Natural Resources Management (NRM)

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2000 Level Courses

2301 [AGRI 2330]. Introductory Wildlife (3:3:0). Introduction to the ecology and management of wildlife populations. Stresses principles, life histories, and management techniques. Fulfills Core Technology and Applied Science requirement. F, S.

2302. The Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources (3:3:0). An introduction to the ecology and conservation of renewable natural resources of native lands, including their multiple use for timber, water, range, recreation, and wildlife. Fulfills Core Technology and Applied Science requirement. F, S.

2305. Introduction to Freshwater Ecology and Fisheries (3:3:0). Survey and management of freshwater habitats: types of organisms, adaptations, and ecological interactions; and effects of solar radiation, temperature, currents, dissolved gases, chemicals, and pollution. Fulfills Core Technology and Applied Science requirement. F, S.

2307. Diversity of Life (3:3:0). Principles of biogeography, examination of current environmental threats to biodiversity, and conservation of natural systems. Plant and animal (including invertebrate) issues are examined. Fulfills Core Technology and Applied Science requirement. F.

2406. Wildlife Anatomy and Physiology (4:3:3). Prerequisite: BIOL 1402 or 1404 or equivalent. A systematic study of the body systems of wild animals emphasizing functional anatomy and physiology and their ecological implications.

3000 Level Courses

3201. Vegetation Inventory and Analysis (2:1:2). Techniques and methods for sampling and analyzing rangeland vegetation. F.

3302. Range Plant Ecology (3:3:0). The basic principles of autecology and synecology and their relationship to management of the range ecosystem. F.

3303. Range Management Principles and Practices (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. A general course in the principles and practices of range management designed for nonrange majors who plan to enter the ranching industry. F, S. Field trips required. Not open to range or wildlife majors.

3304. Principles of Range Management (3:2:3). Prerequisite: NRM 3501. Application of ecological principles in the management of rangelands for sustained livestock products consistent with conservation of the range resource. Field trips required. S.

3307. Principles of Conservation Science (3:3:0). Prerequisite: NRM 2307. A survey of the theory and practices of conservation biology. Emphasis is placed on methods used to maintain plant and animal biodiversity. S.

3308. Quantitative Methods in Natural Resources (3:3:0). Prerequisite: MATH 1331 or 1351. Survey of quantitative and statistical methods used in natural resource management, conservation biology, and in assessing biodiversity.

3323. Prescribed Burning (3:2:3). Planning, implementing and evaluating prescribed fires.

3333. Pond Fish Management (3:2:3). Management of ponds for recreational fishing.   Includes principles of pond construction, fish stocking, water quality and habitat management, and assessment of common problems.   Field trips required.  

3501. Range, Forest, Wetland Plants, and Plant Identification (5:3:4). Native and naturalized forage plants of the U.S.; identification, distribution, ecology, plant communities, and economic value are stressed. F, S. Field trips are required.

4000 Level Courses

4000. Internship (V1-12).

4001. Undergraduate Research (V1-12). Selected research problems according to the needs of the student. May be repeated.

4100. Seminar (1:1:0). An organized discussion of current problems and research in range, wildlife, and fisheries management. May be repeated.

4301. Problems (3). Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. Individual investigation of an assigned problem in range, wildlife, and fisheries management. Emphasis placed on the theory, methods, and practice of range, wildlife, or fisheries field work.

4302. Range Improvements (3:2:3). Application of principles and practices necessary to enhance the productive potential of the range resource for all potential uses. Methods for brush management, revegetation, conservation, etc. are considered. Improvement for increased domestic livestock production and for enhancing wildlife habitat is emphasized. Field trips required. F.

4303. Rangeland Analysis and Management Planning (3:2:3). Prerequisite: NRM 3304 or 4302. Analysis of rangeland resource inventories for the purpose of planning appropriate use of such resources. A familiarization with the basic components of a range resource plan and their application in decision making. S. (Writing Intensive)

4304. Fire Ecology and Management (3:3:0). Prerequisite: NRM 3302 and 3501. The effect of fire on major vegetation zones in North America and ecological changes of plants and animals. Physical effects of fires on soils and plants, management applications, and prescribed burning techniques. F. (Writing Intensive)

4305. Big Game Ecology (3:2:3). Survey of distributions and life histories of North American big game species. Productivity, food habits, economic significance, and management will be examined. Field trips required. S, even years.

4306. Upland Game Ecology (3:2:3). Prerequisite: NRM 2301 and ZOOL 4408, or consent of instructor. Ecological approach to the management of upland game populations. Stresses population mechanisms and habitat management of selected species. Field trips required. S, odd years.

4309. Range-Wildlife Habitat Management (3:3:0). Prerequisite: NRM 2301, 3501, 3304, or consent of instructor. A study of wildlife habitats based on major vegetation types and the management problems involved. Emphasis on how other resource demands can be integrated with wildlife. Field trips offered. F, S. (Writing Intensive)

4310. Principles of Waterfowl Management (3:2:3). Prerequisite: NRM 2301. Ecology and management of continental waterfowl resources. Life histories, population management, and habitat manipulation are stressed. Field trips required. F, even years.

