Basic conservation biology and physiology

The aim of this course is to link knowledge of biology and physiology with demography and population evolution. This approach aims to lay the foundations for conservation biology, by providing elements for predicting how animal and plant organisms and populations respond to ecosystem changes and sources of stress.

Teaching methods :

Tutorials in the form of presentation and discussion of scientific data or in a "reversed" form with contributions from small groups, independent group projects, analysis of concrete restoration cases;

TD1: presentation of the UE: concepts, activities, teaching methods. Establishment of the reverse TD program

TD2: Ecophysiology and environmental physiology (definitions); case studies (invasive species, reintroductions, ecological developments)

TD3: Analyses of the consequences of major pollutions (marine and terrestrial), ecological engineering, passive and active biomonitoring tools.

TD4 to 16: In "inverted" form (students in an "active" position, supplemented by the teacher), a series of interventions designed to set up

- the links between biology and life strategy on the one hand, and life-history traits on the other, taking several characteristic examples (animal and plant species, generalist/specialist species, rare species - types of rarity - or widespread or even invasive species);

- building a population's demographics

- changes in the demography of a population as a result of various disturbances, particularly long-term disturbances affecting the population's ability to evolve.

Two tutorial sessions (3h in total): analysis of different conservation and biomonitoring strategies, taking into account knowledge of organism physiology as well as ecological and behavioral particularities. Research & analysis of documents, synthesis and oral presentation of studies / debate.

Practical work: plant ecophysiological analyses, animal ecophysiological analyses using non-invasive approaches (behavior, physiological and bioenergetic analyses).

Manager(s) : Bernard Godelle and Jehan-Hervé Lignot

Contact details of manager(s) (tel/mail) : godelle @ umontpellier.fr (godelle @ umontpellier.fr) lignot @ umontpellier.fr (lignot @ umontpellier.fr) 06 88 18 86 50

- Knowledge :

- Knowledge of major physiological functions and their diversity, in interaction with the biotic or abiotic environment

- Understand structure/function relationships at different scales of the organism 

- Understand biological mechanisms at the organism, cell and molecular levels, in an eco-evolutionary context.

- Basic knowledge of conservation biology (concepts detailed in the previous section).

Know-how :

- Mobilize concepts and tools from different disciplines to analyze a document, an observation or the results of an experiment.

- Ability to work as part of a group, formatting, critically analyzing and writing up experimental results

- Be able to develop a logical argument with a critical mind (limits, confrontation with the biblio, defense of a point of view)

- Produce a written scientific report, using illustrations and a presentation adapted to the audience concerned, with the help of appropriate IT tools.

- Be able to discuss scientific arguments orally

-People skills :

- Work independently or as part of a team

- Write a report within a given timeframe

- Comply with health and safety rules in a practical room