PROFESSOR: Dr. Alton Harestad (harestad@sfu.ca)             OFFICE: SSB8153 (Phone: 291-4809)

PREREQUISITES: BISC 304, BISC 316 recommended

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The primary objectives of BISC 419 are to examine principles of wildlife biology and study wildlife-habitat relationships. In lectures, requirements (energy, nutrients, water, cover, and space) and habitats of wildlife are treated in detail. Principles of population growth and regulation are reviewed to understand the dynamics of wildlife populations and their implications to conservation biology. Ecology and behaviour are studied to interpret the biological bases which determine the ways wildlife respond to forestry, agricultural, and recreational practices. Principles of conservation biology are reviewed in the context of forest practices, wildlife populations and biodiversity. Management and conservation of wildlife and their habitats are discussed with emphasis on mammals and birds in British Columbia. In laboratory sessions, students learn to identify major mammal and bird species in British Columbia. Methods of assessing wildlife populations and their habitats are examined. Techniques used to study wildlife are discussed.

LECTURE TEXTBOOK:

Bolen, E. and W. Robinson. 1995. Wildlife Ecology and Management. 3rd Edition. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. (NOT required)

EXAMS and MARK ALLOCATIONS:

Lecture	60%	Laboratory	40%
Midterm Exam	18%	Lab Exam	15%
Final Exam	32%	Lab Assignments	25%
Problem Analysis	10%

Lectures begin in week of 5-9 January.
Laboratory sessions begin in week of 12-16 January.