Primate Conservation
Objectives
he goal of this UC is to provide students with knowledge on the biological features that make non-human primates such an emblematic group of species but at the same time, particularly vulnureble to extintion. Students will understand the factors that contribute most to the sharp decline of the majority of wild primate populations and the role that local human communities may have in their long-term conservation. We will highlight the need to apply a multidisciplinary approach to the conservation of wild living primates to assure the long-term success of conservation stretegies.
General characterization
Code
02111210
Credits
10.0
Responsible teacher
Elena Bersacola
Hours
Weekly - 3
Total - 280
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
N/A
Bibliography
1. Caldecott, J. & Miles, L. (eds.) 2005. World Atlas of Great Apes and their
Conservation. Prepared at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Berkeley, USA, University of California Press.
2. Colishaw G. & Dunbar R., 2000. Primate Conservation Biology. Chicago. Chicago University Press
3. Estrada, A., Garber, P. A., Rylands, A. B., et al. (2017). Impending extinction crisis of the world's primates: Why primates matter. Science advances, 3(1), e1600946.
4. Ferreira da Silva, M. J., Minhos, T., Sa, R. M., & Bruford, M. W. (2012). Using genetics as a tool in primate conservation. Nature Education Knowledge, 3(10), 89.
5. Fuentes, A., & Hockings, K. J. (2010). The ethnoprimatological approach in primatology. American Journal of Primatology, 72(10), 841-847.
6. Hockings, K. J., McLennan, M. R., Carvalho, S., Ancrenaz, M., Bobe, R., Byrne, R. W., ... & Wilson, M. (2015). Apes in the Anthropocene: flexibility and survival. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 30(4), 215-222.
Teaching method
Some of the lectures will be explanatory but others will focus on analyses and discussion of previously selected scientific papers. Additionally, two to three researchers will be invited to present and discuss their studies with the students.
Evaluation method
Continuous assessment - Attendance and participation in class, including the discussion of different themes, practical exercises, oral presentations or paper discussions(20%), Final essay constructing a conservation strategy for an endangered primate species((30%), Written exam(50%)
Subject matter
1. Primate biological features that make them vulnereble to extintion;
2. Legal instruments for primate protection;
3. Challenges of inhabiting anthropogenic environments;
4. The main threats: commercial hunting, habitat loss and degradation, illegal trade, disease;
5. Conservation strategies: Creation and managenment of protected areas, law enforcement, reseach and eco-tourism;
6. Ethnoprimatology applied to conservation.