91ÉçÇø

Wildlife Biology (24 credits)

Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences     Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)

Program Requirements

This specialization focuses on the ecology of vertebrate animals, their biological and physical environment, and the interactions that are important in the management of ecological communities and wildlife species. Students have access to local wildlife resources including the Avian Science and Conservation Centre, the 91ÉçÇø Arboretum, the Stonycroft Wildlife Area, the Molson Reserve, and the Ecomuseum.

For information on academic advising, see:

Required Courses (15 credits)

  • ENVB 529 GIS for Natural Resource Management (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Environmental Biology : Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the presentation and analysis of ecological information, including sources and capture of spatial data; characterizing, transforming, displaying spatial data; and spatial analysis to solve resource management problems.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Cardille, Jeffrey; Adamchuk, Viacheslav; Dhiman, Jaskaran (Fall)

    • Prerequisite(s): At least one environmental science course and one ecology course or permission of instructor

    • Restriction(s): U2 students and above. Not open to students who have taken GEOG 201, GEOG 306 or GEOG 307, ENVB/BREE 430, or BREE 529. Limited to 32 students.

    • Fall

  • WILD 307 Natural History of Vertebrates (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Resource Development : The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Humphries, Murray (Fall)

    • This course carries an additional charge of $20.54 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.

  • WILD 350 Mammalogy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Resource Development : This course focuses on the evolution, classification, ecology and behaviour of mammals and relations between humans and mammals. Also structure, systematics and identification of local and world mammals, as well as field methods will be emphasized.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Humphries, Murray (Winter)

    • Prerequisites: AEBI 211 and WILD 307

    • An additional fee of $19.58 is charged to all students registered in WILD 350, Mammalogy, a course that has a required field trip.

  • WILD 401 Fisheries and Wildlife Management (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Resource Development : Principles of fisheries and wildlife management are considered and current practices of research and management are discussed.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Humphries, Murray; Elliott, Kyle; McKinney, Melissa; Roy, Denis (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: WILD 307 and ENVB 305 or permission of the instructor.

    • A fee is charged to all students registered in WILD 401, Fisheries and Wildlife Management, a course that has a required field trip. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, accommodations, food and fees associated with visiting research facilities where final projects are devised, and data are collected in the field (e.g., at the SUNY-ESF Adirondaks Ecological Center in Newcomb, New York). The Department of Natural Resource Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost of this compulsory activity.

    • A fee of $410.60 is charged to all students registered in WILD 401, Fisheries and Wildlife Management, a course that has a required field trip. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, accommodations, food and fees associated with visiting research facilities where final projects are devised, and data are collected in the field (e.g., at the SUNY-ESF Adirondaks Ecological Center in Newcomb, New York). The Department of Natural Resource Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost of this compulsory activity.

  • WILD 420 Ornithology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Resource Development : Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds. Examination of the physiology, migration, identification and ecological processes of North American birds.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Elliott, Kyle (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: WILD 307 or permission of instructor

    • This course carries an additional charge of $20.54 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.

Complementary Courses (9 credits)

9 credits from the following:

  • BIOL 307 Behavioural Ecology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : How an organism’s behaviour relates to its physical, biological, and social environment, using evolutionary and ecological perspectives. Emphasis is on general principles, covering topics such feeding, predator avoidance, aggression, reproduction, social behaviour, communication and cognition.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Reader, Simon; Guigueno, Mélanie (Winter)

    • Winter

    • In some weeks, lecture will be replaced by interactive discussion periods, practical exercises, or student presentations

    • Prerequisites: BIOL 215 and BIOL 216 (or equivalents), or permission of the instructor

  • BIOL 427 Herpetology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Biology (Sci) : Principles of biology as exemplified by amphibians and reptiles. Topics include: adaptation, social behaviour, reproductive strategies, physiology, biomechanics, ecology, biogeography and evolution. Laboratories will emphasize structure, systematics and identification of local and world herpetofauna as well as field methods.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Green, David M (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 2 hours lecture; 3 hours laboratory

    • Prerequisite: BIOL 205 and BIOL 305 or permission of instructor.

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken BIOL 327.

  • ENVB 437 Assessing Environmental Impact (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Environmental Biology : Principles and practice of Environmental Assessment (EA) in Canada and internationally. Exploration of issues surrounding impact assessment for sustainable development in different sectors, including their limitations.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Hickey, Gordon (Winter)

    • Open to U2 students and above.

  • ENVB 506 Quantitative Methods: Ecology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Environmental Biology : The process of formulating models of natural systems and confronting them with data, along with the necessary statistical computing skills. Emphasis on hands-on experience with current approaches for building, fitting, and comparing models.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Roy, Denis (Winter)

    • Winter

    • Prerequisites: AEMA 310 and ENVB 305; or graduate student status; or permission of instructor

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken AEMA 306 or AEMA 406.

  • PARA 424 Fundamental Parasitology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Parasitology (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Parasitology : Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Opadokun, Tosin (Winter)

    • Prerequisite(s): AEBI 211 or LSCI 230 or permission of instructor

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WILD 424.

  • PLNT 358 Flowering Plant Diversity (3 credits)

    Offered by: Plant Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Plant Science : Principles of classification and identification of flowering plants and ferns, with emphasis on 35 major families of flowering plants and the habitats in which they grow.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Beauregard, Frieda (Fall)

    • A 4-day field week is held the week preceding the start of classes

    • Prerequisite: AEBI 210 or ENVR 202 or permission of instructor

    • A $95.46 fee is charged to all students registered in this course, which has a fieldwork component prior to the beginning of classes in August. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, a hand lens, instructional handouts and identification aids. Students who have already received a hand lens may request a reimbursement of a portion of this charge through their department.

  • WILD 302 Fish Ecology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Resource Development : Introduction to the biology and ecology of freshwater and marine fishes. Topics include taxonomy, physiology, biogeography, competition, predation, fishing, and conservation. Lab exercises and field trips emphasize familiarity with local fishes and their ecological interactions.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Roy, Denis (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: AEBI 211 or permission of instructor

    • This course carries an additional charge of $41.07 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund

  • WILD 421 Wildlife Conservation (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Resource Development : Study of current controversial issues focusing on wildlife conservation. Topics include: animal rights, exotic species, ecotourism, urban wildlife, multi-use of national parks, harvesting of wildlife, biological controls, and endangered species.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Elliott, Kyle (Winter)

    • .

  • WILD 475 Desert Ecology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Resource Development : A three week field course exploring relationships between climate, geology, landforms, biodiversity, biotic adaptations and ecosystem conditions in the arid regions of Arizona and southern California. Focus is on the Sonoran and Mojave deserts but includes the transitions to adjacent grassland and forest biomes of the Sky Islands and Colorado Plateau. Exploration of issues arising from human use of land and water, and conservation in arid environments. Experiential learning involving team and individual projects and assignments before and during the field trip.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Odd-numbered Winter terms; enrollment limited to 20.

    • The course begins and ends in Phoenix AZ. Students are responsible for their transportation to/from Phoenix.

    • The course requires camping and living under desert conditions.

    • Restriction(s): Restricted to U2 and U3 students.

    • Prerequisite(s):Permission of the instructors is required to register. To be eligible students are required to have at least one systems-focused course, one ecology course and two organismal courses. Students should consult the instructors for list of appropriate courses.

    • A course fee of $1,596.23 covers the cost of transportation, camping, admissions and most meals during the field trip.

Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences—2024-2025 (last updated Sep. 4, 2024) (disclaimer)
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