ESRM 350: Wildlife Biology and Conservation
This course is sponsored by the UW School of Environmental and Forest Sciences (SEFS)
and the College of the Environment.
Quarter: Autumn 2013
Times: MTW 11:30-12:20 (lecture), M 1:30-3:20 (discussion section AA), T 1:30-3:20
(discussion section AB)
Locations: Winkenwerder (WFS) 201 (lecture); Winkenwerder 107 (discussion sections)
Course website: http://faculty.washington.edu/wirsinga/ESRM350.htm
Course listserve: esrm350_au13@uw.edu
Instructor
Aaron Wirsing (AW), School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
(http://www.sefs.washington.edu), Winkenwerder 101, (206) 543-1585, wirsinga@uw.edu
Office hours: Wednesday 1:30-3:00 or by appointment
Guest lecturers
Dr. Brian Kertson (BK), Carnivore Research Scientist, Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife
Dr. David Manuwal (DM), Professor Emeritus, Wildlife Science Group, School of
Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington
Course purpose
This course is designed to provide a foundation of understanding in wildlife science for
undergraduates in natural science disciplines (including Environmental and Forest Sciences,
Biology, and Environmental Studies). I assume that you have a solid background in basic
biology and at least some exposure to ecology and analytical methods.
Course objectives
My specific objectives for this course are to 1) introduce you to the science of wildlife biology;
2) increase your understanding of local, regional, and global wildlife conservation issues; 3)
expose you to the primary wildlife biology and conservation literature; 4) improve your research
and public speaking skills; and 5) prepare you for upper division wildlife science courses (e.g.,
ESRM 450, 458).
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Teaching approach
The course will be lecture based, but will also include in-class discussions and exercises to
promote learning via interaction between students and instructors.
Readings
There is no required text for this course. Notes for each lecture are available for download on
the course website (see above). I encourage you to download the notes before class and then
embellish them during lecture.
“Five-minute” papers
Near the end of each lecture, I will ask you to take a few minutes to reflect on the day’s topic and
jot down an observation or follow-up question. These mini-papers will not be graded, but I will
expect them to be thoughtful and will use them as the basis for your course participation grade
(see below).
Exams
There will be three in-class exams, each covering one-third of the course material (i.e., exams
will be non-cumulative). All in-class exams will feature a short answer format and ask you to
synthesize and critically evaluate course concepts. There will be no cumulative final exam.
Discussion sections
Students in each discussion section will be placed into groups, each of which will research and
present a wildlife conservation case study. The first discussion meetings (Sep-30, Oct-1) will
detail the assignment, and an example case study will be presented by the instructor during week
two (Oct 7-8). Subsequent meetings will be devoted to topic selection, research and preparation,
and the talks themselves. Each group will be expected to give a 30-min PowerPoint presentation
to the rest of the section with the following components: 1) introduction of the speakers; 2)
introduction of the animal (natural history); 3) explanation of the conservation issue (what is the
threat, and what parties are involved?); 4) synthesis of pertinent research on the issue (i.e., what
does existing science have to say about the severity of the threat, likely outcomes if the issue is
left alone, possible solutions, and future research needs); 5) recommendation (what should be
done next?). The presentations will be worth 100 points, and students will receive up to an
additional 50 points for participation based on peer evaluation.
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Grading
Your final grade will be determined by the quality of your course participation (i.e., submission
of insights/questions at end of each lecture and contribution to lab discussion), the three exams,
and the group presentation. Excused absences and prior notification are required to receive
make-up exams. It is your responsibility to let me know that you will be unable to take an exam.
If you fail to do so, you will not receive credit for the missed test. Points will be assigned as
follows:
Course participation: 100 points (50 for five-minute papers, 50 for group participation in
discussion sections)
Exams: 100 points each (300 points total)
Group presentation: 100 points
Total: 500 points
Final grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
A = 3.5-4.0, 90-95+%, 450-475+ points
B = 2.5-3.4, 80-89%, 400-449 points
C = 1.5-2.4, 70-79%, 350-399 points
D = 0.7-1.4, 60-69%, 310-349 points
F < 0.7, < 60%, 0-309 points
Academic integrity
Plagiarism, cheating, and other misconduct are serious violations of your contract as a student.
We expect that you will know and follow the University's policies on cheating and plagiarism.
Any suspected cases of academic misconduct will be handled according to University
regulations. More information, including definitions and examples, can be found at:
http://depts.washington.edu/grading/issue1/honesty.htm
<http://depts.washington.edu/grading/issue1/honesty.htm>
Disability accommodations
To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disabled Student
Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924 (V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Student
Services indicating that you have a disability that requires academic accommodations, please
present the letter to the instructor so we can discuss the accommodations needed for this class.
This course is offered in accordance with UW College of the Environment
(http://www.coenv.washington.edu) privacy (http://www.washington.edu/online/privacy) and
terms (http://www.washington.edu/online/terms) policies.
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Lecture schedule
Date
Lecture
9/25
Course overview and introduction (AW)
9/30
Evolution: a brief review (AW)
10/1
Temperature regulation (AW)
10/2
Food and feeding (AW)
10/7
Case study: contrasting the foraging behavior of lynx and
bobcats (AW)
10/8
Habitat use (AW)
10/9
Habitat use (AW)
10/14
Animal movement (AW)
10/15
EXAM 1
10/16
Population characteristics (AW)
10/21
Demography and population growth (AW)
10/22
Demography and population growth (AW)
10/23
Reproduction and mating systems (AW)
10/28
Competition (AW)
10/29
Competition (AW)
10/30
Predation (AW)
4
11/4
Parasitism and disease (AW)
11/5
Wildlife communities (AW)
11/6
EXAM 2
11/11
NO CLASS - HOLIDAY
11/12
Wildlife conservation: a brief history (AW)
11/13
Habitat loss and Fragmentation (AW)
11/18
Urbanization (AW)
11/19
Case study: cougars at the urban-wildland interface (BK)
11/20
Consumptive and non-consumptive exploitation of wildlife
(AW)
11/25
Invasive species (AW)
11/26
Insularity (AW)
11/27
Biology of Marine Birds (DM)
12/2
Conservation of Marine Birds (DM)
12/3
Global climate change (AW)
12/4
EXAM 3
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Discussion schedule
Date
Discussion Topic
9/30 (AA)
10/1 (AB)
Introduction (AW)
10/7 (AA)
10/8 (AB)
Groups assigned
Example case study: the decline (and fall?) of the white-tailed
jackrabbit (AW)
10/14 (AA)
10/15 (AB)
Selection of case studies; preparation for presentations
10/21 (AA)
10/22 (AB)
Selection of case studies; preparation for presentations
10/28 (AA)
10/29 (AB)
Preparation for presentations
11/4 (AA)
11/5 (AB)
Preparation for presentations
11/11 (AA)
11/12 (AB)
NO DISCUSSION - HOLIDAY
11/18 (AA)
11/19 (AB)
Presentations (2)
Section AA: Groups 1, 4
Section AB: Groups 2, 4
6
11/25 (AA)
11/26 (AB)
Presentations (2)
Section AA: Groups 2, 3
Section AB: Groups 5, 1
12/2 (AA)
12/3 (AB)
Presentations (1); course evaluations
Section AA: Group 5
Section AB: Group 3
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