Daniel H. Pletscher, Professor, Wildlife Biology Director
Wildlife Biology is the study of wild animals, their habitats,
and their conservation. The Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology
degree constitutes the preprofessional training for future employment
in wildlife biology and management, and provides an excellent
background in general ecology. The educational requirements for
certification by The Wildlife Society can be met within the framework
of the undergraduate program.
While employment opportunities do exist in wildlife conservation
for students with the baccalaureate degree, many students plan
to continue their education through the master's degree to qualify
for wildlife management or research positions.
Three optional curricula are offered in the Wildlife Biology Program:
terrestrial, aquatic, and honors. All three options follow the
same schedule of courses for the freshman and most of the sophomore
year, then pursue different curricula for the last two years.
Each leads to a B.S. in Wildlife Biology.
The University is well suited for instruction in wildlife biology
because of the excellent opportunities for field instruction and
research, and the presence of such facilities as the Lubrecht
Experimental Forest, Yellow Bay Biological Station at Flathead
Lake, the Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station,
the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, and the Theodore
Roosevelt Memorial and Bandy ranches.
High School Preparation: In addition to general
University admission requirements, the student should elect four
years of mathematics and three years of science, including biology,
chemistry and physics.
Special Degree Requirements
Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog.
See index.
The Upper-division Writing Expectation must be met by successfully
completing BIOL 341 and two courses selected from BIOL 304, 306,
316, 366, WBIO 470, 497 (senior thesis).
The student must complete the requirements for one of the options
indicated below. A reading knowledge of a modern foreign language
is suggested for students electing preparation for graduate work
leading to a doctorate.
To obtain the B.S. in Wildlife Biology, the student must have
a 2.5 grade point average or higher in all courses taken at The
University of Montana.
Suggested sequence subject to frequent change. Some courses are
offered more than one semester/year.
Terrestrial and Aquatic Options
First Year |
Credits |
BIOL 103N Diversity of Life |
|
BIOL 104N Diversity of Life Laboratory |
|
CHEM 151N General Chemistry |
|
CHEM 152N General Chemistry |
|
CHEM 154N General Chemistry Laboratory |
|
ENEX 101 Composition |
|
WBIO 180 Careers in Natural Resources |
|
MATH 150 Applied Calculus |
|
Electives and General Education |
8-14 |
Summer |
|
Experiential Learning 2
(Most students will attend either Natural Resources Measurements
Camp or the Yellow Bay Biological Station. For exceptions,
see the Wildlife Biology Office.) |
|
Second Year |
|
BIOL 221 Cell and Molecular Biology |
|
BIOL 223 Genetics and Evolution |
|
BIOL 350* Rocky Mountain Flora |
|
COMM 111A Introduction to Public Speaking |
|
MATH 241 Statistics |
|
FOR 220 Technical Writing |
|
Electives and General Education |
|
*BIOL 350 is not required for the Aquatic option
Terrestrial Option
Third Year |
Credits |
Two of the following:
BIOL 304 Ornithology 4
BIOL 306 Mammalogy 4
BIOL 308 Biology and Management of Fishes 4 |
|
And one of the following:
WBIO 410 Wildlife Policy and Biopolitics 3
WBIO 475 Case Histories in Conservation Policy 3
FOR 422 Natural Resources Policy and Administration 3 |
|
And one of the following:
FOR 347 Multiple Resource Silviculture 3
FOR 360 Range Management 3 |
|
BIOL 340 Ecology |
|
BIOL 341 Ecology Lab |
|
WBIO 370 Wildlife Habitat Conservation |
|
Electives and General Education |
|
Fourth Year |
|
WBIO 470 Conservation of Wildlife Populations |
3 |
WBIO 494 Senior Seminar |
|
BIOL 345 Principles of Physiology |
3 |
FOR 480 Forest/Range Plan and Design |
|
Electives and General Education |
|
Aquatic Option
Third Year |
Credits |
BIOL 308 Biology and Management of Fishes |
|
BIOL 309 Invertebrate Biology |
|
BIOL 340 Ecology |
|
BIOL 341 Ecology Lab |
|
BIOL 345 Principles of Physiology |
|
BIOL 366 Freshwater Ecology |
|
WBIO 410 Wildlife Policy and Biopolitics or FOR 422 Natural
Resource Policy and Administration or WBIO 475 Case Histories
in Conservation Policy |
|
Electives and General Education |
|
Fourth Year |
|
WBIO 494 Senior Seminar |
|
BIOL 316 Plant Form and Function |
5 |
BIOL 408 Advanced Fisheries Science |
|
FOR 385 Watershed Hydrology |
|
FOR 480 Forest/Range Planning and Design |
|
Electives and General Education |
|
Wildlife Biology Honors Emphasis
The honors curriculum is designed particularly for students
with strong academic records who intend to do graduate work. Entrance
into this emphasis is open only to students who, at the beginning
of the junior year of the wildlife biology program, have a grade
point average of 3.5 or above and who petition the faculty for
entrance.
