The wildlife, fish, and conservation biology major deals with the relationships between the needs of people and the requirements of wildlife. Understanding these relationships is vital for the maintenance of ecological diversity, recreational resources, and food supplies for future generations.
The Program. Because of the diversity of problems in the field, the major emphasizes broad training in biological and physical sciences, with specialization in one of eight areas. The major is primarily for students interested in eventually becoming professionals in wildlife, fish, and conservation biology, but its breadth of course requirements, when combined with suitable electives, also make it suitable as a preparatory major for such areas as veterinary medicine and secondary school teaching. Certification by professional societies such as The Wildlife Society, American Fisheries Society, or the Ecological Society of America or preparation for specialized resource-related graduate studies may also be achieved by careful planning of electives with a faculty adviser.
Career Alternatives. Positions now held by graduates in this major include wildlife, fisheries, management of problem vertebrates, and resource biologists and managers with local, state and federal agencies. Some graduates are biologists or consultants with private industries such as commercial fishing businesses, electrical utilities, sportsman's clubs, aquaculture operations, and environmental consulting firms. Also, some are veterinarians, medical physicians, and professors/ researchers who teach and/or conduct research in academic institutions.
| UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Written/Oral Expression | 8 | |
| English 1 | 4 | |
| Communication 1 | 4 | |
| Above requirements simultaneously satisfy the College requirements. | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter | 50-56 | |
| Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C | 15 | |
| Chemistry 2A, 2B, 8A, 8B | 16 | |
| Agricultural Systems and Environment 21 | 3 | |
| Mathematics 16A, 16B | 6 | |
| Physics 1A, 1B or 7A, 7B, 7C | 6-12 | |
| Statistics 100, 102 or Agricultural Systems and Environment 120 | 4 | |
| Breadth/General Education | 6-24 | |
| Satisfaction of General Education requirement | ||
| Depth Subject Matter | 49-61 | |
| Students graduating with this major are required to attain at least a C average (2.0) in all courses taken at the university in depth subject matter. | ||
| Environmental Science and Policy 100 or Evolution and Ecology 101 | 4 | |
| Evolution and Ecology 100 | 4 | |
| Biological Sciences 101 | 4 | |
| Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 101 | 5 | |
| Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology 100 or Evolution and Ecology 170 | 3-4 | |
| Choose three lecture courses and two (laboratory) courses. Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology 110, (110L), 111, (111L), 120, (120L), or Evolution and Ecology 134, (134L) | 12-13 | |
| Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology 122, 140, or Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 102, and either 121 or 130 | 11-12 | |
| Choose one course (two recommended) from Statistics 104, 106 or 108 | 3-8 | |
| Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology 100, or 101 and 101L, or 102 and 102L, or three laboratory courses from 110L, 111L, 120L, 123, 156, Evolution and Ecology 134L | 3-7 | |
| Restricted Electives | 9-34 | |
| Choose one from the eight Areas of Specialization shown below. Students must maintain a C average (2.0 GPA) and pass all course work in their chosen specialization.
Areas of Specialization
| ||
| Unrestricted Electives | 0-62 | |
| Total Units for the Degree (minimum) | 180 | |
Major Adviser. D. Van Vuren.
Students transferring to Davis from another institution or new students declaring the major of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology must consult the Master Adviser so that their program can be evaluated and a faculty adviser assigned. See receptionist in 1088 Academic Surge Building or telephone 752-6586.
Graduate Study. See the Graduate Studies chapter in this catalog.
| Upper Division Courses | Graduate Courses |
*Course not offered this academic year.
General Education (GE) credit: ArtHum = Arts and Humanities; SciEng = Science and Engineering; SocSci = Social Sciences; Div = Social-Cultural Diversity; Wrt = Writing Experience. Select this link to information on the General Education requirement.
10. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (4) I. Moyle, Kelt
Lecture--3 hours; discussion--1 hour. Introduction to the ecology and conservation of vertebrates. Complexity and severity of world problems in conserving biological diversity. GE credit: SciEng, Div, Wrt.
92. Internship (1-6) I, II, III. The Staff (Department Chairperson in charge)
Internship--3-18 hours. Prerequisite: lower division standing and consent of instructor. Work experience off and on campus in all subject areas offered in the department. Internships supervised by a member of the faculty. (P/NP grading only.)
100. Field Methods in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology (4) III. Elliott-Fisk
Lecture--1 hour; laboratory--3 hours; fieldwork--30 hours total (requires 3 of 6 weekend field trips); term paper. Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Studies 100 and consent of instructor; additional coursework in systematics of groups of organisms recommended. Introduction to field methods for research on the ecology and conservation of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants, and to the scientific method, experimental design, and data presentation. Requires preparation of a term project.
