Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
---|---|---|---|
2501915 Environmental Sciences | OT | 4 | 0 |
There are no specific pre-requisites although it is to have passed the Ecology subject.
The general objective of the subject is that students work the main concepts and available methodologies in both Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology for the analysis and project design of research and management. The specific objectives are:
(1) To get the basic ecological concepts study of biodiversity conservation and its management, from populations to ecosystems.
(2) To identify what are the main processes that are currently threatening biodiversity in our natural systems.
(3) To set a scientific framework that enables the analysis of environmental problems to define more sustainable strategies of management.
(4) To debate on management in the field of Conservation Biology.
The Subject is organized into two theory modules and several practical sessions as follows:
INTRODUCTORY MODULE
1. Biodiversity and its conservation.
2. Measuring biodiversity.
3. Biodiversity’s state.
4. How can we current pressures on biodiversity?
SPECIES CONSERVATION
5. Population dynamics.
NATURAL SYSTEMS CONSERVATION
6. Natural systems: What must we conserve?
7. Tools for of natural systems.
8. Natural protected areas and context.
ECOSYSTEM’S CONSERVATION
9. Ecosystem’s conservation.
Practical sessions consist of these activities:
Practice 1. Biological indicators of fluvial system quality - Objective: determination of the water quality in the Tordera basin using indexes based on aquatic macroinvertebrate community composition. This practice consists of a field session (5-6 h) to collect samples of Tordera river, and a laboratory session (4 h) to process samples and calculate indexes (FBILL and BMWPC based on family’s diversity of the benthonic macroinvertebrate community).
Practice 2. Tools for management and conservation of species - Objective: To develop population dynamics models. The practice consists of 2 computer sessions in a classroom where we work possible management strategies for a brown bear (Ursus arctos) population.
Practice 3. Territory management and planning of actions - Objective: to know on its real context management problems of a protected area. The of a guided visit to a Natural Parc.
“*Unless the requirements enforced by the health authorities demand a prioritization or reduction of these contents.”
Directed activities
1) Theoretical lessons aims to give the student the basic contents in the field of sustainable conservation of natural systems and their ecosystem services. In addition (i) students are asked to analyze current scientific work; and (ii) do case studies where students must use the knowledge acquired to solve them.
2) In the practical fieldwork and laboratory sessions, students apply various techniques for the conservation of species and natural systems. There are three different activities:
- Laboratory sessions (determination of biological index of water quality): it consists of a previous visit to the field to collect biological material, its classification and the calculation of the biological index.
- Computer practices (population dynamics): you learn the use of a sofware that allow you to work, analyze and criticize some of the concepts and methods treated in the theoretical sessions.
- Field trip (protected areas): A guided tour of a Natural Park is carried out to know the day-to-day management and conservation of the Park.
“*The proposed teaching methodology may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.”
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Practice sessions of field and lab | 20 | 0.8 | |
Theory classes | 30 | 1.2 | |
Type: Supervised | |||
Analysis of scientific works | 20 | 0.8 | |
Resolution of study cases | 20 | 0.8 | |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Analysis of scientific works | 15.5 | 0.62 | |
Cases of study | 30 | 1.2 |
The evaluation of the subject is distributed as follows:
a) Individual exams of theory and practices (2 partials of 30%).
b) Analysis of scientific work and resolution of case studies (40%).
To participate in the recovery students must have previously been evaluated in a set of activities whose weight equals to a minimum of two thirds of the total grade of the subject.
It will be necessary to take an average mark higher than 3.5 as an average mark of the two partial exams in order to compute a global average for subject with all evaluation activities included (exams, analysis of scientific work and resolution of case studies) to pass the subject (that is, a minimum grade of 5). In case the average note of the two partials does not reach 3.5, the note of the partial ones would not be considered and a reassessment examination would be necessary. This re-assessment exam corresponds to 60% of the mark (40% theory and 20% practical). In this reassessment examination the requirement of a 3.5 minimum mark is maintained to consider the remaining notes of the student (cases of study and analysis of scientific work); otherwise the subject would be suspended.
For the rest of assessment activities, you do not need to obtain any minimum mark to make averages.
The non-delivery of any of the assessment activities within the established period implies a zero note for that activity. If you do not see any of the practice sessions, the corresponding block note is zero.
The "Non-Appraising" rating will be applied by substituting the "Not Presented" figure.
Students who can not attend an individual assessment test due to a justified reason (such as illness, death of a first-degree relative or accident) and provide the official documentation to the corresponding professor, will be entitled to take the test in question on another date.
“*Student’s assessment may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.”
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Analysis of scientific works | 20 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 2, 4, 1, 14, 13 |
Case studies | 20 | 5 | 0.2 | 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11 |
Practice exams | 20 | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 8, 12, 14 |
Theory exams | 40 | 4 | 0.16 | 9, 5, 6, 7 |
Bibliography:
Delibes de Castro M (2001) La naturaleza en peligro. Causas y consecuencias de la extinción de especies. Destino. (Reimprès el 2005 iel 2008).
Groom MJ, Meffe GK, Carroll CR i contribuïdors (2006) Principles of conservation biology. Tercera edició. Sinauer.
Juffe-Bignoli, D., Burgess, N.D., Bingham, H., Belle, E.M.S., de Lima, M.G., Deguignet, M., Bertzky, B., Milam, A.N., Martinez-Lopez, J., Lewis, E., Eassom, A., Wicander, S., Geldmann, J., van Soesbergen, A., Arnell, A.P., O’Connor, B., Park, S., Shi, Y.N., Danks, F.S., MacSharry, B., Kingston, N. (2014). Protected Planet Report 2014. UNEP-WCMC: Cambridge, UK. Disponible : http://www.unep-wcmc.org/system/dataset_file_fields/files/000/000/289/original/Protected_Planet_Report_2014_01122014_EN_web.pdf?1420549522
Kareiva P, Marvier M (2011) Conservation Science: Balancing the Needs of People and Nature. Roberts Publishers.
Primack RB (2014) Essentials of conservation biology. Sisena edició. Sinauer.
Sodhi NS, Ehrlich PR (eds) (2010) Conservation biology for all. Oxford University Press. Gratuït a: http://s3.amazonaws.com/mongabay/conservation-biology-for-all/Conservation-Biology-for-All.pdf
Townsend CR (2008). Ecological Applications. Blackwell
Van Dyke F (2008) Conservation biology. Foundations, concepts, applications. Segona edició. Springer.
https://livereport.protectedplanet.net/pdf/Protected_Planet_Report_2018.pdf
https://www.ted.com/topics/conservation
Web Links:
Medi natural , Generalitat de Catalunya: amb algún "Medi natural I , Generalitat de Catalunya"
Ministerio de Medio Ambiente d'Espanya: www.magrama.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/default.aspx
AEMA: Agència Europea del Medi Ambient (EEA; European Environment Agency) www.eea.europa.eu
Medi Ambient, Comissió Europea: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/index_en.htm
CBD: Conveni per a la Diversitat Biològica www.cbd.int
UICN (IUCN): Unió Internacional per la Conservació de la Natura http://cms.iucn.org
WCMC: World Conservation Monitoring Centre www.unep-wcmc.org
: www.greenfacts.org/en/digests/index.htm
WWF: World Wide Fund for Nature (World Wildlife Fund) www.panda.org
Conservation International: www.conservation.org
Portal de la "Sociedad de Biología de Conservación de Plantas" http://www.conservacionvegetal.org/sebicop.php