Undergraduate Courses Wildlife Ecology and Conservation College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

WIS 2040 Wildlife Issues in a Changing World
Credits: 3.

Introduction to the biological and ecological basis of wildlife issues and the pathways humans use to resolve these issues throughout the world. Topics include: major animal phyla; evolutionary history of vertebrates; state, federal and international agencies that manage wildlife worldwide; and the impacts of human activities on wildlife. (B).

Offered fall, spring, and summer terms.

WIS 2040 Syllabus

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, N)

Offered fall, spring, and summer terms.

WIS 2552 Syllabus

WIS 2920 Wildlife Colloquium
Credits: 1; Prereq: Wildlife majors/minors only.

The course will examine wildlife ecology and conservation as a major and career (for majors/minors only).

Offered fall term only.

Course is required of all Wildlife majors.

WIS 2920 Syllabus

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.

Offered fall and spring terms. Course is required of all Wildlife majors.

WIS 3401 Syllabus

WIS 3402 Wildlife of Florida
Credits: 3.

Introduction to diversity of wildlife species in Florida with emphasis on amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds.

Offered spring term only. Course is required of all Wildlife majors.

WIS 3402 Syllabus

WIS 3402L Wildlife of Florida Laboratory
Credits: 1.

Introduces diversity of wildlife in Florida's ecosystems with emphasis on field identification, natural history and ecology of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles.

Offered spring term only. Course is required of all Wildlife majors.

WIS 3402L Syllabus

WIS 3404 Natural Resource Ecology
Credits: 3; Prereq: BSC 2011 or equivalent.

Application of ecological principles and natural history information to conserve and sustainably manage natural resources with an emphasis on animals and plants.

Offered online, fall term only.

WIS 3404 Syllabus

WIS 3410 The Ecology of Climate Change
Credits: 3; Prereq: BSC 2011 or equivalent

Provide a broad overview of the ecological responses to climate change on the Earth. Students will learn about how climate change impacts ecological processes such as genetics, physiology and behavior, morphology, phenology and distribution, species interactions, communities and ecosystems. We will focus on observed impacts rather than predicted impacts of climate change on plants and animals in freshwater, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems.

Offered spring term only

WIS 3410 Syllabus

WIS 3434 Tropical Wildlife
Credits: 3; Prereq: WIE major, junior standing, 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.

Offered fall term of odd years only.

WIS 3434 Syllabus

WIS 3553C Introduction to Conservation Genetics
Credits: 4; Prereq: STA 2023, and one of PCB 3601C, PCB 4043C, FOR 3153C, or WIS 3404.

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.

Offered spring term only. Course is required of all Wildlife majors, except preprofessional students.

WIS 3553 Syllabus

WIS 4203C Landscape Ecology and Conservation
Credits: 3; Prereq: STA 2023, and one of PCB 3601C, PCB 4043C, FOR 3153C or WIS 3404, and one of GIS 3043, GIS 3072C, URP 4273 or FOR 3434C.

Central constructs and methods of landscape ecology are applied to wildlife ecology and conservation.

Offered spring term only.

WIS 4427C Wildlife Habitat Management
Credits: 3; Prereq: WIS 3401.

Application of land management practices and their effects on wildlife habitats in Florida.

Offered spring term only.

WIS 4443C Wetland Wildlife Ecology
Credits: 4; Prereq: WIS 3401.

Ecological principles of conservation and management of wildlife in wetland environments, including a survey of the structure and function of major wetland types.

Note: this course is only offered at the West Florida Research and Education Center in Milton, FL.

WIS 4501 Introduction to Wildlife Population Ecology
Credits: 3; Prereq: WIS 3401, and one of PCB 3601C, PCB 4043C, FOR 3153C, or WIS 3404.

Introduction to the dynamics and regulation of biological populations and life-history theory.

Offered spring term only. Course is required of all Wildlife majors. Wildlife majors are strongly advised to take WIS 4601C prior to WIS 4501.

WIS 4501 Syllabus

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.

Offered fall term only.

