Conservation Biology

Catalog description

The loss of biodiversity is one of the most rapid forms of environmental changes imposed by human on our planet. Conservation biology is the study of the factors that are responsible for the loss, maintenance and restoration of biodiversity. It is a highly inter-disciplinary field, which requires in-depth understanding of ecology and evolutionary biology. In its application, conservation biology must also take into account the sociological, economical and ethical impact of biodiversity protection. This course will first explore the processes responsible for the establishment and maintenance of biodiversity as well as the multiple benefits of biodiversity for the function of ecosystems and for human use. The impact of habitat loss, overexploitation and invasive species on biodiversity will be discussed. This will be followed by an exploration of strategies used by conservation biology to combat these threats. These topics will be further investigated by the in-depth study of some of the most pressing threats, including overfishing, the impact of climate changes and the loss of tropical rainforests.