Conservation Biology and Biodiversity (853C1)
15 credits, Level 7 (Masters)
Autumn teaching
This module is designed to give students from a diversity of backgrounds a solid grounding in the basic principles of conservation biology. After an introduction to the major threats to global biodiversity, the module will explore a series of broad conservation themes. It will begin by focusing on the species level, exploring some of the particular threats faced, why species become rare and endangered, and what measures can be taken to halt or reverse population declines and how populations of threatened species can be restored. The module then adopts a habitat and ecosystem focus, working up from a consideration of specific habitats and their management to a landscape approach and exploring methods for repairing damaged habitats and ecosystems.