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BIOL-Y001

Conservation genetics

academic year
2024-2025
2025-2026

Course teacher(s)

Marc KOCHZIUS (Coordinator)

ECTS credits

3

Language(s) of instruction

english

Course content

This course gives a brief theoretical and practical introduction to molecular methods used in ecology at population level (Enzyme electrophoresis, RAPD, ISSR, AFLP, nuclearSSRs, cpSSRs, mt DNA) within a context of allelic units, evolutionary genetics of natural populations and genetic structuring of populations. More detailed topics are the evolution in small populations, population fragmentation, loss of genetic diversity in small populations, quantitative genetics, hybridisation and introgression, resolving taxonomic uncertainties, defining management units, case-studies on genetics and the management of wild populations using examples from the aquatic environment (seagrasses, macrophytes, mangroves, algae, invertebrates, sea turtles, fishes, birds, mammals).

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

The overall objective of the course is to introduce the students in the genetics of biodiversity (as compared to species and ecosystem diversity). Therefore, basic knowledge about DNA, genes and genomes are essential. This course will place emphasis on ecological genetics and on conservation genetics (impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation).

The objective of the course is to undertand the genetics of populations, and the interaction of genetics with the reproductive biology of species, their effective population sizes, generation times, and with habitat fragmentation. Students should be able to apply these general principles to case studies on various groups of aquatic organisms.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures with slides and explanations on blackboard

practicals (2 sessions using various population genetic software with data from case-studies)

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Introduction to Conservation Genetics Richard Frankham, Jonathan D. Ballou, David Anthony Briscoe Cambridge University Press, 2010

Conservation and Genetics of Populations Fred W. Allendorf, Gordon H. Luikart, Sally N. Aitken Wiley-Blackwell, 2013

Contribution to the teaching profile

  1. Renforcer ses connaissances en Biologie et les utiliser tant dans une démarche scientifique fondamentale que dans une perspective appliquée.
  2. Interpréter un phénomène biologique dans le cadre de la théorie de l’évolution. Appréhender les processus micro-et macro-évolutifs pour interpréter la diversité biologique.
  3. Appréhender et utiliser la modélisation des systèmes biologiques pour mettre en évidence leurs mécanismes fondamentaux et leur fonctionnalité.
  4. Utiliser des outils d’analyse des données y compris statistique pour répondre à une question scientifique.
  5. Rédiger un rapport présentant un problème, les modèles et techniques utilisés ainsi que les résultats obtenus en respectant les normes scientifiques.
  6. Faire preuve d’honnêteté intellectuelle dans sa démarche scientifique et dans la communication associée.
  7. Respecter les sources et la propriété intellectuelle.

Other information

Contacts

Ludwig Triest (ltriest@vub.be)

Campus

Other campus

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

  • written examination

written examination

Language(s) of evaluation

  • english

Programmes