FW 558 examines the background, concepts, and tools required to determine how genetic data can be used to evaluate wild vertebrate species and communities of conservation concern. It covers the relevance of genetics to issues in conservation biology, applications of common genetic tools, and appropriate modes of genetic data analysis based on conservation questions of interest.
The course prerequisites (see below) include introductory genetics, ecology, and statistics (or analogous coursework). Students without this coursework background but with applied experience or the ability to put in the extra effort to bring themselves up to speed on critical background concepts have succeeded in this course previously. Students are encouraged to email the professor with any questions.
Prerequisite
BZ 350 (Molecular and General Genetics) or LIFE 201A (Introductory Genetics: Applied/Population/Conservation/Ecological (GT-SC2)) or LIFE 201B (Introductory Genetics: Molecular/Immunological/Developmental); LIFE 220 (Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)) or LIFE 320 (Ecology); STAT 301 (Introduction to Statistical Methods) or STAT 307 (Introduction to Biostatistics); Graduate standing. Written consent of instructor. Admission to a graduate program in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.
Textbooks and Materials
Section 801
Required
- Conservation and the genomics of populations. (Oxford University Press) (2022)
Allendorf, F. W., Funk, W. C., Aitken, S. N., Byrne, M., & Luikart, G
Not available at the CSU Bookstore
Oxford University Press.
Not available at CSU bookstore.
