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This module seeks to provide an introduction to conservation biogeography and the role of science in the effective safeguarding of the Earth’s remaining flora and fauna. Students get acquainted with the scientific basis of nature conservation, including motivations for the conservation of nature, history of biodiversity conservation, threats to biodiversity (e.g., habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, pollution and climate change), approaches for protecting nature and conservation planning. Course participants will learn to critically read, reflect on, and summarize primary literature, as well as to train presentation skills. Students will learn computer-based tools to answer questions related to analyzing threats to species and communities and to guide conservation planning.
Prerequisites: Modules B3 (Statistics) and B6 (GIS), respectively M3 and M6 in older study programs.
The course will consist of a lecture and a seminar. The lectures will cover the following topics
- What makes species go extinct?
- Motivations for conserving biodiversity
- Threats to biodiversity (habitat loss & fragmentation, overharvesting, pollution, invasive species, trophic cascades, climate change, and synergistic effects)
- Systematic conservation planning
- Protected areas and conservation in human-dominated landscapes
- Conservation policy and implementation of conservation measures
The seminar will serve to deepen lecture topics via reading current literature, critical thinking, and debating ‘hot topics’ in conservation. Practical exercises will include:
- Deciding where and what to protect
- Corridor mapping and assessment
- Impacts of climate change on biodiversity
- Quantifying habitat loss and fragmentation effects
THE CLASS WILL BE TAUGHT IN ENGLISH!
Depending on the Corona regulations in July, there will be a compulsory one-day field excursion to a close-by national park. It will serve to deepen particular topics and methods introduced in the lectures. |
