimm, S. 1991. The value of
everything. Nature 387: 231-232. Silent Spring Chapters 11-12 |
HW 6 Economics
and conserva-tion . |
|
|
|
9/25 Tu |
Rachel Carson
and her impact on Conservation Biology |
Silent Spring Chapters 13-17 Smith, M. (2008). "Silence, Miss Carson!": Science, Gender, and the Reception of Silent Spring. In Rachel Carson: Legacy and Challenge. Albany: State University Of New York Press. |
Silent Spring assignment due. |
Treman Marina
Park bird diversity trip with John Confer |
|
|
9/27 Th |
Conservation
Biology through the eyes of Sandra Steingraber |
Steingraber, S. (2008). Living downstream from Silent Spring. In Rachel Carson legacy and challenge. Albany: State University Of New York Press. Maguire, S. (2008). Contested Icons: Rachel Carson and DDT. In Rachel Carson legacy and challenge. Albany: State University Of New York Press. |
HW 7 . |
|
|
|
10/2 Tu |
Protecting
Biodiversity Leann Kanda-
protecting amphibian diversity in Tompkins County |
TBA |
HW 8 |
Forest
Management Plan- Danby |
Lab 5 Assignment
Due Read “The Woods
in Your Backyard” |
|
10/4 Th |
Habitat
Destruction |
Roemer GW and RK
Wayne. 2003. Conservation in conflict: the tale of two
endangered species. Conservation Biology. 17(5):
1251-1260. |
HW 9 |
|
|
|
10/9 Tu |
Invasive Species http://www.fsu.edu/~imsp/silent_invaders/new_weeds/main_html/ |
Mooney, H.A. and
E.E. Cleland. 2001. The evolutionary impact of invasive
species. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
98:5446-5451. Mack, N. R.
2000. Assessing the extent, status, and dynamism of
plant invasions: Current and emerging
approaches. In: Invasive Species in a Changing World,
ed. by H. A Mooney, Island Press, Washington, DC. Pp.
141-170. |
HW 10 |
Restoration
ecology field trip with Jeremy Waddell, Tom Markel-
mitigated wetlands - Flat Iron road monitoring with SRC. Continue with
stream monitoring |
Lab 6 Assignment
Due: Read Mitsch, W.
et al. Creating
Wetlands: Primary Succession,
Water Quality Changes, and
Self-Design over 15 Years.
BioScience 62: 237-250. |
|
10/11 Th |
Biodiversity-
Golden-Wing Warblers |
McLeish, T.
2007. “Golden-Winged Warbler.” Golden Wings and Hairy
Toes. University Press of New England. Hanover, NH. Confer, J., Barnes, K., & Alvey, E.. (2010).
GOLDEN- AND BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS: DISTRIBUTION, NESTING
SUCCESS, AND GENETIC DIFFERENCES IN TWO
HABITATS. The Wilson Journal of
Ornithology, 122(2), 273-278. (on Blackboard-
Confer golden warblers) |
HW 11 |
|
|
|
10/16 Tu |
Extinction- How
bad is it? |
Scott,
J.M., C.P. Kepler, C. van Riper III, and S.I. Fefer.
1988. Conservation of Hawaii's vanishing avifauna.
BioScience 38(4):238-253. Chapter 7 Blackburn, T.M.,
et al. 2004. Avian extinction and mammalian
introductions on oceanic islands. Science 305:1955-1958. |
HW 12 MID TERM TAKE
HOME ESSAY DUE WED OCT 17 AT 11:45 PM! |
Work with Jason
Finger Lakes Land Trust |
Read FLLT
website |
|
10/18 Th |
Fall Break |
|
|
|
|
|
10/23 Tu |
Extinction |
Chapter 7 Regnier, C. et
al. 2009. Not knowing, not recording, not listing:
Numerous unnoticed mollusk extinctions. Conservation
Biology. Vol. 23, No. 5, 1214-1221. Or- Jackson, J.
2008. Ecological extinction and evolution in the brave
new ocean. PNAS 105
(Supplement 1) 11458-11465. Or Wake. D. and V.
T. Vredenburg. 2008. Are we in the midst of the sixth
mass extinction? A view from the world of amphibians.
PNAS 105
(Supplement 1) 11466-11473. Or Sax, D. and S.