WIS 4523 Syllabus

WIS 4547C Avian Field Research
Credits: 2; Prereq: 1 course each in ecology and vertebrate ecology.

Intensive advanced field experience in scientific study design and ecology of wild bird populations and communities.

Offered over the spring break week only.

WIS 4554 Conservation Biology
Credits: 3; Prereq:WIS 3553; and one of PCB 3601C, PCB 4043C, FOR 3153C or WIS 3404; and WIS 3401.

This course is an overview of the major problems in conservation and of the biological principles and theories to preserve this diversity.

Offered fall term only.

WIS 4554-5555c Course Syllabus

WIS 4570C Wildlife Behavior and Conservation
Credits: 3

Concise, current, and thorough grounding to the field (theory, practice, and relevance) of animal behavior, with a strong focus on applications of wildlife behavior to achieve successful wildlife conservation gains.

Offered fall term only.

WIS 4601C Quantitative Wildlife Ecology
Credits: 3; Prereq: STA 2023 and WIS 3401.

Concepts and applications of quantitative techniques in ecology and wildlife management.

Offered fall and spring terms. Course is required of all Wildlife majors, except preprofessional. Wildlife majors are strongly advised to take WIS 4601C prior to WIS 4501.

WIS 4601 Course Syllabus

WIS 4905 Individual Problems
Credits: 1 to 4; can be repeated with change in content up to 8 credits. Prereq: instructor permission.

Individual study of a selected topic related to wildlife ecology and conservation as contracted with the instructor at the start of the term.

Offered every term.

WIS 4906 Honors Project
Credits: 1 to 6; can be repeated up to 6 credits. Prereq: instructor permission.

Independent honors research project. This course is open only to students in the CALS Upper-division Honors program.

Offered every term.

WIS 4934 Topics in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Credits: 1 to 4; can be repeated with change in content up to 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.

Offered every fall and spring term, but topics will vary.

WIS4934 Wildlife Tracks & Sign Syllabus

WIS 4934 Invasion Ecology of Amphibians and Reptiles Syllabus

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

Offered every term.

WIS 4945C Wildlife Techniques
Credits: 4; Prereq: WIS 3402.

Practical training in wildlife research techniques including radiotelemetry, methods of trapping, immobilization and marking of birds, mammals and herps.

Offered every fall and spring term. Course is required of all Wildlife majors, except preprofessional.

Study Abroad: New Zealand Biodiversity and Conservation (6)

This 5-week, experiential program introduces students to New Zealand's unique flora and fauna and local/national efforts to conserve and restore biodiversity.

Offered Summer B term only.

Course Titles and Credits:
WIS 4905 Biodiversity Conservation and Management (3 credits)
WIS 4905 New Zealand Flora and Fauna (3 credits)

General Education Categories

Consult Schedule of Courses for specific information.

• Biological Sciences (B)
• Composition (C)
• Diversity (D)*
• Humanities (H)
• International (N)*
• Mathematics (M)
• Physical Sciences (P)
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)

* Students who entered UF prior to Summer B 2007 and/or whose catalog year is not 2007-08: Current students who have not already completed six hours of "I" - international/diversity credits can do so now by taking "D" and "N" courses.

Symbols Used in Course Descriptions

• (WR) indicates the course satisfies the writing requirement.
• (MR) indicates the course satisfies the math requirement.
• (S-U) indicates the course may be taken on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis.
• Refer to the Schedule of Courses for specific information.

FAS 4305C Introduction to Fishery Science
Credits: 3; Prereq: refer to the department.

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.

Offered spring term only.

FNR 3131C Dendrology/Forest Plants
Credits: 4; Prereq: refer to the department.

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.

Offered fall term only.

FNR 3410C Natural Resource Sampling
Credits: 4; Prereq: STA 2023.

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.

Offered fall term only.

FNR 4623C Integrated Natural Resource Management
Credits: 3; Prereq: refer to the department.

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.

Offered spring term only.

FNR 4660C Natural Resource Policy and Administration
Credits: 3; Prereq: junior or senior standing.

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.

Offered fall term only.