Case Study #1 — Conservation Biological of Atlantic Forest Species of Concern

Brazil Global Seminar, University of Colorado Study Abroad Program

1. 
   The ecology and biology of the species —
   
   1. 
      What is the current IUCN conservation status of the species
      
   2. 
      What’s the distribution, population sizes, and current trends
      
   3. 
      Note local (e.g., Brazilian) common name
      
2. 
   What threats are the species facing —
   
   1. 
      Talk about these threats in terms of ultimate and proximate causes
      
   2. 
      How do they fit into the scheme of physical, chemical, and biological threats
      
   3. 
      Are these threats currently abating, continuing, or increasing
      

3. 
   What about their ecology/biology makes them vulnerable to these threats —
   
   1. 
      Discuss what is known about the species that affects the viability of its populations
      
   2. 
      Are there synergisms among threats to be considered
      

4. 
   What conservation actions are compatible with their biology —
   
   1. 
      Talk about how these solutions fit into IPÊ’s conservation model (below)
      
   2. 
      To what extent have these actions been implemented – and with what success and what problems
      
5. 
   Summarize with: What are the prospects for the persistence of this species
   

1. 
   Tree frogs inhabiting bromeliad tanks (this is a guild rather than a species)
   
2. 
   Golden Lancehead Viper
   
3. 
   Sea Turtles
   

4. 
   Brazilian Merganser [duck]
   
5. 
   Crowned Solitary Eagle
   
6. 
   Mantled Hawk
   
7. 
   Black-Fronted Piping Guan
   
8. 
   Vinaceous Amazon [parrot]
   

9. 
   Wooly Spider Monkey (Muriqui)
   
10. 
    Tapir (Anta)
    
11. 
    Brazilian Giant Otter
    
12. 
    Margay [feline]
    
13. 
    White-Lipped Peccary
    

IV. Approach to Your Review. Synthesize information from several sources to get a broader picture. We’ll provide a few references for each species to get you started, but you’re expected to explore (and use) the literature well beyond these.

• 
  Submit digitally as a .doc or .docx file.
  
• 
  Name your file: with your first & last name, species common name – in the following format: (FirstLastname_SpeciesCommonName_Essay1.doc).
  
• 
  Submit to both instructors by email: kittel@colorado.edu, pardalismitis@gmail.com
  
• 
  Include “Essay 1” in the subject line.
  

• 
  Be specific in your presentation of information (vs. vague – e.g., ‘they are protected’)
  

• 
  Well selected, well presented details give depth to understanding.
  

• 
  Support statements with citations, otherwise sounds like personal opinions.
  

• 
  Avoid ‘emotive’ phrasing – keep your writing professional.
  

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  Avoid directly quoting sources unless the wording is critical – put in your own words and cite.
  
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  Essay structure –
  

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  Flow – organization of paragraphs within essay, organization of sentences within paragraphs.
  
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  Sentence structure – nonsense or awkward phrasing, incorrect or lack of within-sentence punctuation (commas, semicolons).
  
• 
  Define scientific terms (jargon).
  
• 
  Wording –
  
  • 
    Word use – avoid
    
    • 
      Anthropomorphisms
      
    • 
      Conversational style
      
    • 
      Relative, vague terms (e.g., ‘over short distances’)
      
  • 
    Grammar (effect/affect, data is/are)
    
  • 
    Spelling (et. al. / et al.)
    
  • 
    Include accents in Portuguese words.
    

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  Citations – see Citation Guide (http://culter.colorado.edu/~kittel/CitationGuide.pdf)
  

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  In-text formatting (Author year, Author et al. year)
  
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  References formatting (consistent format, etc.)