Conservation Biology and Biogeography

The primary goal of this course is to give students the theoretical and practical knowledge on biodiversity and biogeography processes, on where they found, to learn about the loss and threats of biodiversity, its protection, biodiversity conservation and conservation biogeography. Students on the basis of acquired knowledge get familiar to develop critical analysis and identification and assessment of natural and anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems.

Basic knowledge of biology and geography is desired.

• Biodiversity and its importance (value):
• Conservation biology, what is biodiversity
• Species diversity, ecosystem diversity, genetic diversity; patterns of diversity
• Ecosystem services
• Threats to biodiversity:
• Mass extinction and global changes
• Ecosystem degradation and loss
• Overexploitation
• Invasive species
• Maintaining biodiversity:
• Protecting ecosystems, managing ecosystems, managing populations
• Human factors (social factors, economics, politics and actions)
• Conservation biogeography
• Phylogeography and diversification

Knowledge and understanding:
Students acquire knowledge on biodiversity and biogeography processes, on types of diversity, extinction, degradation and loss of biodiversity as well as knowledge on biodiversity conservation and protection. Students are trained to identify and solve nature conservation problems, and to establish protected areas. They are trained to manage and assess the impacts on habitats and populations.

Basic:

• PRIMACK, R. B. 2010: Essentials of Conservation Biology, Sixth Edition. Sinauer Associates. Katalog E-version

Additional:

• HAMBLER, C. 2004: Conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
• HUNTER Jr., M. L., GIBBS, J. P. 2007: Fundamentals of Conservation Biology. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, Oxford. E-version
• KAREIVA, P., MARVIER, M. 2011: Conservation Science: Balancing the Needs of People and Nature. Roberts & Company Publishers. E-version
• KRYŠTUFEK, B. 1999: Osnove varstvene biologije. Tehniška založba Slovenije, Ljubljana. Catalogue
• LOMOLINO, M. V., HEANEY, L. R. 2004: Frontiers of Biogeography: New Directions in the Geography of Nature. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers. Massachusetts.
• Selected articles from scientific journals.

• Short written seminar and its presentation (50%) • Examination (50%)

Associate Professor of Biology at University of Nova Gorica.

CULVER, D. C., PIPAN, T. Shallow subterranean habitats : ecology, evolution, and conservation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014. 258 str., ilustr. ISBN 978-0-19-964617-3. [COBISS.SI-ID 36933421]

CULVER, D. C., PIPAN, T. Subterranean ecosystems. V: LEVIN, Simon Asher (ur.). Encyclopedia of biodiversity. 2nd ed. San Diego [etc.]: Academic Press, 2013, vol. 7, str. 49-62, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 35307053]

CULVER, D. C., PIPAN, T. The biology of caves and other subterranean habitats, (Biology of habitats). New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. XVI, 254 str., ilustr. ISBN 978-0-19-921992-6. ISBN 978-0-19-921993-3. [COBISS.SI-ID 29605933]

CULVER, D. C., PIPAN, T., SCHNEIDER, K. Vicariance, dispersal and scale in the aquatic subterranean fauna of karst regions. Freshwater Biology, ISSN 0046-5070, 2009, issue 4, vol. 54, str. 918-929. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2007.01856.x. [COBISS.SI-ID 27133485]

PIPAN, T., CULVER, D. C. Regional species richness in an obligate subterranean dwelling fauna - epikarst copepods. Journal of biogeography, ISSN 0305-0270, 2007, 34, str. 854-861, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 26450221]