Conservation Biology (KBE 542E)
lecturers: Jana Jersáková, Tomáš Kučera, Martin Konvička
6 credits
Course is running in the summer term in academic years starting with an odd year (e.g. 2019/2020)
Course is ideal for bachelor and master students.
Course objectives: to familiarize the students with basic principles of up-to-date biological approaches applied in nature protection
Course schedule:
| 1: 26.2. |
Conservation biology: interdisciplinary approach, the philosophical background. |
| 2: 4.3. |
Biological diversity: species, genetic, community and ecosystem diversity, measuring biological diversity, distribution of biological diversity. |
| 3: 11.3. |
Extinctions: patterns of extinction, rates of extinction, causes of extinction, vulnerability to extinction. |
| 4: 18.3. |
Conservation genetics. |
| 5: 5.3. |
Conserving species by conserving populations: problems of small populations, loss of genetic variability, effective population size, metapopulations. |
| 6: 1.4. |
Protected areas: design of protected areas, island biogeography. |
| 7: 8.4. |
Plant conservation in situ and ex situ, action plans, reintroductions, management. |
| 8: 15.4. |
Conservation of small animals in situ and ex situ, action plans, reintroductions, management. |
| 9: 22.4. |
Conservation of large animals in situ and ex situ, action plans, reintroductions, management. |
| 10: 29.4. |
Conservation outside protected areas: landscape conservation, urban ecology, global warming. |
| Presentations of literature projects |
Content of excursions:
1 day - National park Šumava (optional)
3 days - Czech and foreign protected areas (compulsory)
1 day - ZOO Prague (optional)
Evaluation:
-
Literature project: Towards the end of the course there is a presentation of the literature project about some topic in conservation biology selected from proposed topics.
-
Written exam: Quiz composed of 20 questions.
Recommended literature:
Sher A.A., Primack R.B., (2020). An Introduction to Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Massachusetts. Library signature: 202091238.
Advanced:
Cardinale B.J., Primack R.B., Murdoch J.D. (2020): Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates et Oxford University Press, Oxford. Signature: 202091247.