Honors students must complete either WBIO 370, 470 and 494 (terrestrial
option) or BIOL 308, 366 and WBIO 494 (aquatic option). Honors
students are encouraged to enroll also in WBIO 497 Senior Thesis.
The balance of the coursework for the junior and senior years
will be developed in consultation with the honors student's faculty
advisor and committee appointed by the director of the wildlife
biology program.
All students in the honors emphasis are required to meet with
their faculty advisors prior to autumn semester registration of
their junior and senior years to work out their course schedules.
Requirements for a Minor
To earn a minor in wildlife biology, the student must successfully
complete the following coursework: BIOL 103N, 104N, 201N, 350;
FOR 275; FOR 330 or 360; WBIO 180, 270.
Courses
U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or
graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates
the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated
after the R.
Wildlife Biology (WBIO)
U 105N Wildlife and People 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Intended for non-wildlife majors. Interactions of wildlife and
people in today's society.
U 180 Careers in Natural Resources 2 cr. Offered
autumn and spring. Same as FOR 180, RECM 180. Subject matter and
fields of study within natural resources management. Topics include
forestry, wildlife biology, range, water, recreation management,
forest products production and other areas of opportunity for
students seeking careers in natural resources.
U 195 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 6) Offered
intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors,
experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of
current topics.
U 240 Introduction to Biostatistics 3 cr. Offered
autumn even-numbered years. Prereq., calculus and consent of instr.
Introduction to statistical ecology: distributions, hypothesis
testing, and fitting models to data with emphasis on problems
in ecological sampling.
U 245 Science Writing 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq.,
ENEX 101 or equiv. Discussion of different types of science writing
and focus on methods to achieve more fluent prose. Includes material
on logic, inference, and developing arguments that rely on data.
U 270 Wildlife Management Issues 2 cr. Offered
autumn. An exploration of wildlife conservation issues and problems
facing wildlife managers; suggestions for solutions. For wildlife
biology majors.
U 295 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 6) Offered
intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors,
experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of
current topics.
UG 370 Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management 3
cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., junior standing
in wildlife biology, an ecology class, or consent of instr. Application
of principles of wildlife biology to conservation and management
of wild bird and mammal habitats including field applications.
UG 373 Wildlife Techniques 2 cr. Offered spring.
Prereq., any statistics course; one 300 level ecology or wildlife
biology course. Lab and field oriented class in commonly used
wildlife research and management techniques.
U 374 Hunter Check Stations 1 cr. (R-2) Offered
autumn. Students learn techniques for determining species, age
and sex of game animals, then work 3-5 days as volunteers at hunter
check stations operated by management agencies.
U 395 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 12) Offered
intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors,
experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of
current topics.
U 396 Independent Study 1 6 cr. (R 6) Offered
every term.
U 398 Cooperative Education Experience Variable cr. (R-15)
Offered every term. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom
experience that provides practical application of classroom learning
during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained
from the faculty supervisor and the Center for Work-Based Learning.
