ISAT 676. Biodiversity Conservation II

Credits 2.00 PeopleSoft Course ID: 014577 Grading Basis GRD

This course is the second of a two-course, four-credit sequence in which students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the science of biodiversity and its conservation and build on the foundational knowledge acquired throughout the first semester. This course will introduce taxonomy and systematics and its critical role in furthering our understanding of biodiversity and evolutionary dynamics. The unit will also explore core theory and principles of biogeography (with emphasis on island biogeography) and population ecology, community ecology and landscape ecology. The unit will then focus on understanding how this science is translated into practical ecosystem management and conservation planning and management decisions, including critical discussion of the cultural and ethical dimensions of such decisions and of contentious issues in conservation, including processes of conservation triage, rewilding and de-extinction. Methods for conserving biodiversity will also be discussed, with a specific focus on the conservation of marine and coastal environments, to be explored through case studies and related field trips. The unit will also continue to explore the role of protected areas as a conservation tool, focusing in particular on the European Natura 2000 network and on Marine Protected Areas. Prerequisite(s): ISAT 675 .