Landscape Ecology Assignment

Choose a host species that is affected by a disease. If you were building a preserve to conserve that host species, explain the factors you would need to consider to make your preserve effective for the conservation of the host. Be sure to include details about how the disease is transmitted, the natural histories of the host, vector, and pathogen species and how each of their traits affect their movement on the landscape, Be sure to consider how corridors and barriers can be used to achieve ideal connectivity. What would be ideal connectivity and why? Be sure to consider what makes a patch ideal (e.g. size, composition). You may use Facial Tumor in Tasmanian Devils, Canine Distemper in Lions, or another disease of your choosing. Double space, 3-5 pages, cite your sources within and in a Literature Cited section, use section headers to organize. Be careful not to digress too much into irrelevant natural history details. You can work in groups of up to three on this assignment. Grading Criteria Spelling and Grammar 3 pts Write the paper in paragraph form. Use complete sentences with appropriate punctuation. Use the spelling and grammar checker on your computer. If you have trouble with writing in general, go to the Writing Center (4th floor of North Classroom) or have a friend/classmate read over your paper and point out errors. Organization and Comprehensibility 3 pts Structure your paper logically (title, introduction, body, conclusion, literature cited). Use explanatory headers to organize your paper. Look at the grant proposal guidelines if you need help with how to properly cite literature. Introduction 3 pts A good introduction will define landscape structure and some of the major concepts of landscape ecology, and will lead into the body of the paper by telling the reader what the body of the paper will include. Body 12 pts In the body of the paper, briefly discuss why the species you chose needs to be conserved. Discuss how the natural histories of the host, vector, and pathogen inform your selection of patches (size, composition, number of patches, connectivity of patches) and corridors (size, composition, number). You may also choose discuss modifications you would make to patches or corridors (e.g. fence them, use vaccines within the patches, trap and remove certain species, add certain species etc.). Conclusion 4 pts Summarize the main points of your reserve design. Discuss whether disease prevention or some other factor (e.g. preventing inbreeding depression) should be the most important factor in deciding on patches and corridors. Say again why landscape structure is relevant to the study of diseases. Discuss questions that you still have about the topic.