Final answer:
Conservation biology is an interdisciplinary field that emerged in the 1980s, focusing on the conservation of biological diversity and developing strategies to protect species and ecosystems. It integrates ecology with other sciences, as well as social sciences and humanities, necessitating collaboration across multiple disciplines and stakeholders.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Conservation Biology?
Conservation biology emerged as a discipline in the 1980s to apply science to the conservation of biological diversity. It is dedicated to the study and preservation of biodiversity across all levels of biological organization. This interdisciplinary field encompasses a range of scientific disciplines, including ecology, genetics, and Earth systems science. It integrates principles and methods from the social sciences and humanities, acknowledging the complex interplay between humans and nature.
The field is mission-oriented and crisis-driven, aiming to provide solutions to conservation problems in the face of environmental degradation. Conservation biologists work towards preserving intact ecological communities and solving issues around species loss and habitat destruction. The success of the field requires collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, including non-biologists, governments, and local communities.
Themes in conservation biology include population management, species protection, and ecosystem restoration. The development of mathematical models and priority setting exercises is central to approach the challenges in a scientific and systematic way. Thus, conservation biology represents an integrative effort to understand biodiversity and the means required to protect it.