WL 400 – Applied Habitat Management (3 Credit Hours)

South Dakota State University

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

 

SPRING 2008

 

TIME/PLACE:                       Lecture                                               

                                                Dairy Microbiology (SDM) 0100                     

                                                M W F 12:00 – 12:50 PM                  

 

INSTRUCTOR:                           Name:              Dr. Susan P. Rupp

Office:              NPB 139B      

Office Hours:    Open door, but appointment preferred

Telephone:        605-688-4779

Email:               WebCT Email

 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:           

 

An introduction to major land-use practices, how these practices influence wildlife production, and alterations or manipulations of habitat to achieve wildlife conservation and management goals. Emphasis will be placed on how management of resources can be integrated with those of wildlife. 

 

PREREQUISITES:   Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries Management (WL 220)

Wildlife and Fisheries Techniques (WL 230)

 

aDDITIONAL sKILLS:

 

Students taking this course are assumed to have completed basic biology/ecology coursework as well as multiple writing and speaking courses and will be expected to apply those concepts here. Review of previous material learned in those courses is advised.  In addition, basic word processing, computer skills, and library research skills will be required.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT:

 

The course will consist of 3 lectures weekly.  Lectures are in traditional lecture format with occasional invited speakers.  They will cover basic field techniques and general concepts for monitoring and measuring wildlife populations and their habitat.  Students are expected to participate in open discussions with questions and answers and may be called upon to contribute. Weekly reading assignments will be required and are to be completed prior to weekly discussion sessions (students will be quizzed/tested on reading assignments).  A habitat management plan, which includes a final report and presentation, is required.  The management plan will include a presentation (50 pts) for landowners and GF&P personnel as well as a written plan (100 pts).  In order to successfully complete the management plan, at least one trip to the site is necessary.  Additional trips will require verbal or written permission of the landowner.

 

REQUIRED TEXTS: 

 

Morrison, Michael L., B. C. Marcot, and R. William Mannan.  2006.  Wildlife-habitat relationships: Concepts and applications (3^rd edition).  Island Press, Washington D.C.  493 pp.

 

Braun, C. E., editor.  2005.  Techniques for wildlife investigations and management (6^th edition).  The Wildlife Society, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.  974 pp.

 

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: 

 

***Payne, N. F., and F. C. Bryant.  1998.  Wildlife habitat management of forestlands, rangelands, and farmlands.  Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida.  840 pp.

 

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2007.  Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflets.  http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/leaflet.htm.

 

USDA Forest Service. 2007.  Fire effects information service (FEIS) database.  http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/index.html. 

 

University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture.  2007.  Creative Applications for Learning Environments Lab (CALE):  Wildlife habitat courses.  http://www.ca.uky.edu/cale/wildlifehabitat/

 

Yanishevsky, R., and S. P. Rupp.  1996.  Management of breeding habitat for selected bird species in Colorado.  Colorado Division of Wildlife.  800 pp.

 

Various handouts and homework assignments are provided by the instructor.   Additionally, internet resources will be used to supplement the course.  Materials will be on reserve at Briggs Library.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

 

Attendance at labs and lectures is not mandatory but you will be held responsible for all course information (including material only covered in lectures/labs).  DO NOT COME TO ME FOR NOTES!!!  You can get them from friends, but do not complain if they are not up to your standards.  In addition, you can only receive point credits on pop quizzes and field trips if in attendance.   Many studies have indicated there is a direct correlation between attending class, grades received, and retention of material.  Therefore, your attendance is highly encouraged. I especially encourage you to be respectful and support guest speakers through active attendance and participation in those events.  The best way to learn is by listening to the trials of others who have gone through realistic scenarios.

 

*** Highly recommended

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

 

Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in academic and professional matters. Cheating on tests or assignments should not occur at this class level.   Cheating is defined in the Student Policies Manual Section 01:10:01.  An academic dishonesty policy for the Department is provided to you.  I do not tolerate cheaters; it is my opinion that nothing (especially a grade in a class) is worth throwing away your personal integrity over.  Honesty and trust is a trait that I look for when hiring students and other workers, and it is also a character trait that I stress highly when I provide recommendations for students.  Don’t risk tarnishing your personal integrity.

The University has a policy on academic honesty, procedures for academic grade and dishonesty appeals, and sanctions for such activities (see Student Code & attached “Supplement to Syllabus”).  The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, against any student who is found guilty of academic dishonesty or otherwise fails to meet the standards. Any student judged to have engaged in academic dishonesty in course work may receive a reduced or failing grade for the work in question and/or for the course. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, dishonesty in quizzes, tests, or assignments; claiming credit for work not done or done by others; hindering the academic work of other students; misrepresenting academic or professional qualifications within or without the University; and nondisclosure or misrepresentation in filling out applications or other University records.          

POLICY ON MISSED EXAMS/ASSIGNMENTS

In addition to two exams and the final management plan, two case studies will be assigned.  These case studies are designed to engage the student in realistic management scenarios using material covered in class.  In addition, this material may prove useful for the final management plans.  Make-up exams due to illness, conflicting schedules, or other unavoidable problems will be handled individually.  Permission to miss an exam must be obtained before the exam and a legitimate excuse is required (e.g., doctor’s note, University absence slip, etc.).  E-mails are not allowed for such requests.  The format of make-up exams will be at the discretion of the instructor.  Finally, species lists will be created to expose students to specific habitat requirements, food preferences, and management approaches for selected wildlife species. Late assignments WILL NOT be accepted!!!

