WILD 2000

Introduction to Forest, Range, and Wildlife Sciences

With a combination of field trips, computer lab exercises, and classroom discussions, students gain an overview of forest, range, and wildlife sciences, including a review of career opportunities for students completing a BS degree in forest, range, or wildlife.

Fall and Spring

 1

WILD 2200
(BLS)

Ecology of Our Changing World

Foundations of ecological and evolutionary relationships of organisms with other organisms and with the physical environment, emphasizing populations, communities, and ecosystems. Integration of basic science with applications of science to understanding human interactions with the environment.

Fall and Spring 

 3©

WILD 2250

Introductory Internship/Co-op

 Introductory-level educational experience in internship/cooperative education position approved by department. Prerequisite: Departmental signature.

Fall, Spring and Summer

1-3®

WILD 2300

Mushroom Identification

 Lecture course covering taxonomy, ecology, and importance of macro and micro fungi. Also taught as BIOL 2300.

 Fall

 1

WILD 2310

Mushroom Identification Lab

Lab course acquainting students with basic fungal taxonomic groups. Students collect, preserve, and identify fungi they collect. Edible fungi prepared and eaten. Also taught as BIOL 2310.

 Fall

 1-2®

WILD 2500

Computer Applications in Natural Resources

Advanced spreadsheet, graphics, aerial photography, and Geographic Information Systems for natural resource management.

 Fall

 3

WILD 3300

Management Aspects of Wildlife Behavior

Principles, concepts, and mechanisms of animal behavior, emphasizing behavioral ecology, development, and comparative aspects of special relevance to management of fish and wildlife.

 Spring

3

WILD 3600

Wildland Plant Ecology and Identification

Autecology and identification of dominant grass, forb, and woody plants of the Intermountain West. Emphasizes native species; however, introduced or noxious weeds are included. Explores plant structure and function, as related to the environment. Enrollment limited to WILD Department majors.  Department authorization required for all nonmajors.

Fall 

4

Wildland Animal Ecology and Identification

Autecology and identification of important mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians of the Intermountain West. Emphasizes native species distribution and habitat requirements in relation to the environment. Prerequisite: NR/BIOL 2220.  Enrollment limited to WILD Department majors.  Department authorization required for all nonmajors.

Wildland Ecosystems

Structure, function, and dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems in response to natural and anthropogenic impacts, with emphasis on the Intermountain West and Great Plains. Prerequisites: NR/BIOL 2220; and SOIL 3000 (or concurrent enrollment).

 Spring

Plant and Animal Populations

Basics of plant and animal population ecology, including population regulation, life histories, single and multi-species interactions, and metapopulations. Case studies will cover topics of both management and conservation concern. Prerequisites: NR/BIOL 2220, MATH 1100 or higher.

WILD 4000

Principles of Rangeland Management

Modern principles of rangeland management, including history of the profession, ecology, plant physiology, impacts of grazing on individual plans and plant communities, grazing management, range animal nutrition, rangeland watersheds, and the economics and planning of rangeland practices.  Also introduces range-wildlife relations and vegetation manipulation.

 Spring

 3

Urban Fish and Wildlife Management

Concentrates on: understanding impacts of urbanization on wildlife and habitat; developing basic understanding of wildlife needs; completing urban wildlife habitat inventory; and preparing urban wildlife conservation and management plan.

WILD 4250

Advanced Internship/Co-op

Advanced-level educational experience in internship/cooperative education position approved by department. Prerequisite: Departmental signature.

 Fall, Spring and Summer

 1-9

WILD 4500

Principles of Wildlife Management

Provides students with a working knowledge of the application of basic concepts in ecology and animal behavior to the management of wildlife resources to achieve diverse objectives of conservation, control, or cropping. Prerequisites: WILD 3610 and 3810.

