Download Wildlife Management Course Outline

Wildlife Conservation & Management Course Outline
July, 2006
Unit 1: Introduction to Wildlife Management
Lesson 1: Define Wildlife Management
Objectives:
1. Define wildlife management, as it relates to both terrestrial and aquatic species
2. Compare wildlife management to other natural resource disciplines
3. Define terms and explain concepts related to wildlife conservation and management
Lesson 2: Importance of Wildlife Management
Objectives:
1. Explain the importance of wildlife resources to society and the environment
2. Explain the economic impact of wildlife, and its management, at the local, state,
national levels
3. Explain the role of regulated sport hunting, fishing, and trapping in wildlife
management
Lesson 3: History of Wildlife Management
Objectives:
1. Create a timeline of major historical events and trends in wildlife management
philosophies and practices in the United States
2. Identify important people and their role in shaping modern wildlife management
principles
3. Compare modern strategies and current attitudes of wildlife management to historic
views
Lesson 4: Who is in charge of wildlife?
Objectives:
1. Define ownership of and jurisdiction over wildlife
2. Understand the political process regarding wildlife laws and regulations
3. List and describe the role of state and federal wildlife agencies in wildlife
management
4. Compare and contrast the roles of private and governmental organizations involved in
the conservation of wildlife resources
5. Identify key conflicts in regarding fish and wildlife management and discuss possible
solutions.
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Lesson 5: Career Opportunities in Wildlife Management
Objectives:
1. Describe some career opportunities in wildlife management
2. Explain the academic requirements for a career in wildlife management
3. List the major professional societies, and their role, as related to wildlife management
4. Describe the importance of being involved in a professional society
Unit 2: Wildlife Management Practices
Lesson 1: Habitat Management
Objectives:
1. Identify common practices to manipulate habitat characteristics in terrestrial
ecosystems
2. Describe the relationship between forest management and habitat management
3. Describe the difference between wild fire and prescribed fire the historical role that
fire played in North American ecosystems
4. Describe the role of prescribed fire in habitat management
5. Identify common practices to manipulate habitat characteristics in aquatic ecosystems
6. Describe the effects of each practice on game and non-game species
7. Conduct a field survey to evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed management
practices
8. Describe the application of supplemental planting for habitat improvement
Lesson 2: Pollution and its Effects on Wildlife and Their Habitats
Objectives:
1. Describe pollution and types of pollutants
2. Distinguish between point and non-point pollution
3. Explain how pollutants affect wildlife
4. Identify pollution sources that endanger wildlife
5. Identify strategies for preventing pollution of wildlife habitat
6. Identify strategies for restoring polluted habitats
Lesson 3: Habitat Mapping
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate the use of a hand held compass and topographic map
2. Demonstrate ability to interpret habitat types from aerial photos
3. Explain the purpose of habitat mapping
4. Describe and demonstrate use of a GPS technology to collect spatial data
5. Explain the application of GIS technology to create a cover type map
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6. Assess habitat characteristics from a cover type map
Lesson 4: Wildlife Management Plan
Objectives:
1. Identify management practices to improve habitat for selected species
2. Explain the components of a wildlife management plan
3. Create a wildlife management plan for a given area (terrestrial and aquatic) using
appropriate practices for improving habitat characteristics and conditions
4. Schedule practices to optimize effectiveness
Unit 3: Identification of Wildlife and Fish Species
Lesson 1: Game and Non-Game Wildlife
Objectives:
1. Describe how animals are named and classified
2. Differentiate between game and non-game species
3. Define the terms: rare, threatened, endangered, and extinct
4. Define the different classifications of game species
Lesson 2: Mammals
Objectives:
1. Identify common large mammals
2. Define the habitat of each species
3. List major food sources for each species
4. Describe behavioral traits of each species
5. Learn to identify common species from field sign, skulls, and skins
Lesson 3: Pelt and Study Skin Preparation
Objectives:
1. Identify different wildlife pelts
2. Demonstrate correct procedures of removing the pelt from the animal
3. Explain the procedures of pelt preparation
4. Demonstrate the correct method to prepare a pelt as a museum study specimen
(voucher specimen) including label and recording accurate data collection
Lesson 4: Birds
1. Identify common birds
2. Define the habitat of each species
3. List major food sources of each species
4. Describe behavioral traits of each species
5. Learn to identify common species from wings and study skins
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Lesson 5: Reptiles & Amphibians
Objectives:
1. Identify common reptiles & amphibians
