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Wildlife conservation and management
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:29:48
Abstract
The course deals with contemporary issues in wildlife conservation and management (regional focus on topics, general view on principles). It consists of seminar-type lectures, lab exercises, and field trips. Topics range from management problems (ungulates, predators, etc.) to habitat modeling, conservation challenges (small/fragmented populations, wildlife - agriculture) and conservation policy.
Objective
Review major issues in Central European wildlife conservation and management and the basic ecological and social principles underlying modern wildlife management; get some first-hand experience with methods and field situations.
Content
The course deals with contemporary issues in wildlife conservation and management with a focus on Switzerland and Central Europe as far as the topics go, but with a general view on principles. It consists of lectures with seminar-type discussion parts, lab exercises (computer modeling – laptops required), and field trips. Topics considered will be: Ungulate herbivory (browsing problems, grazing as a management tool); mammalian and avian predators and effects of predation on prey and man; invasive species and their effects on native (reptile and amphibian) fauna; population dynamics and harvest strategies (mostly for ungulates); habitat models and modeling; conservation of small and fragmented populations/metapopulations (mainly avian examples); wildlife conservation in areas of intensive agriculture (mainly reptile examples); and conservation policy.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Handouts will be provided or made available online
Literature
Sinclair, A.R.E., Fryxell, J.M. & Caughley, G. 2006. Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Management. 2nd edition. Malden: Blackwell Publishing. 469 pp. Boitani, L. & Fuller, T. editors. 2000. Research Techniques in Animal Ecology: Controversies and Consequences. New York: Columbia University Press. 442 pp. Additional papers will be provided.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- oral 30 minutes
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Wildlife conservation and managment |
|
2 h weekly |