D. Gaines. 2008. Species invasions and extinction: The
future of native biodiversity on islands. PNAS 105
(Supplement 1) 11490-11497. |
Answers to
discussion questions. |
Forest
Management Plan- Danby |
Forest
Management Plan Progress Report
Due |
|
10/25 Th |
Extinction |
Extinction paper
presentations continued. http://snrs.unl.edu/powell/teaching/nres862/cases/extinction/extinctionvalues.htm |
Follow
instructions for the 2-3 page, double-spaced, piece in a
form to be used in a point/counterpoint article in TIME
magazine. |
|
|
|
10/30 Tu |
The problems
with small populations John Confer
guest lecture. |
Chapter 11 |
Answers to
discussion questions. |
Biodiversity
Preserve with Betsy Darlington? |
Read management
plan for Biodiversity
Preserve |
|
11/1 Th |
Conservation
Genetics |
Read: http://snrs.unl.edu/powell/teaching/nres862/cases/wolves/wolves_genetics.htm The
restoration of gray wolves in Yellowstone Park:
Conservation
Genetics Find this
article through IC’s library website: Forbes, S. H.,
and D. K. Boyd. 1997. Genetic structure and
migration in native and reintroduced Rocky Mountain wolf
populations. Conservation Biology 11:1226-1234. |
Answers to
discussion questions. |
|
|
|
11/6 Tu |
Multiple threats
to biodiversity |
Pounds, J.A. et al. 2006.
Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease
driven by global warming. Nature. 439:161-167. |
Answers to
discussion questions. |
Stream Monitoring |
Forest
Management Plan DUe |
|
11/8 Th |
Global Climate
Change |
McCarty, J.
2001. Ecological consequences of recent climate change.
Conservation Biology. 15: 320-331. FIND ONLINE
THROUGH LIBRARY’S
HOMEPAGE: Brooke, C. 2008.
Conservation and adaptation to climate change.
Conservation Biology. 22:1471- 1476. |
Answers to
discussion questions. |
|
|
|
11/13 Tu |
Fens as refugia
from climate change |
Guest Speaker-
Patrick Raney |
|
Jane Goodall
video and Sea Turtle
Reserve Planning http://snrs.unl.edu/powell/teaching/nres862/cases/sea_turtle/sea_turtle.htm |
|
|
11/15 Th |
Long Term
research Projects in Cons Bio |
Pusey, A. E. et
al. 2007. The
Contribution of Long-Term Research at Gombe National
Park to Chimpanzee Conservation. Conservation Biology.
21: 623-634. |
Answers to
discussion questions. |
|
|
|
11/20 Tu |
Break |
|
|
|
|
|
11/22 Th |
Break |
|
|
|
|
|
11/27 Tu |
Species approach
to conservation |
Roe, D. 2008. Trading Nature. A report, with case studies, on the contribution
of wildlife trade management to sustainable livelihoods and
the Millennium Development Goals. TRAFFIC
International and WWF
International. |
Answers to
discussion questions. |
Island
Biogeography Laboratory (see handout & National
Park Service Park Area and Biodiversity ) |
|
|
11/29 Th |
Species and
landscape approaches to conservation. |
Caughley, G.
1994. Directions in conservation biology. Journal of
Animal Ecology 63: 215-244. Clark, T. W., N.
Mazur, S. J. Cork, S. Dovers, and R. Harding. 2000.
Koala conservation policy process: appraisal and
recommendations. Conservation Biology. 14:681-690. |
Answers to
discussion questions. |
|
|
|
12/4 Tu |
Landscape
approaches to conservation |
Pressey, P.,
Bottrill, M. 2009. Approaches to
landscape and seascape-scale conservation planning:
convergence, contrasts, and challenges. Oryx.
43:464–475. |
Answers to
discussion questions. |
Stream
monitoring continued |
|
|
12/6 Th |
Ecosystem
approaches to conservation |
Naeem, S., et
al. 1994. Declining biodiversity can alter performance
of ecosystems. Nature 368:734-737. Raffaelli, D.
2004. How extinction patterns affect ecosystems. Science
306:1141-1142. Chan, K. et al.
2006. Conservation Planning for Ecosystem Services. PLoS
Biology 4: 2138-2152. |
Answers
to discussion questions. |
|
|
|
12/ 11 Tu |
Ecotourism |
Stem, C.J. et al. 2003. Community
Participation in Ecotourism Benefits: The Link to
Conservation Practices and Perspectives. Society and
Natural Resources 16: 387–413. |
Answers to
discussion questions |
Project
Presenta-tions |
|
|
12/13 Th |
Review for take
home final |
|
|
|
|