Course Content (Syllabus)
Biodiversity, rarity and ecological processes. Features of small populations. Factors that affect population decline: demographics, genetics and environmental. Causes and processes of species extinction. Threats to habitats, invasive species and diseases in wildlife.
Principles of population viability analysis (PVA), minimum viable population, minimum dynamic area (MDA). Case studies.
Estimation of extinction risk and setting conservation priorities.
Ecosystem management. Adaptive management and monitoring programs for populations and habitats.
Setting criteria for conservation reserve establishment. Degradation factors in protected areas. Conservation plan for endangered wildlife species inside and outside of protected areas.
Additional bibliography for study
Morris, E. E & D.F. Doak (2002) Quantitative Conservation Biology: Theory and Practice of Population Viability Analysis. Sinauer, Sunderland.
Soule, M.E. (1986) Conservation Biology: The Science of Scarcity and Diversity. Sinauer, Sunderland.