101. Field Research in Wildlife Ecology (2) I. Anderson, Eadie, Kelt, Van Vuren
Lecture/discussion--2 hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and one upper division course in each of ecology, statistics, and ornithology, mammalogy, or herpetology. Field research in ecology of wild vertebrates in terrestrial environments; formulation of testable hypotheses, study design; introduction to research methodology; oral and written presentation of results. Limited enrollment.
101L. Field Research in Wildlife Ecology: Laboratory (4) I. Anderson, Eadie, Kelt, Van Vuren
Lecture/discussion--2 hours; field work--15 hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor, course 101 (may be taken concurrently), and one upper division course in each of ecology, statistics, and ornithology, mammalogy, or herpetology. Field research in ecology of wild vertebrates in terrestrial environments; testing ecological hypotheses through field research, application of research methodology, supervised independent research projects. Held between Labor Day and fall quarter. Limited enrollment.
102. Field Studies in Fish Biology (1) III. Moyle, Cech
Lecture/discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: upper division course in each of ecology, aquatic biology, fish biology, and statistics, and consent of instructor. Emphasis on theory of quantitative fish capture methods and design of individual research projects on ecology, behavior, physiology or population biology of fishes. Offered in alternate years.
102L. Field Studies in Fish Biology: Laboratory (6) III. Moyle, Cech
Fieldwork--15 hours; laboratory--12 hours; discussion/laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: course 102, upper division course in each of ecology, aquatic biology, fish biology, and statistics, and consent of instructor. Field investigations of fish biology are emphasized including quantitative capture methods and individual research projects on ecology, behavior, physiology or population biology of fishes at the field site in relation to their habitats. Offered in alternate years. (Deferred grading only, pending completion of projects.) GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.
110. Biology and Conservation of Wild Mammals (3) III. Kelt
Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C; course in ecology recommended. Biology and conservation of wild mammals. Natural history, taxonomy, geographical-ecological distribution; anatomical-physiological-behavioral adaptations of mammals to their environment; and research/management techniques are emphasized.
110L. Laboratory in Biology and Conservation of Wild Mammals (2) III. Kelt
Laboratory--6 hours. Prerequisite: course 110 (may be taken concurrently) and consent of instructor. Laboratory exercises in the morphology, systematics, species identification, anatomy, and adaptations of wild mammals to different habitats. Limited enrollment.
111. Biology and Conservation of Wild Birds (3) I. Anderson, Eadie
Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C, and Evolution and Ecology 101. Phylogeny, distribution, migration, reproduction, population dynamics, behavior and physiological ecology of wild birds. Emphasis on adaptations to environments, species interactions, management, and conservation.
111L. Laboratory in Biology and Conservation of Wild Birds (2) I. Anderson, Eadie
Laboratory--6 hours. Prerequisite: course 111 (may be taken concurrently); consent of instructor. Laboratory exercises in bird species identification, anatomy, molts, age and sex, specialized adaptations, behavior, research, with emphasis on conservation of wild birds. Limited enrollment.
120. Biology and Conservation of Fishes (3) I. Moyle
Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1B. Evolution, ecology, and conservation of marine and freshwater fishes.
120L. Laboratory in Biology and Conservation of Fishes (1) I. Moyle
Laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: course 120 (may be taken concurrently). Morphology, taxonomy, conservation, and identification of marine and freshwater fishes with emphasis on California species. Limited enrollment.
121. Physiology of Fishes (4) II. Cech
Lecture--3 hours; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: upper division courses in nutrition and physiology or consent of instructor. Comparative physiology, growth, reproduction, behavior, and energy relations of fishes. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.
122. Population Dynamics and Estimation (4) III. Botsford
Lecture--3 hours; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: Mathematics 16A-16B; Statistics 13 or the equivalent; an upper division course in ecology. Description of bird, mammal and fish population dynamics, modeling philosophy, techniques for estimation of animal abundance (e.g., mark-recapture, change-in-ratio, etc.), mathematical models of populations (e.g., Leslie matrix, logistic, dynamic pool, stock-recruitment); case histories.
*123. Freshwater Invertebrate Ecology (4) III. N. Erman
Lecture/discussion--2 hours; laboratory--3 hours; fieldwork--3 hours; one all-day Saturday field trip required. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A and 1B or the equivalent. Ecology and classification of freshwater invertebrates with emphasis on life history, habitat, diversity, and behavior. Invertebrate monitoring to assess environmental impacts and classification based on morphology as a tool for understanding ecology and biology of aquatic organisms. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.