UG 410 Wildlife Policy and Biopolitics 3 cr. Offered
autumn. Overview of the laws affecting wildlife and how those
laws are initiated, implemented, and enforced; impact of politics,
interest groups, and agency jurisdictions.
UG 441 Field Methods in Fishery Biology and Management
1 4 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., BIOL 308
or 357; consent of instr. Same as BIOL 415. Field instruction
by practicing biologists in techniques for evaluating and managing
aquatic habitats and fish populations.
UG 446 Wildlife Physiological Ecology 3 cr. Offered
spring. Same as BIOL 446. Prereq., BIOL 221, 223 and 340. How
physiological and biochemical processes in animals influence behavior
and ecology. Application of physiological approaches to wildlife
conservation such as assessment of animal health, nutritional
condition, and physiological performance.
UG 460 International Wildlife Conservation Issues 2 cr.
Offered spring. Prereq., a course in wildlife biology
and/or conservation biology. Review of major international wildlife
conservation issues with emphasis on the social context of the
issues and applied solutions.
UG 470 Conservation of Wildlife Populations 3 cr.
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., 300 level animal ecology class,
WBIO 370, and senior standing. Application of population ecology
principles and theory to the conservation and management of wildlife
populations.
UG 472 Wildlife Handling and Veterinary Perspectives 2
cr. Offered spring. Field techniques associated with
wildlife capture and handling. Ethical and legal issues, field
organization, animal care and handling, chemical immobilization,
veterinary emergencies and human safety.
UG 475 Case Histories in Conservation Policy 3 cr.
Offered spring. Prereq., senior or graduate standing in conservation
major or consent of instr. Understanding development and primary
aspects of conservation policy. Exercises in policy analysis as
individuals and in team efforts.
UG 494 Senior Wildlife Seminar 1 cr. Offered
autumn and spring. Prereq., senior standing in wildlife biology
or consent of instr. Analysis and discussion led by students of
current topics in wildlife biology.
UG 495 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 12) Offered
intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors,
new courses, or one time offerings of current topics.
U 496 Independent Study Variable cr. (R 10) Offered
every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Original investigations
or problems not related to student's thesis.
U 497 Senior Thesis 1 3 cr. (R 6) Offered autumn
and spring. Prereq., consent of instr.; senior standing. Preparation
of major paper based on study or research of a topic selected
with an advisor according to needs and objectives of student.
U 498 Cooperative Education Experience 1 6 cr.
(R 6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of department. Extended
classroom experience that provides practical application of classroom
learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be
obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Center for Work-Based
Learning.
G 540 Experimental Design 3 cr. Offered autumn
even-numbered years. Prereq., introductory statistics course or
consent of instr. Examination of study designs for experiments,
quasi-experiments, observational studies, and sampling surveys
with an emphasis on application.
G 542 Current Issues in Biometrics 1 cr. (R-3)
Offered every term. Prereq., introductory statistics course or
consent of instr. Exploration of current topics in biometrics
through discussions, student presentations, and analysis.
G 560 Wildlife Landscape Ecology 3 cr. Offered
spring. Examination of how various spatial and temporal scales
influence wildlife and their habitats.
G 562 Wildlife Habitat, Structure and Function 3 cr.
Offered spring. Prereq., For 330, 360; WBIO 370; or consent of
instr. Study of selected topics in habitat classification and
analysis, and animal habitat interactions.
G 570 Applied Population Ecology 3 cr. Offered
spring even-numbered years. Prereq., courses in ecology, statistics,
and calculus. Application of advanced population ecology tools
and concepts to the evaluation of human perturbations on wildlife
populations. Topics include methods to detect declining trends,
the interacting components of population viability analysis, and
identification of strategies to reverse declines.
G 572 Statistical Approaches in Applied Ecology 3 cr.
Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., one semester of 400-level
statistics/biometry or consent of instr. Comparison and overview
of statistical approaches commonly used in applied ecology, including
frequentist/ANOVA models, information theoretic and Bayesian methods.
G 575 Frontiers in Conservation Research 2 cr. (R-6)
Offered autumn. Prereq., upper-level course in conservation genetics
or populations genetics. Same as BIOL 575. Exploration of current
topics in conservation biology with emphasis on genetic issues
in conservation.
