M.Biodiv.483:Assessment of Wildlife Species for Nature Conservation (6 C / 8 SWS)

Learning outcome, core skills:
Population monitoring of endangered species is an important basis for adaptive conservation management. Students learn in this class to design surveys, which allow precise and accurate population estimates. This module teaches the theoretical basics for quantitative surveys and study designs as well as the field procedures. One part of the course is assigned to direct and indirect line transect surveys, the second part of the course deals with camera trapping. In the exercises, students analyse and interprete concrete data and will understand concepts such as strip width, cluster size, encounter rate, detection probability and the influence of these variables on estimates of population density and abundance. As model examples students will use line transect and camera trap data of vertebrates (birds, primates, big mammals) of tropical habitats (forest and savannah). In this course, various software applications will be used.

Contents:

• 1. Theoretical basics of assessing populations (Lecture)


• 2. Analysis, Interpretation of data (Exercise)

Exam:
Assigment (20 pages)

Examination requirements:
Presentation (15 min)

Learning outcome, core skills:
Basics of adaptive conservation management and implementation of wildlife surveys. Basics of concepts and practice oriented estimates of wildlife populations (swath width, cluster sizes, rates of encounters, etc).

Workload:
180 h (112/68 h, Attendance time/Self-study time)

Admission requirements:
None

Recommended previous knowledge:
None

Language:
Englisch

Person responsible for module:
Dr. rer. nat. Matthias Waltert

Course frequency:
Each winter semester

Duration
1 Semester

Number of repeat examinations permitted:
Twice

Recommended semester:
1

Maximum number of students:
5