Spring 2007
 
 

 


WLDM 221 Wildlife Habitat and Range Management

 


Instructor:  Dr. Jeff B. Breeden

Office:  306C, Agriculture Building

Office Hours  TBA

Phone:  968-1950

E-mail:  breeden@tarleton.edu

 


Catalog Description: Introduction to wildlife and range resources of the United States with special reference to Texas. The importance of animals, forests, and rangelands in our economic and cultural life; the symbiotic phenomena between wildlife and range/forest management.

 

Prerequisites:  ENGL 111, 112, and MATH 107 or higher.

 

Expanded Description:  This class is designed to demonstrate how and why we manage wildlife species, communities, and systems. It also serves as an introduction to conservation biology and range management. Additionally, you will be introduced to the wildlife literature.

 

Knowledge Outcomes:  Students will have an understanding of the transition of wildlife management from a natural history to a research science. Principle theories of population ecology will be learned. In addition, this course will provide a strong foundation for future courses in wildlife management, range management, forest management, and urban wildlife management. Students will be able to locate and use scientific literature dealing with wildlife management.

 

Required Text:  (1) Wildlife Ecology and Management, 5th Edition, by Bolen and Robinson

 

­                        (2) A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

 

Lecture Rules:  No eating, drinking, dipping, etc. Cell phones must be turned off. Conversations while I am lecturing are not allowed. Please stop me and ask questions as you need. You will be asked to leave the room if you violate these rules.

 


Grading:

Exam 1                                    100

Exam 2                                                100

Exam 3                                                100

Final Exam                              100

Pop-quizzes                               50

Sand County Almanac Qs.         75

Take home Questions                60

Article Critique                          50

Participation                               50

Semester project

     Initial title                               5

     Annotated bibliography        10

     Outline                                  10

     Presentation                          50

Total                                        760

 

Final Grade: A = 90-100%     B = 80-89%     C = 70-79%     D = 60-69%     F = less than 60%

COURSE POLICIES

 

Makeup exams:

 

Will be given only if you have an official university excuse or doctor’s excuse.  If you know in advance you will be absent on exam day, CONTACT ME A.S.A.P.!

 

Pop-quizzes:

 

Throughout the semester a total of 6 pop-quizzes will be given (10 pts each) with only 5 being considered for the final grade.  They will be taken during the first 10 minutes of class.  There will be no make-up quizzes for missed classes or being late.

 

Assignment Due Dates:

 

Assignments will be posted on WebCT and are due by the beginning of class on Fridays, but you will have until 4:00 pm the following Monday to turn it in without penalty so that you have a weekend to complete them if you choose to do so.  All assignments must be turned in through WebCT.  (WebCT is also a great way to keep in touch with group members.  Feel free to discuss take home assignments over the discussion forum.  BE SURE TO LOGON TO WEBCT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE)  I will deduct 10% from the assignment for each day (Mon.–Fri.) the assignment is late after the 4:00 pm deadline on Monday.  Remember, if you turn in a late assignment on Tuesday, it will be considered 3 days late and 30% deducted from final point total because it was due on Friday morning. (Friday afternoon – 10%, Monday – 20%, Tuesday 30%)  There are no excuses.

 

Textbook Readings:

 

Reading the textbook is necessary and will greatly increase your chances of success in this course.  Unless specifically stated during class, you are responsible for all information in the assigned readings (including any additional readings).  The lectures will stress the main points and clarify ideas and concepts presented in the text. 

 

Participation:

Participation will be worth 50 points.  To receive the participation grade, you must attend a minimum of three meetings of the TSU student Chapter The Wildlife Society throughout the semester.  You are encouraged to become a member although this is not required to attend the meetings.  Refer to website for meeting details.  http://www.tarleton.edu/~wildlifeclub/  I will announce meeting times during class.

 

Academic Honesty:

Academic dishonesty (cheating on exams, plagiarism, abuse of resource materials, etc.) will not be tolerated in this class.  Any violation of the TSU academic conduct policy relating to academic dishonesty will result in imposing of sanctions as listed in the student handbook.

 

Class Attendance:

 

One of the objectives of this course is to instill professionalism in students.  As a college student, class work should be considered your primary job.  I expect professionalism in all aspects of this course including being present on the job. 

 

Attendance is required and roll will be taken each class period.  Three or fewer absences may be rewarded at the end of the semester if your average is on the borderline of a higher letter grade.  However, each unexcused absence after the first will result in a 1 point deduction from your final average (1 free absence, no questions asked).  In order for an absence to be considered excused, you must provide me with a type written memo.  The memo should be in standard memo format listing the class period that you missed and an explanation (in complete sentences) of why you missed the class.  The memo must be hand delivered to me prior to the next class period (no email or phone) and I will determine whether it will be considered excused or unexcused.  If you know that you will be absent, you must notify me before that day.

You are responsible for all material presented in class, including completing assignments and taking exams, whether you are there or not.  I do not provide lecture notes if you miss class for any reason.  

 

Tentative Schedule

 

Week                              Topic                                                                                

 

Week 1: Jan 8–12 —      Course Policies/Introduction; Introduction to Wildlife Manageme            nt        

Reading:                        Text Ch. 1–3

 

Week 2: Jan 15–19 —    Introduction to Wildlife Management; Ecosystems and Natural Communities

Reading:                        Text Ch. 4

 

Week 3: Jan 22–26 —    Ecosystems and Natural Communities; Population Ecology          

Reading:                        Text Ch. 4-5

 

Week 4: Jan 29–Feb 2 — Population Ecology; Animal Behavior and Wildlife Management          

Reading:                        Text Ch. 5-6

 

Feb 5 —                         TEST 1

 

Week 5: Feb 7–9 —       Food and Cover                                                                  

Reading:                        Text Ch. 7

 

Week 6: Feb 12–16 —   Diseases and Species Interactions                                   

Reading:                        Text Ch. 8-10

 

Week 7: Feb 19 —         Diseases and Species Interactions                                   

Reading:                         Text Ch. 11-12

 

Feb 21–23                      TEXAS CHAPTER THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING; NO CLASS SCHEDULED

 

Week 8: Feb 26–Mar 2 — Water, Soil, and Wildlife; Wildlife Habitat : Farmlands, Rangelands, and Forests

Reading:                        Text Ch. 12-15

 

Week 9: Mar 5–7 —      Wildlife Habitat: Farmlands, Rangelands, and Forests                  

Reading:                        Text Ch. 13-15

 

Mar 9                              TEST 2

 

Week 10: Mar 12­–16 — SPRING BREAK;  NO CLASSES

 

Week 11: Mar 19–23 — Human Dimensions: Parks, Refuges, and Urban Wildlife   

Reading:                        Text Ch. 16-18

 

Week 12: Mar 26–30 — Nongame and Endangered Wildlife/Wildlife Economics 

Reading:                        Text Ch. 19-20

 

 

Week 13: Apr 4,6 —      Nongame and Endangered Wildlife; Wildlife Economics; Conservation Biology; Wildlife Policy and the Public Trust Doctrine                              

Reading:                        Text Ch. 21-22

 

Apr 5                              TEST 3 (covers material up to wildlife economics)

 

Week 14: Apr 9–13 —   Conservation Biology; Wildlife Policy and the Public Trust Doctrine                   

Week 15: Apr 16–20      Student Presentations

 

Week 16: Apr 23–25      Student Presentations; Review for final

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE (Final exam will be comprehensive and include material from class presentations)

WLDM 221-010 (MWF 11:00) —WED.  MAY 2  8–10:30 AM

WLDM 221-020 (MWF 9:00) —MON. APR 30  3–5:30 PM