NREM 4543

Wildlife Management for Biodiversity

Fall 2018 Syllabus: TR 10:30–11:45, 014 Ag Hall

Instructor: Dr. Tim O’Connell tim.oconnell@okstate.edu

018 Ag Hall, phone: 744-7593 office hours: by appointment

“What is the extinction of the condor to a child who has never known a wren?”Robert Michael Pyle on the extinction of experience

Course Objectives: In Wildlife Management for Biodiversity we will explore life history, conservation, and management of non-game species from multiple taxa.

What you will get out of this course: Though lecture, literature discussion, and interactive exercises to develop management strategies for priority species, we will gain experience in making decisions and promoting actions to benefit biodiversity. Specific ecological topics will include habitat suitability and selection, population assessment, diversity estimation, biogeography, and landscape ecology. You will practice literature review, public speaking, and diversity comparisons.

Grading: Grades will be determined as a percentage of points you earn out of 300 possible. To earn this grade . . . you must accumulate this many points (no exceptions):

A: (272–300)B: (242–271)C: (212–241)

D&F: (0–211) – no credit for NREM majorsF! – violation of OSU Academic Integrity Policy (it’s never worth the risk!)

Your grade will be determined from performance in the following categories:1. Exams (3): 120 pts (40 each) 2. Workshop participation: 80 pts (will count 4 of 5 @ 20 pts)3. Literature discussion and presentation: 80 pts4. Oklahoma wildlife conservation presentation: 20 pts

Group Work: Wildlife professionals almost always work as part of a team. There two significant group assignments for you this semester to work as part of a team to lead a discussion of original literature during class time. This will involve some background research and preparation ahead of time, an oral presentation in class, and mature leadership of the discussion that ensues. Your presentation grades will be in-part determined by peer evaluations of your entire group.

There is no required text. Readings for discussion will be assigned by me and you.

Special needs: If you need special accommodations of any nature, I will work with you and the Office of Student Disability Services, 315 Student Union (http://sds.okstate.edu/) to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform successfully in this class. Please let me know about the accommodations you require by the end of the second week of class.

Semester Schedule – Fall 2018

day date topic/activityTue. 8/21 OrientationThu. 8/23 A success story?Tue. 8/28 ExtinctionThu. 8/30 Science, critical thinking, and managementTue. 9/4 Workshop 1 – manuscript analysis Thu. 9/6 Who manages non-game wildlife?Tue. 9/11 Issues in Biodiversity Discussion 1: vaquita/SumatraThu. 9/13 Literature Discussion Groups 1, 2, & 3 Tue. 9/18 Guest: Monika Burchette, Olsson Assoc. Wildlife Consulting Thu. 9/20 Biogeography 1Tue. 9/25 EXAM 1Thu. 9/27 Workshop 2 – what wildlife? Tue. 10/2 Biodiversity 1Thu. 10/4 Issues in Biodiversity Discussion 2: black rhino/hellbenderTue. 10/9 Biodiversity 2Thu. 10/11 Workshop 3 – citizen science analysis Tue. 10/16 Guest: Jeff Tibbits, ODWC-OK Land Access ProgramThu. 10/18 Literature Discussion Groups 4, 5, & 6 Tue. 10/23 Habitat selectionThu. 10/25 Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Groups 1–6Tue. 10/30 EXAM 2Thu. 11/1 Workshop 4 – biodiversity analysis Tue. 11/6 Biogeography 2Thu. 11/8 Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Groups 7–12Tue. 11/13 Workshop 5 – landscape analysis Thu. 11/15 Literature Discussion Groups 7, 8, & 9Tue. 11/20 Landscape ecology Thu. 11/22 NO CLASS – Thanksgiving Break!!Tue. 11/27 Issues in Biodiversity Discussion 3: pollinators/rewildingThu. 11/29 Landscapes and populationsTue. 12/4 Wild Card!Thu. 12/6 EXAM 3

Link to Fall 2018 Syllabus Attachment: https://academicaffairs.okstate.edu/sites/default/files/Fall%202018%20Syllabus%20Attachment_0.pdf

Includes everything you could want to know about add/drop dates, exam overloads, tutoring, etc.