*130. Physiological Ecology of Wildlife (4) II. The Staff
Lecture--4 hours. Prerequisite: course 110, 111, or 120; Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 101; and Evolution and Ecology 101. Animal functions, adaptations, and ecological energetics of wildlife. Nutrition, metabolism, and productivity are emphasized as a pattern of relationships for understanding the distribution and abundance of wild ectotherms and endotherms in time and space.
*131. Biology and Management of Cervidae (3) III. The Staff
Lecture--2 hours; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 101 and Evolution and Ecology 101, or the equivalent; course 110 recommended. Evolution, biology, and management of cervids. Topics include differences in nutritive ecology, bioenergetics, reproduction and growth, use of habitats, and research methodologies. Emphasis on North American species of caribou, elk, moose, and deer. Offered in alternate years.
136. Ecology of Waterfowl and Game Birds (3) II. Eadie
Lecture--2 hours; laboratory--3 hours; field trip. Prerequisite: courses 111 and 111L or the equivalent. Detailed examination of distribution, behavior, population dynamics, and management of waterfowl and upland game birds. Offered in alternate years.
*140. Ecology and Evolution of Vertebrate Social Organization (4) II. The Staff
Lecture--4 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1B or upper division ecology course (Evolution and Ecology 101 or the equivalent). Spacing competition, cooperation, and grouping of wild vertebrates are described and analyzed as adaptive products of their evolutionary history and ecology. Minimal consideration is given to humans and other primates. Offered in alternate years. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.
141. Behavioral Ecology (3) II. Caro
Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101. Basic theories underlying the functional and evolutionary significance of behavior, and the role of ecological constraints. Supporting empirical evidence taken mainly from studies of wild vertebrates. Offered in alternate years. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.
151. Wildlife Ecology (4) I. Van Vuren
Lecture--3 hours; discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences, 1A, 1B, 1C or the equivalents; course 110L or 111L recommended. Ecology of wild vertebrates, including habitat selection, spatial
organization, demography, population growth and regulation, competition, predation, and community dynamics, set in the context of human-caused degradation of environments in North America.
*152. Ecological Management of Problem Wildlife (3) II. Van Vuren
Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, and 1C, or the equivalent. Ecological approaches to managing wild vertebrates that cause problems for agriculture, public health, or conservation of biodiversity. Offered in alternate years.
*153. Wildlife Ecotoxicology (4) II. Anderson
Lecture--3 hours; discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: introductory courses in organic chemistry, ecology, and physiology, or consent of instructor; Environmental Toxicology 101 recommended. Various forms of environmental pollution in relation to fish and wildlife, the effects and mechanisms of pollutants, effects on individuals and systems, laboratory and field ecotoxicology, examples/case histories, philosophical/management considerations. Offered in alternate years. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.
154. Conservation Biology (4) III. Caro
Lecture--3 hours; term paper (will be one or more book reviews). Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Studies 100 or the equivalent. An introduction to conservation biology and background to the biological issues and controversies surrounding loss of species and habitats.
*156. Plant Geography (4) II. Elliott-Fisk
Lecture--3 hours; laboratory--3 hours; term paper. Field trips will be substituted for some in-lab activities. Prerequisite: Environmental Science and Policy 100 or Evolution and Ecology 101; Plant Biology 102 or 108 strongly recommended. Survey of the geographical distribution of vegetation types and habitats, with consideration of the environmental and historical factors that determine these patterns. Conservation and management approaches. Analytical field and lab techniques introduced. Offered in alternate years. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt.
157. Coastal Ecosystems (4) II. Elliott-Fisk
Lecture--3 hours; laboratory/fieldwork--3 hours. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies 100 or Evolution and Ecology 101; course work in organismal biology, physical geography, and geology recommended. Overview of costal ecosystems, physical and biological elements and processes, and coastal zone dynamics, including sandy, rocky and muddy shorelines, estuaries, dunes and coastal watersheds. Discussion of the role of historical factors and conservation, restoration, and management approaches. Offered in alternate years.
190. Proseminar in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology (1) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
Seminar--1 hour. Prerequisite: upper division standing in biological sciences or consent of instructor. Reports and discussions of recent advances related to wildlife and fisheries biology. May be repeated twice for credit. (P/NP grading only.)
190C. Research Group Conference (1) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
Discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: advanced standing; consent of instructor. Weekly conference on research problems, progress and techniques in wildlife and fisheries biology. May be repeated for credit. (P/NP grading only.)
