Göteborg University

Zoology

GRADUATE SCHOOL IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

GÖTEBORG UNIVERSITY and NORDENS ARK FOUNDATION

Page updated 2007-01-25

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION?

The Graduate School at Nordens Ark invites 15 graduate students (doktorander) for the new course 26 March - 4 April 2007.

Target group: The Graduate School at Nordens Ark addresses students already accepted for graduate training (forskarutbildning), primarily from university zoology departments and from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and staff responsible for conservation biology at Swedish zoos.

The course program (preliminary) below. 

Previous courses: 2003-2005

1. Conservation genetics with aspects on genetic variation and problems of small populations (took place in October 2003). (Have a look at some pictures from the course in October 2003)
2. Reproductive biology of higher vertebrates with particular emphasis on aspects of conservation (The spring course took place in April, and the autumn course in October, 2004). An extra course took place 15-19 August, 2005.
3. Biodiversity influenced or created by domestic, native breeds ("lantraser"). These breeds have shaped the old agricultural and cultural landscape with a rich biological diversity that has become fragmented and increasingly confined to nature reserves (2005). The course took place October 10-21, 2005.

The course in March 2007:

Please note: Living costs will be covered by the graduate school for those admitted. For students from Swedish universities, travelling costs will also be covered!

The school is centered around the Foundation Nordens Ark at the Åby Fiord in mid-Bohuslän on the Swedish west coast. It is a joint project between Nordens Ark and Göteborg University financed by Formas (The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning). The school will combine seminar series of both theoretical and practical character. These will be carried out by teachers, both with a more traditional academic status, and persons with the genuine knowledge of animal husbandry, rearing in captivity, and re-introduction in the field. The language will be both English and Swedish (invited speakers are from many countries) and is planned for up to 20 students. Most speakers are prepared to stay overnight the day they have their presentations, allowing the students to discuss their subjects under more relaxed forms in the evening. The program is still preliminary as we have not yet received answers from all invited speakers.  

We offer postgraduate students studying at Swedish universities free travel and accommodation. Foreign postgraduate students are offered free accommodation, but costs for travels to Nordens Ark and back home must be paid at own expense.     

Organizers: Claes Andrén, Scientific Director & Lena M Lindén, Managing Director at Nordens Ark, together with Stefan Nilsson, professor at Göteborg University.

Contact person: Claes Andrén (claes.andren@nordensark.se)

Program

The program will focus on different aspects of conservation biology starting with an understanding of extinction of species as a natural part of the history of the earth. Extinction of species will be discussed in different time scales, from a historical perspective, explaining major changes on earth, to the present situation with an accelerating loss of species mainly due to our modern life style with over-exploitation of different resources. We will discuss in more detail reasons for extinctions during the last 100 years, and the effect of e.g. landscape destruction and fragmentation, introduction of alien species, climate change, pollution and spread of diseases and other forms of environmental stress. There will be a discussion about the importance of biological diversity, and there are many aspects to consider. One day will devoted to the genetics of small populations and the genetic effects of man’s impact in nature.

We will also describe how the protection of species and their habitats is organized from the global to the local level, and how modern zoos can be an important part of conservation through their in situ and ex situ work. We will show how a modern zoo can work with studbooks, species co-ordinators, campaigns, fund raising, population and habitat viability assessment (PHVA) workshops etc. There will be many interesting case studies as examples of successful reintroductions but also, which my be as important, projects that failed and the reasons for this. A most import issue to discuss will be the global amphibian crises, an extinction of species that can be larger than anything we have experienced since man entered the scene on earth.

(Preliminary program as it looks January 25, 2007)

Conservation Biology at Nordens Ark 2007

A research school, March 26 – April 04, aimed at postgraduate training in topics of biodiversity and conservation of threatened species

The school is centred around the Foundation Nordens Ark at the Åby Fiord in mid-Bohuslän on the Swedish west coast. The school will combine seminar series of both theoretical and practical character. These will be carried out by teachers, both with a more traditional academic status, and persons with the genuine knowledge of animal husbandry, rearing in captivity, and re-introduction in the field.

Organizers: Claes Andrén & Lena M Lindén

This is a preliminary draft program. Please, keep in mind that persons mentioned below have not had the possibility to give correct titles to their contributions. The course will be in English and is intended for 15-20 Ph.D. students. We would also very much appreciate if the speakers are prepared to stay over night  the day they have their talk, allowing the students to discuss their subjects under more relaxed forms in the evening.

Monday March 26 – Biodiversity and extinction of species

11.00 Introduction

11.30-13.00 Biodiversity and extinction of species in a historical perspective

Lars Holmer, Institutionen för Geovetenskaper/ Paleobiologi, Norbyvägen 22, 752 36 Uppsala, E-post: lars.holmer@pal.uu.se, Tel 018-47 12 761

13.00-14.00 LUNCH

14.00-15.00 Biodiversity and extinction - the influence of man

Urban Emanuelsson, CBM, Box 7007, 750 07 Uppsala, E-post:   Tel. 018-67 27 30 Urban.emanuelsson@cbm.slu.se

 15.00-16.00 What can we expect for the future, is biodiversity important.

Torbjörn Fagerström, Uppsala University, Box 7070, 750 07 Uppsala, tel. 018-67 20 22, torbjorn.fagerstrom@adm.slu.se

 16.00-16.30 COFFE/TEA

 16.30-18.00 Panel debate

Tuesday 27 – Diversity and protection of ecosystems

09.00-11.00 Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust with examples of in situ projects