Course Description
Conservation medicine is a multidisciplinary emerging field that is concerned with the interface between human health, animal health (both wild and domestic) and ecosystem health. This provides students from various backgrounds with the opportunity to learn/practice the principles of conservation biology/medicine using the ecology and fauna of Costa Rica.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are additionally required to conduct one
site-based research project. This project will have a clear
analytical/experimental design with quantitative results. Each
report will be written to conform to the standards of a
peer-reviewed professional journal though with the limited
research time available publishable quality will not be
required.
Athena Title
Conservation Medicine
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in POPH 5118, POPH 5418
Non-Traditional Format
This course is taught in a field setting. Total lecture/discussion hours will be at least 18; 1 lecture hour = 1 contact hour; therefore, at least 18 didactic contact hours. Total lab hours = counting 6 hours per “field activity day”, therefore, for 20 days (not counting travel days) = 120 total hours or 60 contact hours. There will be 2-3 orientation lectures and pre-travel reading assignments during the spring semester, but the field aspect of the course is scheduled for the summer in Costa Rica.
Undergraduate Prerequisite
BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1107L and BIOL 1108 and BIOL 1108L
Graduate Prerequisite
Graduate student standing
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. To learn and practice the basic principles and major topics of conservation medicine and conservation biology in field conditions, including Costa Rican culture, service/outreach to local communities 2. To understand how to create and implement hypothesis-driven research projects in the field. 3. To develop efficient and safe field work skills in a tropical environment 4. To understand how the interplay of humans and nature have shaped the landscape in Costa Rica 5. To promote interdisciplinary collaboration and integration between students in veterinary medicine, ecology, and wildlife/forestry/natural resources 6. To understand the cultural and socioeconomic issues that relevant to conservation biology and conservation medicine. 7. To encourage US-Costa Rican professional integration between UGA, captive animal facilities, and the Universidad Nacional (National University of Costa Rica) 8. To foster US-Costa Rican cultural integration between UGA students and faculty with the people of Costa Rica.
Topical Outline
Themes (correspond to at least one lecture per theme. In most cases, each theme will be accompanied by a field activity related to that theme): What is Conservation Biology? - Carroll What is Conservation Medicine?- Hernandez-Divers What is biodiversity and measuring biodiversity - Carroll How are biodiversity and disease related? What is health and disease? -Hernandez-Divers Restraint and Immobilization of Wildlife-Hernandez-Divers Threats to Biodiversity - Carroll, Hernandez-Divers Invasive Species - Carroll Investigation and Examples of Emergent Diseases of Wildlife and Humans- Hernandez-Divers Conservation and health of mammals in Costa Rica - Resource Professional and Hernandez-Divers Global climate change - Carroll Current state of Protected Coastal Areas and Marine Turtles: Resource Professional Habitat fragmentation and Disease - Hernandez-Divers Emergent Diseases of Marine Organisms - Hernandez-Divers Drivers for Emergence of Vector-borne diseases - Hernandez-Divers and Carroll Habitat fragmentation and restoration in Costa Rica- Carroll History, Culture, Conservation and Future Challenges of the Monteverde Region - Resource professional Conservation and health of Amphibians/Reptiles in Costa Rica - Resource Professional and Hernandez-Divers Wildlife-Domestic Animal Health Interface - Hernandez-Divers Conservation and Disease Challenges in Costa Rica: Student Presentations