*191. Museum Science (2) II. Cole
Lecture--1 hour; laboratory--3 hours. Prerequisite: upper division standing and consent of instructor. Principles and methods required to preserve and present biological specimens for research, teaching collections, and museums. Offered in alternate years. (P/NP grading only.)
192. Internship (1-12) I, II, III, summer. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
Internship--3-36 hours. Prerequisite: completion of 84 units and consent of instructor. Work experience off and on campus in all subject areas offered in the department. Internships supervised by a member of the faculty. (P/NP grading only.)
195. Field and Laboratory Research (3) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
Laboratory--6 hours; discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: course 110L, 111L, or 120L; 121 or 130; Evolution and Ecology 101 or the equivalent; and consent of instructor. Critique and practice of research methods applied to field and/or laboratory environments of wild vertebrates. Students work independently or in small groups to design experimental protocol, analyze data, and report their findings. May be repeated twice for credit.
197T. Tutoring in Wildlife and Fisheries (1-5) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
Prerequisite: major in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology and consent of instructor. Experience in teaching under guidance of faculty member. (P/NP grading only.)
198. Directed Group Study (1-5) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
(P/NP grading only.)
199. Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates (1-5) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
(P/NP grading only.)
222. Advanced Population Dynamics (3) II. Botsford
Lecture--3 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing; advanced course in ecology (e.g., Evolution and Ecology 101), population dynamics (e.g., course 122), and one year of calculus; familiarity with matrix algebra and partial differential equations recommended. Logical basis for population models, evaluation of simple ecological models, current population models with age, size, and stage structure, theoretical basis for management and exemplary case histories. Emphasis on development and use of realistic population models in ecological research.
290. Seminar (1-3) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
Seminar--1-3 hours. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Seminar devoted to a highly specific research topic in any area of wildlife or fisheries biology. Special topic selected for a quarter will vary depending on interests of instructor and students. (S/U grading only)
290C. Research Group Conference (1) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
Discussion--1 hour. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Weekly conference on research problems, progress and techniques in wildlife and fishery sciences. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading only.)
*291. Seminar in Aquatic Ecology (2) III. Moyle
Seminar--2 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing in biology. Presentation and analysis of assigned topics in aquatic ecology emphasizing fish, fisheries and aquatic conservation. Offered in alternate years. (S/U grading only.)
292. Physiology of Fishes Seminar (1) I. Cech
Seminar--1 hour. Prerequisite: graduate standing and at least two courses in physiology; consent of instructor. Seminar devoted to current topics concerning the physiological functioning of fishes. May be repeated twice for credit. (S/U grading only.)
*293. Seminar in Wildlife Disease Ecology (2) II. Theis (Medical Microbiology) in charge, Jacobsen
Seminar--2 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing or advanced undergraduate in biology. Presentation and analysis of assigned research papers on disease ecology of wild vertebrates related to considerations of habitat quality, population regulation, wildlife management, and/or implications for human or domestic animal health. (S/U grading only.)
*294. Seminar in Behavioral Ecology of Predators and Prey (3) II. Caro
Seminar--2 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: graduate standing in biology. Presentation and analysis of research papers on social and foraging behavior of predatory animals, anti-predator strategies of prey species, co-evolution of predators and prey, and ecology of predator-prey interactions. May be repeated twice for credit. Offered in alternate years.
*295. Seminar in Wildlife Ecotoxicology (3) II. Anderson
Seminar--2 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: graduate standing in biology. Presentation and analysis of assigned and searched research papers on transport, exposure, and effects of environmental contaminants on wildlife-associated ecosystem components, especially at individual/population levels. Specific subjects vary each offering. Offered in alternate years. (S/U grading only.)
297T. Supervised Teaching in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology (13) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
Tutorial--3-9 hours. Prerequisite: meet qualifications for teaching assistant; graduate standing; and consent of instructor. Tutoring and teaching students in undergraduate courses in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. Weekly conferences with instructor; evaluations of teaching; preparing for and conducting demonstrations, laboratories, and discussions; preparing and grading examinations. May be repeated for a total of 6 units when a different course is tutored. (S/U grading only.)
298. Group Study (1-5) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
299. Research (1-12) I, II, III. The Staff (Chairperson in charge)
(S/U grading only.)
UC Davis 1999-2000 Online General Catalog. Posted July 30, 1999.
catalog-comment@ucdavis.edu
Molly Theodossy, Keitha Hunter and Barbara Anderson, Editors
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