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Courses in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology (WFC)

Lower Division Courses

10. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (4)

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 | SE, SL, WE.—I, III. (I, III.) Elliott-Fisk, Moyle, Kelt

11. Introduction to Conservation Biology (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Introduction to conservation biology and background to the biological issues and controversies surrounding loss of species and habitats for students with no background in biological sciences. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt | SE, SL.—III. Caro

50. Natural History of California's Wild Vertebrates (3)

Lecture—2 hours; discussion—1 hour. Examination of the natural history of California's wild vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals), including their biogeography, systematics, ecology and conservation status. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt | SE, SL, WE.—II. (II.) Elliott-Fisk

92. Internship (1-6)

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.)

99. Special Study for Undergraduates (1-5)

Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Special study for undergraduates. (P/NP grading only.)—I, II, III. (I, II, III.)

Upper Division Courses

100. Field Methods in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology (4)

Lecture—2 hours; laboratory—3 hours; fieldwork—3 hours. Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 and consent of instructor. Introduction to field methods for monitoring and studying wild vertebrates and their habitats, with an emphasis on ecology and conservation. Required weekend field trips. GE credit: SE.—III. (III.) Eadie, Kelt, Todd, Van Vuren

101. Field Research in Wildlife Ecology (2)

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. Offered in alternate years. GE credit: Wrt | SE, VL, WE.—I. Eadie, Kelt, Todd, Van Vuren

101L. Field Research in Wildlife Ecology: Laboratory (4)

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. Offered in alternate years.—I. Eadie, Kelt, Todd, Van Vuren

102. Field Studies in Fish Biology (1)

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. Not offered every year.—III. Moyle

102L. Field Studies in Fish Biology: Laboratory (6)

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. Not offered every year. (Deferred grading only, pending completion of projects.) GE credit: SciEng, Wrt | SE, WE.—III. Moyle

110. Biology and Conservation of Wild Mammals (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C, or Biological Sciences 2A, 2B, 2C; Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 or equivalent course. Origins, evolution, diversification, and geographical and ecological distributions of mammals. Morphological, physiological, reproductive, and behavioral adaptations of mammals to their environment.—III. (III.) Kelt

110L. Laboratory in Biology and Conservation of Wild Mammals (3)

Laboratory—6 hours. Prerequisite: course 110 (may be taken concurrently); consent of instructor. Laboratory exercises in the morphology, systematics, species identification, anatomy, and adaptations of wild mammals to different habitats. Limited enrollment.—III. (III.) Kelt

111. Biology and Conservation of Wild Birds (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, 1B, 1C, or Biological Sciences 2A, 2B, 2C; Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 or equivalent course. Phylogeny, distribution, migration, reproduction, population dynamics, behavior and physiological ecology of wild birds. Emphasis on adaptations to environments, species interactions, management, and conservation. GE credit: SE.—I. (I.) Eadie

111L. Laboratory in Biology and Conservation of Wild Birds (3)

Laboratory—6 hours; fieldwork—3 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. Several weekend field trips, after class bird walks, and independent bird study are required. Limited enrollment.—I. (I.) Eadie

120. Biology and Conservation of Fishes (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 2A, 2B, 2C. Evolution, ecology, and conservation of marine and freshwater fishes.—I. (I.) Moyle

120L. Laboratory in Biology and Conservation of Fishes (1)

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.—I. (I.) Moyle

121. Physiology of Fishes (4)

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. Not offered every year. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt | SE, WE.—II. (II.)

122. Population Dynamics and Estimation (4)

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.—III. (III.) Botsford

130. Physiological Ecology of Wildlife (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 or equivalent course. Principles of physiological ecology, emphasizing vertebrates. Ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral perspectives on physiological mechanisms used by animals to adapt to their environment, in the context of climate-change and other threats to biodiversity. Tropical, temperate, and polar ecosystems are highlighted. GE credit: SciEng | SE.—II. (II.) Fangue

136. Ecology of Waterfowl and Game Birds (3)

Lecture—3 hours; laboratory—3 hours; fieldwork—1 hour. Prerequisite: course 111, 111L or the equivalent, or consent of instructor. Detailed examination of distribution, behavior, population dynamics, and management of waterfowl and upland game birds. Offered in alternate years.—(II.) Eadie

141. Behavioral Ecology (4)

Lecture—3 hours; film viewing—1 hour. Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 or equivalent course. 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: SE.—(II.) Caro