4314. Watershed Planning (3:3:0). The watershed as a unit of resource-oriented planning and development. Principles and objectives of watershed management. Physical description of watershed. Relationship between land-use conditions and the water delivery character of watersheds. Watershed analysis, including techniques, collection of field data, and sources of information. Fulfills Core Technology and Applied Science requirement. F, S.

4315. Spatial Analysis in Natural Resource Management (3:2:3). Introduction to geographic information systems and global positioning systems. Applications for inventory, planning, and management of natural resources are emphasized. S.

4320. Natural Resource Policy (3:3:0). Prerequisite: NRM 2301. Emphasis on the human dimension of natural resource management. Historical, agency, and private organization roles in policy and conflict resolution. F.

4322. Nongame Ecology and Management (3:2:2). Prerequisite: NRM 2301. Ecological approach to nongame wildlife population management. Public policies, socioeconomic factors, population dynamics, and species-at-risk issues are examined.

4324. Tropical Ecology and Conservation (3:3:0). An introductory survey of tropical ecology and conservation covering both theory and practice. Previous ecology course, consent of instructor, and field trips are required.

4330. Aquaculture (3:3:0). Prerequisite: BIOL 1404 and CHEM 1308 or consent of instructor. A global overview of aquaculture including fish, aquatic invertebrates, plants, and design and operation of production facilities. F, odd years.

4335. Fisheries Science (3:3:0). Prerequisite: NRM 2301, 2302, 2305, and ZOOL 4410. Scientific study of aquatic organisms. Includes resource sampling, ecology, analysis of populations, resource conflict, and management. S, even years.

4401. Fisheries Management (4:3:3). Prerequisite: AAEC 3401, MATH 2300, or NRM 3308. Theory and practice of fisheries management with emphasis on basic strategies used in effective management of aquatic renewable natural resources. Applied field problems, equipment use. F, even years. (Writing Intensive)

4403. Aerial Photo Interpretation in Natural Resource Management (4:2:4). Fundamentals of aerial photograph reading, interpretation, and evaluation. Introduction to remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems. F.

4407. Wildlife Investigational Techniques (4:3:3). Prerequisite: Junior standing and AAEC 3401, MATH 2300, or NRM 3308. The basic methodology of practical wildlife management. This involves the routine techniques in data collection related to population maintenance, as well as ways to monitor field research. F, S. (Writing Intensive)

4408. Wildlife Population Dynamics and Analysis (4:3:3). Prerequisite: AAEC 3401 or MATH 2300 or NRM 3308 and NRM 2301 and MATH 1331 or consent of instructor. The mechanisms of wildlife population changes and their management. Detailed examination of techniques for measuring population characteristics. S. (Writing Intensive)

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5000 Level Courses

5100. Seminar (1:1:0). An organized discussion of current problems in range, wildlife, and fisheries management. May be repeated.

5302. Range Research Methods (3:2:3). Prerequisite: ISQS 5346. Study plan preparation; methods of studying vegetation; sampling techniques; increasing sampling efficiency; methods of reducing experimental error; grazing studies; utilization studies; wildlife techniques; and tests of goodness of fit for binomial, poison, negative binomials, and normal distributions. F, odd years.

5303. Synecology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: NRM 3302. An advanced study of terrestrial plant community ecology; mechanisms and consequences of species coexistence; diversity relations; causes and patterns of community development; community dynamics. Statistical and numerical analyses applicable to community ecology are discussed. F, odd years.

5304. Fire Behavior and Ecology (3:2:3). Prerequisite: NRM 3501 and 3302. An assessment of the role of fire in succession and management of plants and animals in all major vegetation types of U.S. and Canada; effect of fire on litter and soil properties; fire temperatures and heat effects; prescribed burning techniques. Field trips required. S, odd years.

5305. Plant Ecophysiology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: NRM 3302. Advanced study of the influences of the environmental complex on the processes, structure, and physiological functioning of an individual plant or species. S, even years.

5306. The Physiological Basis for Grazing Management (3:2:3). A study of the physiological processes, morphological development, nutritional qualities, and palatability of range plants as a basis for grazing management strategies for domestic and wild animals. Field trips required. F, even years.

5307. Wetland Ecology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: NRM 3307. Advanced study in the structure and functioning of wetland ecosystems. Course will also examine wetland classification. F, odd years.

5309. Population Estimation and Dynamics (3:3:0). Prerequisite: AAEC 3401. Principles of estimation theory. Detailed examination of modern analysis techniques; indices, line transect, capture-recapture, Jolly-Seber, survival, and life table limitations. Computer use. S.

5310. Advanced Range Ecology (3:3:0). An examination of the basic ecological principles affecting plant growth and development, distribution of plants, community structure and dynamics, and nutrient cycling. Field trips required. F, S.

5311. Wildlife Conservation and Management (3:3:0). An examination of conservation principles and management practices enhancing wildlife populations.

5312. Ecology of Renewable Natural Resources (3:3:0). An introduction to the ecology of renewable natural resources such as vegetation, wildlife, soil, and water.

