BIOL 2060
Describe how abiotic factors influence the distribution and abundance of organisms [BIOL 2060] Describe major drivers of, and differences among, terrestrial, marine and freshwater biomes [BIOL 2060] Explain how connectivity can influence extinction of metapopulations [BIOL 2060] Explain major gradients of species diversity in terrestrial and marine ecosystems [BIOL 2060] Explain why community or food web structure is likely to change if a top predator is removed [BIOL 1011] Explain why small population size is of concern to conservation biologists [BIOL 1011] Provide examples of how biological interactions (competition, predation, mutualism) structure communities [BIOL 1011] Write a properly formatted CSE-style (Council of Science Editors) citation for a website, article or book; quote from and/or cite published material as appropriate; read an article from a scientific journal and discuss its content with classmates. [BIOL 1010] [BIOL 1011] Communicate research results as a formal report in the style of a scientific paper [BIOL 2060] Use simple models to describe unlimited (exponential) and limited (logistic) population growth [BIOL 1011] [BIOL 1030] Generate and interpret appropriate tables and graphs to represent ecological data [BIOL 2060] Predict major human impacts on natural ecosystems and global biogeochemical cycles [BIOL 2060] Read and interpret a scientific paper describing a straightforward experimental or observational study [BIOL 2060] Use the BIDE (births, deaths, immigration, emigration), exponential and logistic population growth models to make predictions [BIOL 2060]
Acquire a basic knowledge of tools and techniques used in natural resource managementDescribe the use of key conservation policy initiatives, such as the IUCN Red List and Protected Area categoriesDevelop a familiarity with the practice of, and challenges with, restoration ecologyDevelop an understanding of the use of technology and software in applied conservation practice and citizen scienceDevelop familiarity with how science is translated into policy, the history of global conservation efforts, and the governmental, non-governmental, and inter-governmental bodies involved in implementing policyUnderstand the hierarchical levels of biological diversity and a range of metrics used to quantify itDescribe the importance of metapopulations, economic trade-offs, individual species traits, and ecological interactions for protected area designDescribe the patterns, drivers, and consequences of the distribution of global biodiversity on land and seaUnderstand large scale biogeographic and macroecological patternsBe able to clearly articulate the science in key conservation debates, both orally through presentations, and in written formInterpret the consequences of climate change on ecosystems and communities, including unexpected and unintuitive consequences, and explain how conservation planning should take climate change into accountProvide examples of the key threats to biodiversity, and the causes and consequences of those threatsUnderstand the key concepts behind population viability analysisUnderstand the use of both deterministic and stochastic models in conservation biology, and the appropriate and inappropriate use of models
