BIO 541 – Wildlife Biology & Management
Fall 2007
Week
Lecture
Lab
Lecture
1
Introduction
People & Wildlife
28 Aug
Wildlife Science & Critical
Thinking
(Paper: Krebs 2000)
4 Sep
Research for
Neithercut Management Plan
Visit Neithercut
Wildlife-Habitat Relations
29 Aug (leave 1:00 PM)
Vegetation Sampling at Neithercut
Statistics Review
(Paper: James & Shugart 1970)
5 Sep (leave 1:00 PM)
Research for
Neithercut Management Plan
Wildlife-Habitat Relations
11 Sep (NAFWS)
Habitat Fragmentation
12 Sep (NAFWS)
Kirtland’s Warbler Habitat Management
Field Trip
Jerry Weinrich (MDNR – retired)
19 Sep (leave 1:00 PM)
Research for
Neithercut Management Plan
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
18 Sep
Research for
Neithercut Management Plan
25 Sep (TWS)
Wildlife Damage Management
(Reading: Conover 2002)
2 Oct
Edge Effects
(Paper: Woodward et al. 2001)
9 Oct
Habitat Fragmentation & Genetics
Brad Swanson (CMU)
16 Oct
Loon Ecology in Michigan
Max Field (CMU)
11
12
13
11 Oct
Midterm Exam
17 Oct (leave 1:00 PM)
Land Trusts & Easements
Stan Lilley (Chippewa Watershed
Conservancy)*
24 Oct (on campus)
18 Oct
Avian Influenza
Todd Lickfett (CMU)
Role of Research in Wildlife
Management
Dwayne Etter (MDNR)*
30 Oct
Wildlife Habitat Evaluation
(CH 18 Techniques Manual)
6 Nov
Tribal Perspectives on Wildlife
Management
Doug Craven (LTBBOI)
13 Nov
Neithercut Management Plan
Wetlands & Waterfowl Management
Field Trip
Barbara Avers (MDNR)*
31 Oct (leave 1:00 PM)
Deer Aging
Adam Bump & Barry Sova (MDNR)
7 Nov (on campus)
CMU Grad Student Seminars
Martens in Michigan
Clay Buchanan (CMU)
20 Nov
21 Nov (on campus)
23 Oct
10
26 Sep (TWS)
Wildlife Damage Management Field Trip
Pete Butchko (USDA APHIS-WS)
3 Oct (leave 1:00 PM)
Forest Management Field Trip
Chris Schumacher (USFS)*
10 Oct (leave 1:00 PM)
Wildlife Biology & Management Tools*
30 Aug
Wildlife Research & Habitat
Management
(Papers: Morrison 2001)
6 Sep
Wildlife-Habitat Relations
*Vertebrate Class Selected for Mgt
Plan
13 Sep
Metapopulations & Source-Sink
Populations
(Reading: Wiens 1996)
20 Sep
Research for
Neithercut Management Plan
(Reading: Conover 2002)
27 Sep (TWS)
Use of Livestock Guarding Dogs
Megan Provost (CMU)
4 Oct
Landscape Ecology
14 Nov (on campus)
Neithercut Management Plan
1
25 Oct
1 Nov
Ecological Impact Assessment
(CH 19 Techniques Manual)
8 Nov
Wolf Recovery in Michigan
Heather Stricker (CMU)
15 Nov
Thanksgiving
No Class
22 Nov
BIO 541 – Wildlife Biology & Management
Fall 2007
Week
Lecture
Lab
Lecture
14
Joint Ventures
Brad Potter (CMU, USFWS)*
Neithercut Management Plan
Presentations
(PP)
28 Nov (on campus)
Neithercut Management Plan –
Roundtable & Synthesis
5 Dec (on campus)
Wildlife Policy
Doug Reeves (MDNR)*
15
27 Nov
Neithercut Management Plan –
Roundtable & Synthesis
4 Dec
16
29 Nov
Neithercut Management Plan –
Roundtable & Synthesis
6 Dec
Final Exam
13 Dec 2007, 12:00-1:50 pm
Room 148
Note: This course outline is tentative and subject to change.