 Spring

 3

WILD 4520

Wildland Fire Behavior

Comprehensive examination of fuels, weather, and topography and how they interact to determine wildland fire behavior, including rate of spread, energy release, and intensity.  This course is being offered in WebCT format.  For information contact the department.

 Fall, Spring and Summer

3

WILD 4540

Forest Harvest and Utilization

Elements of timber harvest systems, including policies and practices for minimizing biophysical impacts. Utilization of wood resources.

 Fall

 2

WILD 4600

Conservation Biology

Patterns and processes creating biological diversity. Causes and consequences of diversity losses from genes to ecosystems, including habitat fragmentation and exotic invasion. Conservation laws and organizations. Approaches to conserving diversity loss, including reserve design, corridors, and species reintroductions. Prerequisite: NR/BIOL 2220.

 Spring

3

WILD 4700

Ecological Foundations
of Restoration

Explores meanings of “restoration” use of reference communities, restoration of processes versus structure, species reintroductions, managing natural processes to meet restoration goals, and fundamentals of physiological, population, community, and ecosystem ecology from a restoration perspective. Prerequisites: NR/BIOL 2220, FRWS 3850.

Spring 

3

Monitoring and Assessment in Natural Resource and Environmental Management

Lectures, laboratory exercises, and field-based projects introduce students to the concepts, strategies, and analytical methods of natural resource and environmental monitoring and assessment. Prerequisites: BIOL/NR 2220; Math 1100 or higher; STAT 2000 or 3000; and passing score on the University Studies Computer and Information Literacy (CIL) exam.

WILD 4810

Directed Reading in Wildlife Damage Management

Focuses on wildlife damage management, especially as it reflects on both positive and negative human-wildlife interactions. For this reading course, students work with instructor to develop appropriate and rigorous reading program.

 Fall, Spring and Summer

 2©

Vegetation and Habitat Management

Applying ecological principles and concepts to manipulate the composition, structure, and productivity of wildland vegetation for a range of objectives, including the creation and maintenance of wildlife habitat, using biological, chemical, and mechanical methods, as well as fire. Prerequisites: SOIL 3000; WILD 3600.

WILD 4880

Genetics in Conservation and Management

Introduces principles of modern genetics, with applications, examples, and assignments related to ecology and management issues. Emphasizes genetic marker systems, gene flow, genetic drift, and adaptation. Prerequisites: CHEM 1110 or 1220; BIOL 1210.

 Fall

 3

Managing Dynamic Ecological Systems

Emphasizes how people from diverse natural resource disciplines benefit from integrating Eastern and Western philosophical and cultural beliefs with behavioral principles and processes to manage dynamic systems with due consideration for the ecological, cultural, and economic values of societies.

Assessment and Synthesis in Natural Resource Science

Science-based assessments of natural resources conducted through implementation of analytical methods and synthesis. Case studies used to develop concepts, strategies, and problem-solving skills. Basic GIS and remote sensing skills developed. Prerequisites: WILD 3600, 3610, 3800, 3810, and 4750.

WILD 4950

Special Topics

Individual study and research upon selected problems. Prerequisite: Departmental permission.

 Fall, Spring and Summer

 1-3®

WILD 4960

Directed Readings

Individual reading research on forest, range, and wildlife science readings. Prerequisite: Departmental approval.

 Fall, Spring and Summer

1-3®

WILD 4970

Undergraduate Research

Individual or team research. Prerequisite: Departmental permission.

 Fall, Spring and Summer

 1-3®

WILD 4980

Undergraduate Seminar

Intended to bring upperclassmen up-to-date on topics in forest, range, and wildlife sciences. Graded Pass/Fail only.

 Fall and Spring

 1®

WILD 5000

Predator Ecology and Management

Reviews biology, ecology, theory, management, and policy issues involving large vertebrate predators. Uses case histories to explore predation theory, population ecology, natural history, and management strategies.