151. Wildlife Ecology (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 2A, 2B, 2C or equivalent. Ecology of wild vertebrates, including habitat selection, spatial organization, demography, population dynamics, competition, predation, herbivory, energetics, and community dynamics, set in the context of human-caused degradation of environments in North America.—I. (I.) Van Vuren

152. Ecology of Human—Wildlife Conflicts (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 2A, 2B, 2C, or the equivalent. Ecological approaches to managing wild vertebrates that come into conflict with agriculture, public health, or the conservation of biodiversity. Offered in alternate years.—II. Van Vuren

153. Wildlife Ecotoxicology (4)

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. Not offered every year. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt | SE, WE.

154. Conservation Biology (4)

Lecture—3 hours; term paper (will be one or more book reviews). Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 or the equivalent. An introduction to conservation biology and background to the biological issues and controversies surrounding loss of species and habitats. GE credit: SE, WE.—I. (I.) Todd

155. Habitat Conservation and Restoration (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 or equivalent course; course 154 and Environmental Horticulture 160 recommended. Analysis of the characteristics of wildlife and fish habitats, the conservation of habitats, and restoration. GE credit: SciEng, Wrt | SE, VL, WE.—II. (II.) Elliott-Fisk

155L. Habitat Conservation and Restoration Laboratory (2)

Fieldwork—3 hours; laboratory—3 hours. Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 or equivalent course; course 155 (may be taken concurrently). Analysis of the characteristics of wildlife and fish habitats, application of restoration methods, and evaluation of conservation and restoration projects in the field. Students will also participate during the term in a restoration project.—II. (II.) Elliott-Fisk

156. Plant Geography (4)

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 | SE, VL, WE.—III. Elliott-Fisk

157. Coastal Ecosystems (4)

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 coastal 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. GE credit: SE, VL.—(III.) Elliott-Fisk

158. Infectious Disease in Ecology and Conservation (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: Evolution and Ecology 101 or Environmental Science and Policy 100 or Veterinary Medicine 409 or the equivalent. Introduction to the dynamics and control of infectious disease in wildlife, including zoonotic diseases and those threatening endangered species. Basic epidemiological models and their applications. Role of scientists in developing disease control policies. Not offered every year.

190. Departmental Research Seminar (1)

Seminar—1 hour. Prerequisite: upper division standing in the biological sciences. Reports and discussions of recent advances related to wildlife and fisheries biology. May be repeated for credit up to 3 times. (P/NP grading only.)—I, II, III.

191. Museum Science (2)

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. Not offered every year. (P/NP grading only.)—II. Engilis

192. Internship (1-12)

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)

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 two times for credit. GE credit: SE.—I, II, III. (I, II, III.)

197T. Tutoring in Wildlife and Fisheries (1-5)

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)

(P/NP grading only.)

199. Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates (1-5)

(P/NP grading only.)

Graduate Courses

222. Advanced Population Dynamics (3)

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. Not offered every year.—II. (II.) Botsford

223. Conservation Biology and Animal Behavior (3)

Lecture—1.5 hours; discussion—1.5 hours. Prerequisite: Ecology 208 or Animal Behavior 221. Influences of concepts of animal behavior (functional, evolutionary, developmental, mechanistic, and methodological issues) on conservation biology theory and practice. Offered in alternate years. (III.)—Caro

290. Seminar (1-3)

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.)—I, II, III. (I, II, III.)

290C. Research Group Conference (1)

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.)—I, II, III. (I, II, III.)

291. Seminar in Aquatic Ecology (2)

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.)—III. (III.) Moyle

292. Physiology of Fishes Seminar (1)

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 two times for credit. Not offered every year. (S/U grading only.)—I. (I.)

294. Behavioral Ecology of Predators and Prey (3)

Seminar—2 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Presentation and analysis of research papers on social and foraging behavior of predatory animals, antipredator strategies of prey species, co-evolution of predators and prey, and ecology of predator prey interactions. May be repeated two times for credit. (Same course as Animal Behavior 294.) Offered in alternate years.—II. Caro

295. Seminar in Wildlife Ecotoxicology (3)

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 (1–3)

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)

299. Research (1-12)

(S/U grading only.)

Students transferring to UC 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. Contact the Department in 1088 Academic Surge Building or telephone (530) 752-6586.