Undergraduate Courses
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Principles of fish management in freshwater and marine systems. Includes field and laboratory techniques for aquatic habitat and fishery resource assessment, aquaculture practices and consideration of contemporary issues pertinent to sport and commercial uses of renewable fisheries resources.
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.
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. Intro to remote sensing, geographic information and global positioning systems.
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.
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.
Course Objectives: This course satisfies 3 credits of the University of Florida's General Education requirement for Biological Science. The specific goals of the course are: (1) familiarize students with basic concepts and scientific principles of wildlife ecology and management; (2) teach students how the scientific method works and how to use the scientific method to analyze and resolve wildlife issues; (3) help students understand the evolutionary basis for the five kingdom system of phylogeny and the biological basis for various wildlife issues involving species from all five kingdoms. (B)
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)
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)
Overview of the history and culture of the profession; careers in wildlife or natural resource conservation; Department 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.
Wildlife as natural resource with emphasis on principles of conservation, ecology and management.
A laboratory designed to familiarize students with the characteristics, life history traits and identification of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians of Florida.
Introduction to diversity of wildlife species in Florida with emphasis on amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds.
Introduces diversity of wildlife in Florida's ecosystems with emphasis on field identification, natural history and ecology of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles.
Introduction to key concepts and contemporary issues in wildlife ecology and conservation, with an emphasis on critical reasoning skills.
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.
This course provides an introduction to the types of molecular polymorphisms found in nature, how genetic information is organized, what evolutionary and demographic forces act to shape genetic polymorphisms, and how and why genetics are useful in population conservation and management.
Central constructs and methods of landscape ecology are applied to wildlife ecology and conservation.
Application of land management practices and their effects on wildlife habitats in Florida.
Ecological principles of conservation and management of wildlife in wetland environments, including a survey of the structure and function of major wetland types.
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 and climate change. Global perspectives and Florida.
Introduction to the dynamics and regulation of biological populations and life-history theory.
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.
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.
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.
Intensive advanced field experience in scientific study design and ecology of wild bird populations and communities.
This course is an overview of the major problems in conservation and of the biological principles and theories to preserve this diversity.
Concepts and applications of quantitative techniques in ecology and wildlife management.
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.
Individual study of a selected topic related to wildlife ecology and conservation as contracted with the instructor at the start of the term.
Independent honors research project. This course is open only to students in the CALS Upper-division Honors program.
This course provides wildlife students with an introduction to the types of molecular polymorphisms found in nature, how genetic information is organized, what evolutionary and demographic forces act to shape genetic polymorphisms, and how and why genetics are useful in population conservation and management. Students will be exposed to the theoretical basis for conservation genetics and practical applications of this theory. The course will be divided into three primary sections focusing on how genetic variation is measured and how populations are structured (weeks 1-5); the genetic impacts of small population size (weeks 6-10); and applications of genetics to ecological, conservation, and management issues (weeks 11-15).
Practical training in wildlife research techniques including radiotelemetry, methods of trapping, immobilization and marking of birds, mammals and herps.
Practical co-op work experience related to wildlife ecology and conservation under approval of industrial, business, institutional or government agency supervisor. (S-U)
Consult Schedule of Courses for specific information.
- Composition (C)
- Mathematical Sciences (M)
- Humanities (H)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)
- Physical (P) and Biological (B) Sciences
- International (I) and Diversity (D) focus