 Spring

 3

WILD 5070
(Dual 6070)

Range Wildlife Relations

Explores interactions on rangelands between wild and domestic ungulates, as well as other wildlife forms around the world, but with emphasis on western North America. Prequisites: WILD 3610 or permission of instructor.

Fall

 3

WILD 5100

Wildlife Management Laboratory

Familiarizes students with variety of wildlife management and research techniques and strategies, including techniques to catch, mark, and restrain wild animals; monitoring wildlife populations; measuring physiological parameters; measuring habitat variables; assessing and preventing wildlife damage; and interpreting and analyzing biological data.

Fall

3

WILD 5220
(Dual 7220)

Community-based Conservation Partnerships**

Seeks to infuse ecology with applied conservation and management approaches. Conservation and management of natural resources requires an understanding of ecological relationships and strategies for working with diverse stakeholders. PhD-level students present their research.

Spring

3

WILD 5300
(Dual 7300)

Wildlife Damage Management Principles

Explains current legal, ethical, and biological principles for the control and/or management of problem vertebrate species.

Spring

3

WILD 5350
(Dual 6350)

Wildland Soils

Application of basic principles of soil science to wildland ecosystems. Effects of disturbance and land use on wildland soil properties. Role of soils in natural resource management. Prerequisites: CHEM 1110; SOIL 3000, and one additional upper-division Soils course, or permission of instructor. Also taught as SOIL 5350/6350.

Spring

3

WILD 5420
(CI)

Forest and Shade Tree Pathology

Nature, cause, and management of forest diseases. Also taught as BIOL 5420 and PLSC 5420.

 Spring

3

WILD 5460

Avalanche and Snow Dynamics

Fundamentals of snow and avalanche dynamics. Avalanche safety, forecasting, hazard evaluation, and control. 

 Spring - first half

 2

WILD 5510

Forest Entomology

WILD 5510. Forest Entomology. Basic insect taxonomy, life histories, structure, and function. Ecological relationships, recognition, and management of insects of economic importance to forestry.

 This course is not currently being offered.  For information about when it may be offered, contact the department.

 2

WILD 5650

Urban/Community Forestry

Social, biological, and administrative aspects of managing urban/community forests, including field and classroom exercises and a management planning project. Also taught as PLSC 5650.

 Spring

 3

WILD 5700

Forest Assessment and Management

Detailed analysis of forest stand structure and growth. Development of silvicultural prescriptions to meet specific objectives. Analysis of costs and benefits of alternative forest management strategies. Emphasizes forest management to achieve a broad range of objectives.

 Spring

3

WILD 5710

Wildland Disturbance: Ecology and Management

Examines causes, effects, and management options for selected biotic and abiotic agents of disturbance in wildland ecosystems.

 Spring

 3

WILD 5750
(Dual 6750)

Applied Remote Sensing

Covers the application of remote sensing to landcover mapping and resource monitoring at a quantitative level. Students instructed on the effects of atmosphere and surface interaction on the reflectance collected by electro-optical sensors, as well as on the proper use and interpretation of various calibration and classification algorithms.

 Fall

 3

WILD 5860

Poisonous Range Plants Affecting Livestock**

Poisonous plants of rangelands and their effects on grazing animals, especially livestock. Management practices to reduce or prevent poisoning. Also taught as ADVS 5860.

 Spring

 2

WILD 6000

Grazing Systems**

Overview and analysis of various strategies for managing grazing on rangelands. Special attention given to ecological mechanisms by which a particular grazing system may benefit livestock production or the sustainability of rangeland resources.

Spring 

 2

WILD 6070
(Dual 5070)

Range Wildlife Relations

Explores interactions on rangelands between wild and domestic ungulates, as well as other wildlife forms around the world, but with emphasis on western North America. Prerequisite: WILD 3610 or permission of instructor.

