I teach a variety of classes that cover conservation biology, landscape ecology and population biology. Many of the general courses are undergraduate/graduate electives and the specialized topics are usually graduate seminars.

Classes taught by Dr. Root:

Spring

Conservation Biology in Practice 4100/5420

In this 3 credit course we examine the application of basic ecological principles to conservation issues.

          more details here

The course covers a variety of conservation biology topics, including: how to protect vulnerable species using traditional reserves and alternatives, including stakeholders and human needs in the planning process, restoring and managing areas for conservation of threatened species and natural ecosystems, and the policy making process in which scientists increasingly participate.

Landscape Ecology 4160/5240

In this 3 credit course we examine the application of basic ecological principles to landscape issues.

          more details here

We focus on the causes and consequences of spatial heterogeneity across a range of scales. The course covers a variety of landscape ecology topics, including a broad overview of landscape ecology, its development, the methods and techniques that are used, the major questions that are addressed and the insights that have been gained.

(Some Recent Examples)

Priorities in Conservation Biology

In this seminar we discuss the critical research needs for conservation biology. Centered around the book Conservation Biology: Research Priorities for the Next Decade by M. Soule, G. Orians, and P. D. Boersma, join a discussion of what are the latest research questions and issues facing scientists conserving biodiversity. We discuss a wide variety of topics including: species at risk, human alteration of food webs, exotic species, habitat fragmentation, soil and sediment invertebrates, oceans, health sciences, global environmental change, and ecological restoration.

Population Viability Analysis

This 2 credit course is a hands-on workshop that explores the current field of Population Viability Analysis and teaches the basic techniques of demographic analysis, simulation modeling and risk assessment. What are the common techniques? What questions can be answered? How much data is required? What are the strengths and weaknesses? We will explore case studies and the many controversies surrounding this approach.

Behavior and Conservation

This 2 credit course grew out of recent developments in behavioral ecology and conservation biology. As Tim Caro suggests "In just the last few years, behavioral ecologists have begun to address issues in conservation biology." We explore behavioral ecology and its past, present and future contributions to conserving biodiversity, focusing on innovative avenues of interdisciplinary research and how behavioral expertise can provide unique insight and invaluable management tools.