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Web Page:
Office Hours:
Dr. Thomas M. Gehring
Room 181 Brooks Hall
989-774-2484
tom.gehring@cmich.edu
http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/gehri1tm (BIO 541 links under Courses Taught tab)
TR 1 to 3 pm or by appointment
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Course Contract
1)
Students are expected to attend all lectures, labs, discussions, and course activities. I will not take attendance, however,
materials covered in lecture and lab will be incorporated into exams. It is the responsibility of the student to acquire notes on
days missed.
2)
A course grade will depend on lecture tests (50% of grade); a group, written management plan for Neithercut Woodland
(20% of grade); a group PowerPoint presentation of the Neithercut Management Plan (20% of grade); and
participation/involvement in a Roundtable Discussion & Synthesis of all Neithercut Management Plans (10% of grade).
Lecture exams (midterm and final exams worth 100 points each) may consist of a mixture of multiple choice, fill-in-theblank, short answer, and essay questions. The final exam is comprehensive. One week prior notice will be given for lecture
exams. Work turned in late will receive reductions in points as follows: 1-day late = 20% of points lost; 2-days late = 50%
of points lost; 3-days late = no credit.
3)
Everybody starts with an "A".
Percentage breakdown for grading.
90 – 100 = A; 80 – 89 = B; 70 – 79 = C; 60 – 69 = D; < 60 = F
4
Make-up exams are only given under special circumstances (e.g., family emergency; serious illness; an off-campus
university-related event; etc...). If a conflict arises with a scheduled test, students must make arrangements for “making up”
the test prior to the scheduled date. Therefore, if you will miss a test because of a routine or predictable conflict, you must
make prior arrangements to make-up the test. If you miss a test due to an unpredictable event or emergency, please provide
me with written documentation of the emergency so that we can proceed with a make-up test. If you do not contact me
within the week of scheduled exams, I will assume that you will not be taking the exam (i.e., you will receive a zero). Please
notify appropriate university offices if an emergency or illness will result in an extended absence. Make-up exams will cover
the same material in regular exams albeit different questions and an additional essay-type question will be present.
5)
This course is rigorous and is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in wildlife biology and closely
related fields. It is expected that students have completed BIO 440 (Wildlife Ecology) or a closely related course, natural
history course work, and have experience with GIS. This course will provide a conceptual and practical foundation of
wildlife biology and management, emphasizing habitat management. The course also will provide students with an
opportunity to become acquainted with “real-world” applications of wildlife management, the tools that are used, and the
limitations of wildlife science.
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BIO 541 – Wildlife Biology & Management
Fall 2007
Policy on Students with Disabilities
CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities or services.
Students with disabilities requiring accommodation to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should first register
with the office of Student Disability Services (250 Foust Hall, telephone #517-774-3018, TDD #2568), and then contact me as soon as
possible.
Policy on Academic Integrity
In May 2001, the CMU Academic Senate approved the Policy on Academic Integrity which applies to all university students. Copies
are available on the CMU website at http://academicsenate.cmich.edu/noncurric.htm, and in the Academic Senate Office in room 108
of Bovee University Center. All academic work is expected to be in compliance with this policy.
Classroom Civility
Each CMU student is encouraged to help create an environment during class that promotes learning, dignity, and mutual respect for
everyone. Students who speak at inappropriate times, sleep in class, display inattention, take frequent breaks, interrupt the class by
coming to class late, engage in loud or distracting behaviors, use cell phones or pagers in class, use inappropriate language, are
verbally abusive, display defiance or disrespect to others, or behave aggressively toward others could be asked to leave the class and
subjected to disciplinary action under the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures.
References:
Anderson, D. R., Burnham, K. P., Thompson, W. L., 2000. Null hypothesis testing: problems, prevalence, and
an alternative. Journal of Wildlife Management 64, 912--923.
Block, W.M., and L.A. Brennan. 1993. The habitat concept in ornithology: theory and applications. Current
Ornithology 11:35-91.
Breslin, P., N. Frunzi, E. Napoleon, T. Ormsby. 1996. Getting to know ArcView GIS: the geographic
information system (GIS) for everyone. ESRI Press, Redlands, California.
Brown, A. L., Litvaitis, J. A., 1995. Habitat features associated with predation of New England cottontails:
what scale is appropriate? Canadian Journal of Zoology 73, 1005--1011.
Burnham, K. P. and Anderson, D. R. 1998. Model selection and inference: a practical information-theoretic
approach. Springer-Verlag, New York, New York, USA.
Fahrig, L. 1997. Relative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on population extinction. - Journal of
Wildlife Management 61: 603-610.