G 576 Ecological Modeling and Analysis 2-3 cr.
Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Investigation of
mathematical and statistical problems in ecology and wildlife
biology. Specific material each semester is determined by student
interest.
G 580 Readings in Population Dynamics 1 cr. (R-6)
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Discussion
of recent papers on interface of population dynamics, ecological
interactions, and wildlife management.
G 594 Graduate Seminar in Wildlife Biology 1 cr.
(R 3) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., graduate standing in
wildlife biology or consent of instr. Analysis of selected problems
in wildlife biology and conservation.
G 595 Special Topics Variable cr. (R 12) Offered
intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors,
experimental offerings of new courses, or one time offerings of
current topics.
G 596 Independent Study Variable cr. (R 10) Offered
every term. Prereq., graduate standing and consent of instr. Original
investigations or problems not related to student's thesis.
G 597 Research Variable cr. Offered every term.
Prereq., graduate standing in wildlife biology or consent of instr.
Graded pass/not pass only.
G 599 Professional Paper Variable cr. (R 6) Offered
every term. Prereq., graduate standing in wildlife biology and
consent of instr. Professional paper written in the area of the
student's major interest based on either primary or secondary
research. Subject matter must be approved by graduate committee.
Graded pass/not pass only.
G 697 Research 1 15 cr. (R 15) Offered every
term.
G 699 Thesis Variable cr. (R 10) Offered every
term. Prereq., graduate standing in wildlife biology. Preparation
of thesis.
Faculty
Professors
Donald J. Bedunah, Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 1982
Perry J. Brown, Ph.D., Utah State University, 1971 (Dean)
Edwin J. Burke, Ph.D., Colorado State University, 1978
C. Les Marcum, Ph.D., The University of Montana, 1975
Stephen F. McCool, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1970
Alan McQuillan, Ph.D., University of Montana, 1981
Kelsey Milner, Ph.D., The University of Montana, 1987
Daniel H. Pletscher, Ph.D., Yale University, 1982 (Director, Wildlife
Biology Program)
Donald F. Potts, Ph.D., State University of New York, 1979 (Associate
Dean)
LLoyd Queen, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 1988
Steven W. Running, Ph.D., Colorado State University, 1979
Stephen F. Siebert, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1990
Jack Ward Thomas, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, 1972
Ronald H. Wakimoto, Ph.D., University of California, 1978
E. Earl Willard, Ph.D., Utah State University, 1971
Hans R. Zuuring, Ph.D., Iowa State University, 1975
Associate Professors
Paul B. Alaback, Ph.D., Oregon State University, 1980
William T. Borrie, Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University, 1995
James A. Burchfield, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1991
Thomas H. DeLuca, Ph.D., Iowa State University, 1993
Carl Fiedler, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1990 (Research)
Wayne A. Freimund, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1993
Hayley Hesseln, Ph.D., Colorado State University, 1996
L. Scott Mills, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz, 1993
Ramakrishna Nemani, Ph.D., The University of Montana, 1987 (Research)
Norma Nickerson, Ph.D., University of Utah, 1989 (Research)
Mike Patterson, Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University, 1993
Diana Six, Ph.D., University of California, Riverside, 1997
Assistant Professors
Woodam Chung, Ph.D., Oregon State University, 2002
Elizabeth Crone, Ph.D., Duke University, 1995
Lisa A. Eby, Ph.D., Duke University, 2001
John M. Goodburn, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1999
R. Neil Moisey, Ph.D., The University of Montana, 1997
Martin Nie, Ph.D., Northern Arizona, 1998
David Naugle, Ph.D., South Dakota State University, 1998
Scott Woods, Ph.D., Colorado State University, 2001
Emeritus Professors
David H. Jackson, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1975
Thomas J. Nimlos, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1959
Robert D. Pfister, Ph.D., Washington State University, 1972
Robert R. Ream, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1963
Robert W. Steele, Ph.D., Colorado State University, 1975