Course Number: SC210
Course Title: Conservation Science
Specific
Students should be able to:
1. Study the interactions of people and
its environment. Define the terms
environment, conservation, sustainable development Define
matter, resources
and energy. Distinguish between
recyclable and non-recyclable resources
2. Learn how humankind and other living
forms modify the surrounding environment and comprehend how the tropical pacific
islands are
fragile to such modifications. Describe the categories of
the pacific islands and the impact of humankind in modifying its
environment
3. Acquire an understanding of the
basic concepts in ecology.
Acquire an understanding
of the notion of species and populations Describe the concept of
habitat, communities and ecosystems
Sketch the energy and
matter flow within an ecological system Integrate how the overuse
of resources and energy modifies the
natural processes
4. Develop knowledge of the impact of
consumption of resources and discharge of the resulting waste on ecosystem
modification with
special focus on tropical pacific islands realities. List and give the main
characteristics of the various biomes of the globe and within
or closely
linked to the tropical pacific islands environment. Describe how the overuse
of resources and energy modifies these
natural processes
5. Investigate the various natural
resources available and how to manage them in a sustainable manner.
Learn about the
agricultural land, grasslands and forest uses and humankind impact on these
ecosystem and list conservation and
management measures envisioned to protect
these natural environments. Describe the causes of
desertification, their
consequences and means of halting it. List the classification of
the various aquatic habitats and their basic characteristics
Describe the human impact
on the aquatic habitats and list ways to conserve and manage these precious
ecosystems
Be knowledgeable about the
close link between the mangrove swamps and the coral reef ecosystems, their
productivity, their value
and threats.
Define the notion of biodiversity, endemic
species and the control and conservation of endangered species
Comment on the importance
of biodiversity for the health of the ecosystems
. Comment on finding
solutions to conserve biodiversity
at local, national and global levels
6. Furnish notions of world
conservation strategy for the various "resources" of the planet Earth.
List ways to conserve the
living wild resources, the food crop resources, the water and energy and
mineral resources and underline
methods of exploiting these resources in a
sustainable manner.
Describe the impact of dealing with wastes
List alternatives to
overcome human population growth, resource consumption and waste discharge
7. Acquire an understanding of the
"global issues" concerning the worlds' environment and their impacts for the
tropical pacific islands.
Be knowledgeable about the
dynamics and the environmental fragility of respective ecosystems with focuses
on island ecosystems
Comment on the global
issues concerning the world's environmental changes and their impact locally,
nationally and worldwide
focusing on the global warming affect and its
consequences on the rising sea level and on the depletion of the ozone layer
8. Gain a comprehensive vocabulary
allowing students to comfortably discuss various subjects linked to conservation
challenges.
Be knowledgeable about the
specific vocabulary linked to the respective treated topics in conservation
sciences
Be able to use it during
class discussions and integrate it in various assignments, quizzes and tests