Frühjahrssemester 2012 (jährlich wiederkehrende Veranstaltung)
R. Holderegger, M. C. Fischer, F. Gugerli, A. Widmer
Genetic and evolutionary argumentation is an outstanding feature of modern conservation biology. The module equips students with the necessary background knowledge on the benefits of conservation genetics and its applications in practice. The module introduces several main theories of conservation genetics and then shows how they impact on practical work in conservation management. The module aims at a critical discussion of the role and limits of genetics in conservation and also shows where science is lacking behind practice - and vice-versa. Both animals and plants are treated.
Overview
What is conservation
genetics; genetic diversity as part of biodiversity; neutral and
adaptive genetic diversity; effects of small population size: genetic
drift and inbreeding; gene flow and fragmentation/connectivity; in-situ
and ex-situ species conservation; hybridization.
Specific topics
(1):
What is conservation genetics; why is it important (ecology versus
genetics); biodiversity and genetic diversity; genetics as an instrument
to investigate processes, extinction vortex; basic introduction to
genetic methods.
(2) Small population size and genetic
drift/inbreeding; inbreeding depression; methods to estimate inbreeding
and inbreeding depression; applications to conservation.
(3)
Adapative genetic diversity; neutral versus adaptive genetic variation
and their meaning; methods to measure them; genome scans; QTLs,
candidate genes; problems and open questions; use and misuse of
molecular markers in practice.
(4) Gene flow, migration and
dispersal; how to measure them (historical versus current); applications
related to fragmentation, connectivity, evaluation and monitoring.
(5) Hybridization and conservation genetics; gene introgression; gene flow across species boundaries; crops and wild relatives.
(6) Two excursions: examples of pratical conservation genetics in the field and critical discussions.
(7) Examination.