Conservation Biology Assignments

The Conservation Biology Course assignments will consist of:

Video Reviews:

The following video material will be made available for review (not to
examine):

Monsters we Meet (three videos)

The Real Eve and Man's Jorney

Attenborough's State of the pLanet

Diamond Guns, Germs and Steel

Practical Work (Kruger Field Trip) (30%)

Research proposals based on the Conservation Biology field trip to the Wits Rural Facility and the Kruger National Park have already been completed. These count 30% towards your final course mark.

Weblog Contributions(20%)

Contributions to the Conservation Biology weblog must include two articles consisting of not less than 500 words, and four contributions to other
contributions (i.e. useful and substantial comments). Articles must have a strong conservation focus, and deal with the role of humans in effecting ecological change. The comments are to address issues raised in the article in question, indicating an issue
overlooked or where there is an alternative explanation - comments are to be substantive in
concept rather than in the amount of words.

Further contributions to the weblog (more articles, comments, etc.) are welcome, and may be considered for purposes of extra credit.

Exam Quizzes (20%)

Exam quizzes will be based on the NISL Conservation Biology chapters. The quizzes will be made available upon completion of the other assignments.

Science Presentation (30%)

Review a research topic (at least three papers will be provided) and
the review is prepared as a Power Point - similar to the Invasion
Biology.

The research topics available are as follows:

1. Armageddon vs Extinction


2. Clovis Society and the North American Overkill


3. GMO - Safe for Society, Safe for the Environment?


4. mt-DNA - An African Origin for humans and how the world was invaded


5. Y-chromosome- An African Origin for humans and how the world was invaded


6. Neolithical Revolution - the first big impacts of humans on Ecosystems


7. New Zealand - The big impact that humans had on an Island Ecosystem


8. Romans - an ancient civilization's ecological footprint
   
9. Developing Ecological Networks for Conserving Europe's Biodiversity


10. Ecological Corridors and their use for Conservation Planning

A time table will be provided next week, as will a full list of suggested readings for the science presentations and copies of the video material to be reviewed. In the meantime, feel free to contact me via email for any further information.