2001 - 2002
Undergraduate Catalog

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF 2000-2001

Frazer, N.B., Chair; Branch, L.C.; Frederick, P.C.; Hostetler, M.E.; Jacobson, S.K.; Labisky, R.F.; Miller, D.L; Moulton, M.P.; Oli, M.K.; Sieving, K.E.; Storfer, A.; Sunquist, M.E.; Tanner, G.W; Werner, P.A.

FAS 4305C Introduction to Fishery Science.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Junior standing.
Principles of fish management in freshwater and marine systems. Includes field and laboratory techniques for aquatic habitat and fishery resource assessment, aquaculture practures and consideration of contemporary issues pertinent to sport and commercial uses of renewable fisheries resources.

FNR 3131C Dendrology/Forest Plants.
Credits: 4; Prereq: BOT 2011C or BSC 2011C.
Provides students with a basic understanding of the classification, nomenclature, morphology, ecological relationships, associations and uses of the major forest tree and shrub species of North America.

FNR 3410C Natural Resource Sampling.
Credits: 4; Prereq: STA 3023, CGS 3531 or equivalent; 3 FY-FY; 3 FY-RCN; 3 AG-WIE or higher.
Basic concepts of sampling. Design of cost-effective sample surveys. Sampling methodology applicable to natural resources: simple random, stratified, systematic, multi-phase and multi-stage. Cluster sampling, ratio, regression and difference estimation. Line transects. Computer simulation of sampling methods. Introduction to remote sensing, geographic information and global positioning systems.

FNR 4623C Integrated Natural Resource Management.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Senior classification; FOR 4621C or WIS 4541, or permission of instructor.
An integrative approach to the study of forest resource management for the production of multiple products (such as timber, recreation, wildlife, rangeland, etc.) utilizing the case study approach.

FNR 4660C Natural Resource Policy and Administration.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Junior or senior classification.
Factors in evolution of forest, range, wildlife and related natural resources administration and policies in the United States; policy components; policy formation in implementation, administration and change processes; introduction to criteria for evaluating effectiveness of policies and administration.

WIS 2040 Wildlife Issues in a Changing World.
Credits: 3.
Emphasis given to current wildlife conservation issues in Florida and the Southeast. (B).

WIS 2040L Wildlife Issues in a Changing World Laboratory.
Credits: 1; Coreq: WIS 2040, WIS 2552 or BSC 2006.
This laboratory will include exercises designed to complement lecture material in WIS 2040 and will provide students with an opportunity to gain experience in identification of wildlife species in the SE US. This course will also satisfy graduation requirements for students needing a lab. (B)

WIS 2552 Biodiversity Conservation: Global Perspectives.
Credits: 3.
Introduction to the relationship between humans and the global biotic environment that supports them. This course explores human patterns of resource use and population biology determining the status of the earth’s biodiversity resources. The goal of this course is to help students understand how today’s human society affects global life support systems, and how individuals can make lifetime contributions to environmental solutions. (B, I)

WIS 3030 Survey of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.
Credits: 1. Prereq: Junior standing with WIE or RCN classification.
Overview of the history and culture of the profession; careers in wildlife or natural resource conservation; Departmental structure, policy, and programs; use of campus research, academic and career resources; methods of networking, management and teamwork; critical thinking and the scientific method; preparing for graduate school; leadership and volunteer opportunities; and other practical experience.

WIS 3401 Wildlife Ecology and Management.
Credits: 3; Prereq: BSC 2011 and BSC 2011L
Wildlife as natural resource, with emphasis on principles of conservation, ecology, and management.

WIS 3401L Wildlife Ecology and Management Lab.
Credit: 1; Prereq: BSC 2011 or other biology course.
A laboratory designed to familiarize students with the characteristics, life history traits and identification of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians of Florida.

WIS 3434 Tropical Wildlife.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Junior classification in WEC, BSC 2011 and BSC 2011L.
Tropical Wildlife is an interdisciplinary course that teaches students about both the ecology of animals and the socio-economics of wildlife use. The first part of the course deals with the biology of tropical wildlife and the second with the historical, economic and political aspects of the use and management of tropical wildlife.

WIS 4427C Wildlife Habitat Management.
Credits: 3; Prereq: WIS 3401 and WIS 3401L.
Application of land management practices and their effects on wildlife habitats in Florida.

