ISLAND BIOLOGY: STUDY OF NATURAL LABORATORIES

Catalog description

Islands have long been regarded as important “natural laboratories” that have contributed to the advancements of many scientific disciplines, including evolution, ecology and conservation biology. Although islands comprise only 5% of the world’s land surface, they support 30% of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, which include rare and recently extinct species. This course provides students with an introduction to island biology and focuses on the following four areas: (1) defining islands and biodiversity, (2) identifying characteristics of islands and their implications for ecology, evolution of biodiversity, (3) understanding dynamics of spatially subsidized food webs on islands, and (4) identifying conservation and management concerns of island biotas. The goal of the course is to increase student awareness and appreciation of islands and associated biodiversity. This course is for students pursuing careers in any biological field including ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, invasive ecology, wildlife management and pre-professional fields.