ZOOLOGY 750: ADVANCED CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

INSTRUCTOR:
Craig Stockwell
Stevens Hall 121, 105
231-8449; craig.stockwell@ndsu.edu
Office HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES: Conservation biology is an integrative approach to the study and conservation of biodiversity. This field is one of the fastest growing disciplines within the field of Environmental Science. This course will focus on emerging areas of research in Conservation Biology such as Conservation Genetics and Evolutionary Conservation. This semester the course will be designed around a 3 day symposium entitled "Evolutionary Change in Human-altered Environments" to be held at the University of California, Los Angeles in early February.
http://www.ioe.ucla.edu/ctr/pubsymposium-contact.html
This "Summit" will include many of the leading researchers in the field of Evolutionary Conservation Biology. The course will also include a field trip to the Mojave Desert where we will see up close how genetics is used in the conservation of protected species. 3 Credits.

SCHEDULE: February 3 - 12 - Field Trip to Mojave Desert and UCLA conference
Each day will include a discussion session

SUGGESTED BACKGROUND: Students should have a some coursework and/or research background in Evolution and/or Conservation Biology

TEXT: Assigned readings.

RESEARCH PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION
Students will work in groups of two to research a topic concerning evolutionary conservation. A list of topics is provided below. These topics will be researched using the current literature and should include papers from symposium participants (see attached list of talks). Each group will present a 25-30 minute presentation in powerpoint outlining the given topic. Also, each group is responsible for assigning 2-3 papers for the entire class to read. Selected papers must be cleared with the instructor and must be provided to the class as pdfs or as paper copies by Wednesday, January 24th. The presentations/discussions will take place during the first 5 days of the field trip (morning or afternoon). The group leaders will be graded on their ability to generate a good discussion. ALL students will be expected to actively participate in the discussion.

SUMMIT PARTICIPATION:
All students will be expected to attend the entire "Summit" (including organized meals to have an informal discussion with Summit Participants (authors of talks or posters). Each student will provide a formal written review of 6 talks (2 from each day). Each review should be about at least one-half page in length and provide an overview of the topic along with a critique of the talk (11point font, double spaced).

REVIEW PAPER: Each group will write a review paper concerning their chosen discussion topic. The review should include at least 10 peer reviewed papers and the total written length should be 8-12 pages in length (excluding figures, literature cited). The review paper will be due March 9th. Papers will be graded according to completeness. Although this is a group assignment, students can choose to write their own paper (6-8 pages; excluding figures, literature cited).

POSSIBLE TOPICS
Evolution and captive breeding
Evolution and climate change / human disturbance
Evolution and overharvest Evolution and exotic species
Evolution and pathogens
Evolution and translocations

GRADES: All assignments and tests must be completed to pass this course.
Research Presentation 25%
Research Paper 35%
Written Review of Summit 10%
Discussion participation 20%
Field Trip participation 10%

Grades will be assigned as follows:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
below 60 = F

FIELD TRIP: Students will be expected to assist with driving vehicles and actively participating in all field trip activities. We may have an opportunity to participate in a mark-recapture exercise with a protected fish species. Please come prepared for all types of weather. The Mojave Desert can be both very warm and very cold this time of year. We will stay at the California State University Field Station in the Mojave National Preserve for much of the trip. This facility is a dormitory facility with a shared bathroom and shared kitchen. You will need to bring personnel hygiene items as none are provided. The station has a "classroom" and a laboratory where we will conduct our daily discussions. During the "Summit", students will share hotel rooms at a hotel near UCLA.

FEES: This trip is being largely subsidized by NDSU. Each student will pay a fee of $250.00. This will include $150.00 registration fee for the conference; all students need to independently register. Further, $100.00 will be paid to help defray the costs for transportation and lodging. All students will be expected to pay for their own food (and perhaps entrance fees if we visit the San Diego Zoo).

SPECIAL NEEDS: Any students who need special accommodations for learning or who have special needs are invited to share these concerns or requests with the instructor as soon as possible.

ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY: All work in this course must be completed in a manner consistent with NDSU University Senate Policy, section 335, Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct (http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/335.htm). Violation of this policy will result in failure of this course.