WIS 4443C Wetland Wildlife Resources.
Credits: 3; Prereq: WIS 3401.
Principles and problems associated with the conservation and management of wildlife in wetland environments, with special emphasis on multiple use management strategies of wetland resources.

WIS 4474 Biogeography: An Ecological and Evolutionary Approach.
Credits: 3; Prereq: BSC 2006 or BSC 2011 and PCB 3034C, PCB 4044C, FOR 3153C, GEO 2200 or WIS 3401.
Patterns and processes of distribution of biota on the earth, across a wide range of spatial and time scales. Includes: ecological processes and environmental gradients, biodiversity, biomes, sources of novelty, islands and oceans, plate tectonics, ice ages, mass species extinctions, natural colonizations, impact of human cultures, climate change. Global perspectives and Florida.

WIS 4523 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation.
Credits: 3; Prereq: WIS 3401 or WIS 4554.
Local and international models are used to provide an interdisciplinary overview of the theory and practice of conservation education, environmental communication and integrated resource management and conservation.

WIS 4541 Terrestrial Wildlife Resources.
Credits: 3; Prereq: WIS 3401.
Principles and problems associated with the conservation and management of wildlife in terrestrial environments, from urban areas to wilderness, with emphasis on the ecological relationships underlying management strategies.

WIS 4542L Wildlife Population Analysis.
Credits: 2; Prereq: WIS 3401.
To expose students to some of the common methods used to estimate animal abundance/density in the wild; to analyze wildlife population data; and to measure the use of space and resources by animals.

WIS 4545 Ecology and Management of Wildlife Invasions.
Credits: 3; Prereq: WIS 3401, PCB 3034C or PCB 4044C.
This course will focus on the ecology and management of introduced and invasive wildlife species and their effects at the community and ecosystem levels. Topics will include traits of invasive and introduced species, environmental characteristics that promote invasions, use of introductions as a management strategy in conservation and detailed analysis of case studies.

WIS 4554 Conservation Biology.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PCB 3043C, PCB 4044C, FOR 3153C or AGR 3303.
This course is an overview of the major problems in conservation of biological principles and theory of preservation of this diversity.

WIS 4904 Undergraduate Research Proseminar.
Credits: 1. Prereq: Junior WEC standing.
Lectures and discussions in class explore the nature and processes of designing and conducting original research in ecology and conservation biology. This course is required for all students seeking graduation with high or highest honors in the Honors Program. Students seeking admission into the Department’s Honors Program must take this course in the spring semester of their junior year. This course is open to all majors and can be taken at any point by students not seeking admission to the Honors Program.

WIS 4905 Individual Problems.
Credits: 1 to 4; may be repeated with change of topic up to maximum of 8 credits; Prereq: Permission of instructor.
Individual study of a selected topic related to wildlife ecology and conservation as contracted with the instructor at the start of the term.

WIS 4906 Honors Project.
Credits: 1 to 6; may be repeated up to 6 credits; Prereq: WIS 4904.
Independent honors research project. Should be taken following completion of WIS 4904, and during conduct of research leading to honors thesis and graduation with High or Highest Honors. Must be taken fall term of senior year. Minimum of 2 credits of 4909 plus 1 credit for 4904 are required to satisfy 3 of the 9 credits of courses required for completion of the COA/WEC Honors Program.

WIS 4934 Topics in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.
Credits: 1 to 4; may be repeated with change of content for up to a maximum of 8 credits.
Selected topics in wildlife, forestry, range, recreation, and fisheries. Topics include special current issues and in –depth study of topics not covered in other courses.

WIS 4941 Practical Work Experience in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.
Credits: 1 to 4††; may be repeated with change of experience up to a maximum of 8 credits.

WIS 4945C Wildlife Techniques.
Credits: 2; Prereq: WIS 3401.
Practical training in wildlife research techniques including radiotelemetry, methods of trapping, immobilization and marking of birds, mammals and herps.

WIS 4949 Cooperative Education in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.
Credits: 1 to 3††; may be repeated with change of work program up to a maximum of 3 credits.
Practical co-op work experience related to wildlife ecology and conservation under approval of industrial, business, institutional or government agency supervisor.