Fall

3

WILD 6200

Biogeochemistry of Terrestrial Ecosystems**

Inputs, outputs, and cycling patterns of major nutrients. Emphasis on mechanisms for transformations, factors influencing process rates, and the impacts of management and global change on nutrient cycles and air and water quality. Prerequisites: BIOL 1220, SOIL 3000, CHEM 2300 or 2310, or permission of instructor. Also taught as BIOL 6200 and SOIL 6200.

Fall

3

WILD 6240

Graduate Internship/Co-op

Graduate-level educational experience in internship/cooperative education position approved by department.

Fall, Spring, Summer

1-9®

WILD 6270

Advanced Silviculture

n forestry, there is a trend toward more complex silviculture to implement increasingly complex stand-level objectives. This course covers important techniques used in the development and implementation of silvicultural prescriptions for this sort of stand management. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Spring

3

WILD 6350
(Dual 5350)

Wildland Soils

Application of basic principles of soil science to wildland ecosystems. Effects of disturbance and land use on wildland soil properties. Role of soils in natural resource management. Prerequisites: CHEM 1110; SOIL 3000, and one additional upper-division Soils course, or permission of instructor. Also taught as SOIL 6350/5350.

Spring

3

WILD 6400

Ecology of Animal Populations

Growth, fluctuation, balance, and control of animal populations. Prerequisite: NR/BIOL 2220 or equivalent.

Fall

4

WILD 6420

Vegetation Sampling Design

Advanced intrastand vegetation sampling design and elementary (nonmultivariate) between stand comparisons, primarily for research purposes. Prerequisites: STAT 5200; WILD 6770.

Summer

4

WILD 6500

Biometry: Design and Analysis of Ecology Research

Examines research design from statistical perspective, showing how data analysis is largely determined by research design and its implementation. Reviews statistical tools for analysis of ecological data in the context of design. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Fall

4

WILD 6510

Topics in Spatial Ecology**

Seminars on analysis and interpretation of spatially explicit ecological data. Topics vary yearly, and range from spatial statistics to assessing uncertainty in environmental information systems to spatial analyses of plant and animal populations. Prerequisites: Graduate-level course in statistics and permission of instructor.

Spring

1-3®

WILD 6610

Regional Terrestrial Ecosystems

Synthesis of structural functional and regulatory processes and their interactions with humans in terrestrial ecosystems found in the Intermountain West and Great Plains. Prerequisites: NR/BIOL 2220, SOIL 3000; or equivalent courses.

Spring

1-3®

WILD 6710
(Dual 7710)

Landscape Ecology

Focuses on landscape-scale patterns and processes, and ways of understanding ecological complexity. Explores conceptual underpinnings of larger-scale ecology. Emphasizes understanding of current peer-reviewed literature.

WILD 6720
(Dual 7720)

Advanced Conservation Biology

Examines cases and consequences of population and species declines, including activities such as habitat fragmentation and introduction of exotic species, as well as natural causes due to genetics and demography.

WILD 6740

Physical Processes in Remote Sensing

Assures that students are well-versed in the science and technology of remote sensing. Covers various algorithms and their ability to extract biophysical information from remotely sensed images. Helps students gain firm knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of these algorithms and their use in understanding landscape level biophysical interactions.

 WILD 6750
(Dual 5750)

Applied Remote Sensing

Covers the application of remote sensing to landcover mapping and resource monitoring at a quantitative level. Students instructed on the effects of atmosphere and surface interaction on the reflectance collected by electro-opticalsensors, as well as on the proper use and interpretation of various calibration and classification algorithms.

Plant Community Ecology*

Theory and concepts of plant community ecology. Plant community composition, distribution in space, and dynamics in time. Species environmental response models, competition theory, statistical predictive models, and concepts of multivariate analysis in plant ecology.

Prerequisites: NR/BIOL 2220 or equivalent; and ecology core courses (may be taken concurrently).

Forest, Range, and Wildlife Sciences Departmental Seminar

Review of current research by graduate students and faculty. Graded Pass/Fail
only.

