Course Purpose
The core purpose of this class is to help the students understand what conservation is, why it is so vitally important, and how we can help conservation causes in practical ways.
We will be approaching the subject of conservation with an emphasis on reptiles, although many non reptile subjects will also be investigated.
We will be spending a lot of time hands on with reptiles, learning about their biology, their ecological niches, and their phylogenies. In addition, we will explore several real world efforts going on right now promoting reptile conservation.
Reptiles can offer a unique glimpse into the world of conservation, because they are an often misunderstood and feared branch of the animal kingdom, and because they often play an intermediate role in the food web, as opposed to the apex predators and more famous species often focused on.
After taking this class, students should also be much more familiar with the organizations, government agencies, and grassroots efforts that are doing important conservation work around the world, especially here in the United States.
And finally, it is my greatest hope that after spending a semester handling, observing, and studying these fascinating animals up close, they will grow a greater appreciation for them. The more people who love reptiles, the more likely we are to preserve them.
We will be approaching the subject of conservation with an emphasis on reptiles, although many non reptile subjects will also be investigated.
We will be spending a lot of time hands on with reptiles, learning about their biology, their ecological niches, and their phylogenies. In addition, we will explore several real world efforts going on right now promoting reptile conservation.
Reptiles can offer a unique glimpse into the world of conservation, because they are an often misunderstood and feared branch of the animal kingdom, and because they often play an intermediate role in the food web, as opposed to the apex predators and more famous species often focused on.
After taking this class, students should also be much more familiar with the organizations, government agencies, and grassroots efforts that are doing important conservation work around the world, especially here in the United States.
And finally, it is my greatest hope that after spending a semester handling, observing, and studying these fascinating animals up close, they will grow a greater appreciation for them. The more people who love reptiles, the more likely we are to preserve them.