Rolf Holderegger: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2020 |
| Name | Prof. Dr. Rolf Holderegger |
| Field | Conservation Biology |
| Address | WSL Zürcherstrasse 111 8903 Birmensdorf ZH SWITZERLAND |
| Telephone | 044 739 25 27 |
| rolf.holderegger@usys.ethz.ch | |
| Department | Environmental Systems Science |
| Relationship | Full Professor & Director WSL |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 701-0322-00L | Seminar with Conservation Practitioners | 2 credits | 2S | R. Holderegger, A. L. Bergamini | |
| Abstract | In this seminar, students meet with conservation practitioners. The students and the practitioners, will consider current concepts and problems in nature conservation. This includes input-presentations by practitioners, and students will discuss and treat relevant problems in more detail. | ||||
| Learning objective | The aim of the seminar is to bring students into contact with practitioners in nature conservation and to consider and discuss current problems of nature conservation in Switzerland. | ||||
| Content | The seminar consists of several blocks, each dealing with a separate problem or topic of nature conservation. Each block includes a presentation and a more-in-depth treatment of the corresponding theme in student groups and discussions. The invited professionals are from national and cantonal authorities, consulting offices, NGOs or from research institutes. Additionally, there is a short excursion. | ||||
| Lecture notes | No script. Diverse material will be made available. | ||||
| Literature | No text book. | ||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The additional effort of students, in addition to the lecture hours, is about 2 hours per week. The evaluation of student activities is an integral part of the seminar. Teaching form: This seminar needs the active participation of students! It consists of input talks, group work, presentations, discussions, reading and a short excursion. | ||||
| 701-1450-00L | Conservation Genetics | 3 credits | 4G | R. Holderegger, M. Fischer, F. Gugerli | |
| Abstract | The course deals with conservation genetics and its practical applications. It introduces the genetic theories of conservation genetics, such as inbreeding depression in small populations or fragmentation. The course also shows how genetic methods such as eDNA and metabarcoding are used in conservation management, and it critically discusses the benefits and limits of conservation genetics. | ||||
| Learning objective | Genetic and evolutionary argumentation is an important feature of conservation biology. The course equips students with knowledge on conservation genetics and its applications in conservation management. The course introduces the main theories of conservation genetics and shows how genetic methods are used in conservation management, and it critically discusses the benefits and limits of conservation genetics. Practical examples dealing with animals and plants are presented. | ||||
| Content | There are 4 hours of lectures, presentations and group work per week. Students also have to spend about 3 hours per week on preparatory work for the following week. Every week, one subject will be presented by one of three lecturers. Overview of themes: Barcoding, eDNA metabarcoding and genetic monitoring; effects of small population size, genetic drift and inbreeding; neutral and adaptive genetic diversity; hybridization; gene flow, fragmentation and connectivity. Specific topics: (1) Species and individual identification: barcoding; metabarcoding; eDNA; estimation of census population size; habitat use and genetic monitoring. (2) Small population size; bottlenecks; genetic drift; inbreeding and inbreeding depression; effective population size. (3) Adaptive genetic diversity; neutral and adaptive genetic variation; importance of adaptive genetic diversity; methods to measure adaptive genetic variation. (4) Hybridization; gene introgression; gene flow across species boundaries. (5) Half day excursion: practical example of conservation genetics on fragmentation. (6) Discussion and evaluation of excursion; historical and contemporary gene flow and dispersal; fragmentation and connectivity. (7) Written examination. | ||||
| Lecture notes | No script; handouts and material for downloading will be provided. | ||||
| Literature | There is no textbook for this course, but the following books are recommended: Allendorf F.W., Luikart G.; Aitken S.N. 2013. Conservation and the Genetics of Populations, 2nd edition. Wiley, Oxford. Frankham R., Ballou J.D., Briscoe D.A. 2010. Introduction to Conservation Genetics, 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. The following book and booklets in German are targeted to conservation professionals: Holderegger R., Segelbacher G. (eds.). 2016. Naturschutzgenetik. Ein Handbuch für die Praxis. Haupt, Bern. Csencsics D., Gugerli F. 2017. Naturschutzgenetik. WSl Berichte 60: 1-82 (free download: https://www.wsl.ch/de/publikationensuchen/wsl-berichte.html) | ||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Requirements: Students must have a good background in genetics as well as in ecology and evolution. The courses "Population and Quantitative Genetics" or "Evolutionary Genetics" should have been attended. Examination: A final written examination on the content of the course and the excursion are integral parts of the course. Teaching forms: The course needs the active participation of students. It consists of lectures, group work, presentations, discussions, reading and a half-day excursion. | ||||