Population Ecology

Using framework of mathematical modeling, reviews basic ecological processes (e.g., competition, predation, and environmental stresses) that determine numbers of individuals in plant and animal populations. This course is not currently being offered.

Ecology Seminar

The Ecology Center schedules regular seminars throughout the school year with ecological scientists from other institutions participating. Ecology majors are required to attend a minimum of 10 such lectures. Graded Pass/Fail only.
Students should register for fall semester, but attend through spring semester.
Also taught as BIOL 6870, ENVS 6870, PSC 6870, and WATS 6870.

Current Issues in Conservation Genetics and Management*

Reviews variety of topics in fast-moving field of conservation genetics. Explores management applications and implications, with particular emphasis on current primary literature. Recommended prerequisite: Prior course in genetics.

Graduate Special Topics

Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.

Directed Study

Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.

Graduate General Ecology

General concepts, history, and issues in all major areas of the science of ecology including: environmental biophysics; and physiological, behavioral, evolutionary, community, ecosystem, and applied ecology in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Also taught as BIOL 6960, ENVS 6960, PSC 6960, and WATS 6960.

Thesis Research

Original research for MS degree on a problem in rangeland resources. Graded Pass/Fail only.

Continuing Graduate Advisement

Graded Pass/Fail only.

Theory and Applications of Rangeland Ecosystem Management

Application of range management principles, new theory, and public policy to on-the-ground decision-making in public and private lands. Field trips required.

Plant-Herbivore Interactions*

Emphasizes principles of self-organization as applied to plant (tolerance and avoidance of herbivory) and herbivore (food and habitat selection) behavior. Stresses importance of history and ongoing interactions with the environment in understanding the dynamics of plant-herbivore interactions.

Plant Physiological Ecology **

Plant response to environmental factors; includes environmental biophysics, physical and physiological factors influencing productivity, water use, resistance to stress, reproduction, establishment of plants, and competition with neighboring plants.

Community-based Conservation Partnerships**

Seeks to infuse ecology with applied conservation and management approaches. Conservation and management of natural resources requires an understanding of ecological relationships and strategies for working with diverse stakeholders. PhD-level students present their research.

Wildlife Damage Management Principles

Explains current legal, ethical, and biological principles for the control and/or management of problem vertebrate species.

Plant Population Ecology*

Dynamics of plant populations as influenced by interactions with their abiotic
and, especially, biotic environments. Topics include dormancy and germination strategies, intra- and interspecific competition, facilitation, disturbance, herbivory, pathogenic and mutualistic fungi, pollination, seed dispersal, and vegetative reproduction.

Analysis of Ecological Communities**

Advanced treatment of classification and ordination of ecological communities,emphasizing ecological data structures and methods of common use in ecological research.
Prerequisite: STAT 3000 or WILD 6500 or consent of instructor.

Landscape Ecology

Focuses on landscape-scale patterns and processes, and ways of understanding ecological complexity. Explores conceptual underpinnings of larger-scale ecology. Emphasizes understanding of current peer-reviewed literature.

Advanced Conservation Biology*

Examines cases and consequences of population and species declines, including activities such as habitat fragmentation and introduction of exotic species, as well as natural causes due to genetics and demography.

Forest, Range, and Wildlife Sciences Departmental Seminar

Review of current research by graduate students and faculty. Graded Pass/Fail only.

Population Ecology

Using framework of mathematical modeling, reviews basic ecological processes (e.g., competition, predation, and environmental stresses) that determine numbers of individuals in plant and animal populations. This course is not currently being offered.

Current Issues in Conservation Genetics and Management*

Reviews variety of topics in fast-moving field of conservation genetics. Explores management applications and implications, with particular emphasis on current primary literature. Recommended prerequisite: Prior course in genetics.

Graduate Special Topics

Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.

Directed Study

Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly cheduled courses.

Dissertation Research

Original research and study for PhD degree. Graded Pass/Fail only.

Continuing Graduate Advisement

Graded Pass/Fail only