 

COURSE GOALS/OBJECTIVES:  

 

Primary (i.e., essential) goals for this course are to:

■        Gain a greater appreciation of fundamental principles, generalizations, and theories of wildlife management and ecology, with specific emphasis on habitats and investigational techniques.

■        Learn how to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view related to theories and applications of habitat management techniques for key wildlife species/groups.

■        Improve communication skills (through writing assignments and discussion), computer proficiency, teamwork skills, critical thinking/problem solving skills, and statistical skills

 

Primary goals will be achieved through various projects, discussion, and assignments geared to help students understand the following by the conclusion of this course:

■        General concepts of wildlife-habitat relationships as they pertain to wildlife management and conservation biology.

■        Wildlife-habitat measurements useful in the manipulation and management of wildlife populations and their habitat(s)

■        The use of mathematical, statistical, computer, and modeling tools to solve quantitative problems in wildlife habitat management

■        Analysis, interpretation, and presentation of results in the form of written reports and management plans.

 

EVALUATION PROCEDURES

 

Grading Scale:              90 - 100           =          A

80 -   89           =          B

70 -   79           =          C

60 -   69           =          D

                              < 60           =          F

 

Final Grade Calculation:            Your final grade will be calculated based on points earned from exams, quizzes, and reports.   Total points earned divided by total possible points and converted to a percentage will result in a score between 0 - 100%.  That percentage will be converted to a letter grade using the standard grade scale (see above).  I may lower these limits if dictated by a lower distribution of student performance.  However, you can be assured of receiving your desired grade by attaining these averages.

Point breakdown:

 

ADA STATEMENT

Students are entitled to “reasonable accommodations” under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Those in need of such accommodation should notify the instructor and make appropriate arrangements with the SDSU Office of Disabilities Services, Wintrode Student Success Center, 605-688-4504.

 

FREEDOM IN LEARNING (BOARD OF REGEANTS POLICY):

 

Students are responsible for learning the content of any course of study in which they are enrolled. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance shall be evaluated solely on an academic basis and students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study. Students who believe that an academic evaluation is unrelated to academic standards but is related instead to judgment of their personal opinion or conduct should first contact the instructor of the course. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may contact the department head and/or dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

 

OTHER POLICIES:

 

Please avoid chewing tobacco in lecture, laboratory, or travel vehicles.  State and University policies apply in regard to smoking.  Please remember you are in mixed company on field trips and that your language should be reasonably clean. As a courtesy to your instructor and fellow students, PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES DURING CLASS/LAB!!!

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Reading and writing assignments are provided on the course outline.  Except for the first day of classes, readings listed for a lecture period should be completed before class starts.  In addition, there will be supplemental readings that correspond to topics covered.  The information discussed in those papers will be included on your quizzes/exams and some class discussion will revolve around those concepts.  Two short case studies will be assigned.  Case studies will be designed to expose students to real-world wildlife-habitat management scenarios, which will allow students to measure their responses to these situations with those of professionals confronted with the same (or similar) situations.  If you are unable to attend a field trip, please see the instructor prior to the scheduled trip and make alternative arrangements.  Field trips will be an essential component of this course and necessary for successful completion of the final management plan.

 

FORMAL MANAGEMENT PLAN:

 

A management plan, which includes a formal report and presentation, will be required (see “Syllabus Supplement”).  Interdisciplinary teams of 4 people each will be assigned by the instructor and 3-4 teams will be assigned to develop a management plan for a particular landowner.  Final management plans are due at the end of the semester.  The last 3 class periods have been set aside for presentation of management plans to landowners and GF&P personnel.  Students, faculty, landowners, and professionals will assist with grading presentations.  Please use a computer to type your management plan and turn in the disk along with 3 hard copies when you hand in the final plan.  Put the file name used on the disk on the bottom left hand corner of the plan.  Plans will be made available to landowners and GF&P.

 

TOPICAL OUTLINE: 

                                                                                               

Topic 1      Evolutionary Perspectives for Wildlife

                 Distributions                                 

Topic 2      Habitat selection and succession             

Topic 3      Fragmentation and Disturbance

Topic 4      Edge Effects, Interspersion, Diversity

Topic 5      Reserve Design and Issues of Scale                    

Topic 6      Hierarchical Approaches to Habitat

   Selection

Topic 7      Use of GIS/Aerial Photographs                

Topic 8      Measuring Specific Variables

Topic 9      Gap Analyses

Topic 10    HSIs and RSFs

 

 

 

 

 

Topic 11    Developing Management Plans

Topic 12    Urban Wildlife Management

Topic 13    Private Lands Management         

Topic 14    Federal incentive Programs

Topic 15    Effects of Agricultural Practices

Topic 16    Use of Cattle Grazing

Topic 17    Prescribed Burning

Topic 18    Vegetative Plantings and Exotics

Topic 19    Use of Chemical Treatments

Topic 20    Water/Wetland Management

Topic 21    Use of Artificial Structures

Topic 22    Mechanical Treatments & Timber Harvesting