Forman, R. T. T., 1995. Land mosaics: the ecology of landscapes and regions. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge. Massachusetts.
Hunter, Jr., M. L. 1990. Wildlife, forests, and forestry: principles of managing forests for biological diversity.
Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
James, F.C., and H.H. Shugart, Jr. 1970. A quantitative method of habitat description. Audubon Field Notes
24:727-736.
Krebs, C. J. 2000. Hypothesis testing in ecology. Pages 1-14 in Research techniques in animal ecology:
controversies and consequences. L. Boitani and T. K. Fuller, editors. Columbia University Press, New
York.
Manly, B. F. J., McDonald, L. L., Thomas, D. L., 1993. Resource selection by animals: statistical design and
analysis for field studies. Chapman and Hall, London.
McCullough, D. R., editor. 1996. Metapopulations and wildlife conservation. Island Press, Washington, D. C.
Murphy, D. D., and B. D. Noon. 1991. Coping with uncertainty in wildlife biology. Journal of Wildlife
Management 55:773-782.
Romesburg, H. C. 1981. Wildlife science: gaining reliable knowledge. Journal of Wildlife Management
45:293-313.
Sinclair, A. R. E. 1991. Science and the practice of wildlife management. Journal of Wildlife Management
55:767-773.
Wiens, J. A. 1996. Wildlife in patchy environments: metapopulations, mosaics, and management. Pages 53-84
in Metapopulations and wildlife conservation. D. R. McCullough, editor. Island Press, Washington, D.C.
Woodward, A. A., A. D. Fink, and F. R. Thompson, III. 2001. Edge effects and ecological traps: effects on
shrubland birds in Missouri. Journal of Wildlife Management 65:668-675.
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BIO 541 – Wildlife Biology & Management
Fall 2007
Presentation of Neithercut Management Plan
Evaluation Form
Presenters: __________________________
Date: _________________
Title:_____________________________________________________________________________
Possible
Points
Organization………………….
Score
Comments:
25
Logical order
Clarity of objectives
Content……………………….
25
Amount of information
Value of information
Accuracy
Presentation…………………
25
Preparedness
Voice & speech quality
Use of correct English
Successful communication
of ideas
Appearance………………….
10
Suitable attire
Neat/orderly
Distracting mannerisms
Knowledge of Subject………
15
Familiarity with subject
Ability to answer questions
Totals
_______
100 pts
______
Additional Comments:
* I will evaluate each group’s presentation and each student in the class also will evaluate each group
presentation, excluding their own. A final score will be calculated by taking the average of the product of my
score and the average score of all other student evaluators.
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BIO 541 – Wildlife Biology & Management
Fall 2007
Wildlife Habitat Management Plans for Neithercut Woodland
General Guidelines
I will organize the class into groups of 3 to 4 members. Once your group is formed, select 1 vertebrate class
from the following: Birds-1, Birds-2, Mammals-1, Mammals-2, Herps-1, Herps-2. Within these groups,
your team should select 3 to 4 species (1 species selected for each group member) that are or were historically
endemic to the Neithercut Woodland area. The groups will need to maintain open communication in order to
avoid overlapping (e.g., the bird teams need to talk and partition coverage of the avian community, etc…).
Your team must write their choice on the sign-up sheet outside my office door (selected by 13 Sep 2007). At
this time, you should also have selected your 3 to 4 representative species. I would recommend you sign up
early because this will work on a “first-come-first-serve” basis.
Each group will write a collective management plan and present this plan to the class. Grades will be assigned
to the group (i.e., every member in the group will receive the same grade). Each member of the group also will
provide me a letter grade for peers in their group after the report is compiled and presented. As such, every
member of the group must contribute. If a group member is not contributing, then the remaining members may
impeach that person. However, impeachment requires a unanimous vote and a lengthy discussion with me. The
impeached member must then develop a new management plan on their own. Impeached members also may
rejoin their group if a unanimous vote is cast in that favor. Exam grades are individual-based.
I wish to receive your final management plan via email only.
The following outline should be used for guidelines when preparing a management plan for your selected
vertebrates and the list of species. Throughout, be certain to consider the cost of your plan (i.e., make it realistic
in terms of time and cost).
I.
Cover Page – including a title, authors, date, and affiliation
II.
Table of Contents – includes page numbers of all major and minor sections
III.
