ENV 402 - Diverse Perspectives in Conservation Biology, Lec/Lab

Prerequisites, ENV 250 or BIOL 205 and BIOL 205L. The protection and conservation of our natural environment is an important task for biologists and resource managers as humans continue to change the landscape that all organisms on Earth rely upon. In this course, students will use case studies and student-led original research on Catalina Island to explore real challenges facing this island with a rich history of mixed human and ecological use. We will use field and laboratory techniques to investigate the impacts of humans on the conservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, taking advantage of the remote USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies in Two Harbors, CA. This interdisciplinary course will also explore both Western and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) approaches to conservation science and apply these frameworks to existing California management practices. Letter grade. Repeatable for credit once if the topic is different. Fee: TBD (Offered interterm, alternate years.) 4 credits