5313. Advanced Big Game Ecology and Management (3:3:0). Prerequisite: NRM 4305 or equivalent or consent of instructor. An advanced study of the ecology and management of big game resources. Field trips required. S, even years.

5314. Advanced Upland Game Ecology and Management (3:2:3). An advanced study of the ecology and management of upland game resources. Field trips are required. S, odd years.

5315. Advanced Studies in Range-Wildlife Habitat (3:3:0). An ecological approach to wildlife management stressing the relationships between animals and their habitat. Focuses on rangeland habitats. Field trips required. F, S.

5316. Waterfowl Ecology (3:2:3). An ecological examination of waterfowl behavior, breeding biology, and habitat requirements. Field trips required. F, even years.

5317. Watershed Management (3:3:0). Management concepts of watersheds as a holistic unit. Inventory techniques, information sources, analysis procedures, and economic and financial effects applicable to watershed management planning. F, S.

5318. Range Animal Nutrition (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ANSC 3301 or equivalent. Study of the nutritional relationship between the range resource and grazing herbivores, including domestic livestock and wild ungulates, and techniques for range animal nutrition research. F, odd years.

5320. Natural Resource Biopolitics (3:3:0). Policy, planning, and conflict resolution from a natural resource management perspective. Historical, agency, and private organization roles in natural resource management are evaluated. F.

5322. Advanced Nongame Ecology and Management (3:2:2). Prerequisite: NRM 2301 or consent of instructor. Ecological approach to nongame wildlife population management. Public policies, socioeconomic factors, population dynamics, and species-at-risk issues are examined.

5323. Prescribed Burning (3:2:3). Planning, implementing, evaluating prescribed fires, and expert systems. Field trips required. S.

5324. Physiological Ecology of Aquatic Organisms (3:3:0). Regulatory mechanisms and adaptive significance of selected physiological processes in aquatic vertebrates. S, even years.

5330. Advanced Aquaculture (3:3:0). Prerequisite: CHEM 1308 and BIOL 1404. A global overview of aquaculture including fish, aquatic invertebrates, plants, and design and operation of production facilities. F, odd years.

5335. Advanced Fisheries Science (3:3:0). Scientific study of the use of aquatic organisms. Includes resources, sampling, ecology and analysis of populations, resource conflicts, and management. May not be taken for credit by students who have taken NRM 4335. S, even years.

5337. Fish and Wildlife Population Modelling (3:3:0). The development and use of models to analyze and simulate ecological processes in fish and wildlife populations and communities. S, odd years.

5347. Advanced Conservation Science (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent instructor. A survey of the theory and practice of conservation biology for advanced students.

5401. Advanced Fisheries Management (4:3:3). Theory and methodology used in managing aquatic renewable resources; applied field problems, equipment use. May not be taken for credit by students who have taken NRM 4401. F, even years.

5402. Fisheries Ecology (4:3:3). Prerequisite: Statistics and basic fisheries. An examination of population dynamics, community ecology, bioenergetics, fisheries models and other quantitative aspects of fisheries ecology. F, even years.

5403. Experimental Design and Analysis (4:3:2). Prerequisite: ISQS 5346, ANSC 5403, or BIOL 6502. Principles and applications of experimental design and analysis (completely randomized designs, randomized blocks, covariance analysis, factorials, split plots, repeated measures, regression). F, even years, and S.

5404. Aerial Terrain Analysis (4:2:4). Exploration of methods, the utilization of techniques, and evaluation of landscape using aerial photographs. An introduction to the theories, technical and practical aspects, and considerations of computer based geographic information systems in landscape planning, design, and management. F.

6000 Level Courses

6000. Master's Thesis (V1-6).

6001. Selected Topics in Range Science (V1-6). Advanced topics selected by departmental recommendation. May be repeated for credit in different subject areas.

6002. Selected Topics in Wildlife Science (V1-6). Advanced topics selected by departmental recommendation. May be repeated for credit in different subject areas.

6003. Selected Topics in Fisheries Science (V1-6). Advanced topics selected by departmental recommendation. May be repeated for credit in different subject areas.

6301. Research Methods (3:3:0). A review of the philosophy of science, scientific methods, research activities, and the planning and execution of research programs. F, even years.

6303. Imagery Interpretation for Natural Resource Management (3:2:2). An advanced course in the applications of imagery producing systems for use in the inventory, analysis, planning, and management of natural resources. Involves the use of satellite imagery, infrared and radar scanning systems, as well as advanced work in interpreting standard aerial photography. S.

6305. Geospatial Technologies in Natural Resource Management (3:2:2). Principles of geographic information systems and global positioning systems. Applications for natural resource inventory, planning, and management are emphasized.

6324. Advanced Tropical Ecology and Conservation (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. A survey of tropical ecology for advanced students. Both theory and practice will be covered. Field trips required.

7000 Level Courses

7000. Research (V1-12).

7210. Teaching Practicum (2:0:4). Prerequisite: Doctoral student in range, wildlife, or fisheries science program and AGED 5310. Supervised teaching experience at the university level.

8000 Level Courses

8000. Doctor's Dissertation (V1-12).

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