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The course provides an overview of the theory underlying biological diversity evolution and dynamics, as well as methods for calculating and estimating diversity. We'll learn about the major alpha, beta, and gamma diversity estimation techniques. Understanding how biodiversity evolved and continues to evolve on Earth, as well as how to properly use and interpret biodiversity data, is critical for all students interested in conservation biology and ecology, whether they pursue careers in academia or as policymakers and other professionals (students graduating from our programmes do both). Academics must be able to correctly apply theories and indices, while policymakers must be able to understand and interpret the academics' conclusions.
The following are the course's expectations and outcomes:
- covering the theoretical and practical issues involved in biodiversity theory,
- conducting biodiversity surveys and inventories,
- analysing the data gathered,
- and applying their findings to ecological and conservation problems
Syllabus :
1. Biodiversity and evolution
- The web of life
- Species interactions and biodiversity
- The evolution of biodiversity
- The structure of biodiversity
- The distribution of biodiversity in macroscale
2. Importance of biodiversity and anthropogenic impacts
- The distribution of biodiversity in microscale
- Why biodiversity is important for us
- What are the causes of biodiversity decline?
- Climate change and biodiversity
- Gaia and biodiversity
3. Analyse and measure biodiversity
- Sampling Techniques
- α-diversity
- β-diversity
4. Species-abundance distributions and comparisons
- Evenness
- Species abundance models
- Curves of biodiversity
- How to compare communities’ diversity
- How to analyse the anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity
5. Alternative measures of biodiversity
- Functional diversity
- Taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity
- Qualitative measures of biodiversity
6. Statistics applied to the analysis of biodiversity