List of Tables and/or List of Figures – includes titles and page numbers for any tables or figures
IV.
Abstract – briefly (<1 page) describe what you plan to do, how it will be accomplished, evaluation and
monitoring techniques, and the estimated cost
V.
Introduction and Species Background Information – Describe the life history characteristics of the
species in the class you selected. Also, discuss the current distribution patterns for these species
relative to Neithercut Woodland and the occurrence, status and distribution of other wildlife
species in the Neithercut Woodland community. Be certain to cite reference material and
literature.
VI.
Management Goals & Objectives – Goals can be stated generally (e.g, to provide nesting habitat for
species X), however objectives should be specific and quantifiable (e.g., clearcut X ha of aspen
trees to provide nesting and brood habitat for species X). This section should also highlight the
rationale for managing for the species you have chosen.
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BIO 541 – Wildlife Biology & Management
VII.
Fall 2007
Description of Area – include information relevant to the plan
A. General – include a map showing the property boundaries and location of Neithercut relative
to other known landmarks
B. Topography, soils, hydrology, etc… – you may use a topo map as your general map (e.g.,
topozone.com); a soils map is required and you should interpret soil type as to the type of
plant communities that match soil type. Check links for BIO 541 on my web page for
available GIS data. If GIS data layers are not available (e.g., Clare County soil SSURGO
maps are not available yet), you will need to use on-screen digitizing techniques using a
copy from a soil survey book.
C. Vegetation – describe and provide a vegetation (cover type) map of the major habitat types
that are present. Include in the appendix a list of the major plant species that comprise
each of the habitat types. You may use landuse/landcover classification given on the
Michigan Spatial Data Library site (see BIO 541 web page links).
D. Floods, fires, or other major environmental factors that may affect the area.
VIII. Current Conditions
A. Describe present and past land use of the site and adjacent land (at least to county level).
B. Present habitat quality relative to management goals (including information on habitat types,
successional stages, interspersion, edge habitat).
C. Potential limiting factors of the habitat (for the managed species)
IX.
Management Recommendations – this is the key section of the plan which relates back to your goals
and objectives. Extra effort should be exerted here, including maps illustrating the location and
size of proposed management actions.
A. Habitat Management
1. Describe, very specifically, the manipulations (or techniques for maintaining) the
proposed habitat conditions. This is a major section of the plan. Be realistic about
monetary and energy costs of implementing a proposed habitat management prescription.
2. Other management – specify other management prescriptions (besides habitat
management) for reaching your management goals and objectives. Other management
prescriptions might include: reintroductions, harvest, formation of preserves, etc… This
section should compliment your habitat management section but not be the major focus.
X.
Evaluation Techniques & Monitoring Plans – this section also is closely linked to your goals and
objectives. This section is crucial! How do you propose to evaluate and monitor the success (or
failure) of your management prescriptions? You might use an adaptive management approach
here.
A. Describe your methods for evaluation and monitoring plan.
B. Describe your criteria for identifying success
XI.
Timeline – outline your schedule for implementing management prescriptions and your schedule for
monitoring and evaluating
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BIO 541 – Wildlife Biology & Management
XII.
Fall 2007
Budget
A. Estimated annual costs to implement the plan including a line-item budget as follows:
1. Equipment (rental, purchase, and maintenance costs)
2. Supplies
3. Labor (including costs for monitoring activities)
4. Other line items
B. Total costs – per year and for anticipated duration of project
C. Estimated benefits to CMU
D. List potential funding sources for the project
XIII. Literature Cited – cite literature in the plan according to guidelines of the Journal of Wildlife
Management (see BIO 541 links on my web page).
XIV. Tables and Figures – use format suggested in guidelines for Journal of Wildlife Management
XV.
Appendices – includes species lists, data forms, related information
Additional References:
You might consider the following references for additional information on management plans:
Bookhout, T. A. editor. 1994. Research and management techniques for wildlife and habitats. The Wildlife
Society, Washington, D.C.
Burger, G.V. 1973. First things first: planning and getting help. Pages 35-52 in Practical management.
Winchester Press, New York.
Jones, K.B. 1986. The inventory and monitoring process. Pages 1-10 in A.Y. Cooperrider, R.J. Body, and
H.R. Stuart, editors. Inventory and monitoring of wildlife habitat. U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of
Land Management Service Center. Denver, Colorado.
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