2. Define the habitat of each species
3. List major food sources of each species
4. Describe behavioral traits of each species
Lesson 6: Fish
Objectives:
1. Identify common freshwater fish
2. Define the habitat of each species
3. List major food sources of each species
4. Describe behavioral traits of each species
Lesson 7: Freshwater Invertebrates
Objectives:
1. Identify common freshwater invertebrates
2. Identify the importance of freshwater invertebrates as indicators of habitat quality
3. Define the habitat of key species
4. List major food sources of each species
5. Describe behavioral traits of each species
Lesson 8: Nonnative Invasive Species
1. Define nonnative invasive species (terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals)
2. Lean to identify common nonnative invasive species of plants and animals
3. Define the habitat of each species
4. List major food sources of each species
5. Describe behavioral traits of each species that contributes to their classification as a
nuisance
6. Discuss prevention, non-lethal and lethal control methods for common nuisance
wildlife species
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Unit 4: Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping
Lesson 1: Hunting
Objectives:
1. Explain the role of hunting as a management tool
2. Summarize the role of harvest regulations in managing wildlife populations
3. Compare and contrast the official position of various groups and organizations on
regulated hunting as a wildlife management tool
4. Discuss the role of hunting as a recreational pursuit and the economic impact of
hunting
5. Discuss the role of the state wildlife agency to provide wildlife based recreational
opportunities to the public (including hunting)
Lesson 2: Fishing
Objectives:
1. Explain the role of fishing (commercial and sport) as a management tool
2. Summarize the reasons for harvest regulations in managing fish population
3. Compare and contrast the official position of various groups and organization on
regulated fishing as a management tool
4. Discuss the role of fishing as a recreational pursuit and the economic impact of
hunting
5. Discuss the role of the state wildlife agency to provide wildlife based recreational
opportunities to the public (including fishing)
Lesson 3: Trapping
Objectives:
1. Explain the role of trapping as a management tool
2. Summarize the role of trapping regulations in managing wildlife populations
3. Compare and contrast the official position of various groups and organizations on
regulated trapping as a wildlife management tool
4. Identify and describe different trapping techniques and equipment
5. Demonstrate correct safety procedures when handling traps and captured animals
6. Describe the relationship between trapping as a recreational/commercial pursuit and
animal damage control.
7. Discuss the role of the state wildlife agency to provide wildlife based recreational
opportunities to the public (including trapping)
Lesson 4: Outdoor Safety
Objectives:
1. Explain the causes of hunting and firearm accidents
2. Contrast the accident rates for hunting and firearms with other outdoor recreational
activities
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Identify ways hunting and firearm accidents can be prevented
Complete the state of Georgia Hunter Education Course
Explain the causes of boating & water related accidents
Identify ways boating & water related accidents can be prevented
Complete the state of Georgia Boating Safety Course
Learn to identify poisonous plants
Learn to identify venomous snakes and insects and how to minimize the chances of
being bitten
10. Learn the importance of the role that inclement weather can play in outdoor safety
Lesson 5: Conservation Ethics
Objectives:
1. List and explain the importance of hunter ethics
2. List and explain the importance of fishing ethics
3. List and explain the importance of ethics when viewing wildlife
4. Discuss laws and private property rights as they relate to hunting
Unit 5: Concepts of Wildlife Ecology
Lesson 1: Components and Functions of Ecosystems
Objectives:
1. Define the terms ‘ecology’ and ‘ecosystem’
2. List and describe different types of ecosystems in Georgia and the United States
3. List and describe the 5 different ecoregions in Georgia
4. Compare and contrast the components and functions of terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems
5. Explain biodiversity as related to wildlife populations
6. Explain the concept of food chains and food webs
Lesson 2: Wildlife Habitats
Objectives:
1. Define habitat and describe its components
2. Describe the differences and similarities between aquatic and terrestrial habitats
3. Explain plant succession and its relationship to wildlife habitat
4. Define carrying capacity in biological, social, and economic terms and explain their
significance to wildlife management
5. Describe concepts of edge, interspersion, and fragmentation
Lesson 3: Habitat needs and preferences for key species
Objectives:
1. What are habitat preferences
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2. Critical needs in habitat for key species
Unit 6: Concepts of Wildlife Biology
Lesson 1: Physiology and Anatomy of Wildlife
Objectives
1. Identify the distinguishing anatomical features of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and
amphibians
2. Describe the characteristics of a carnivore, omnivore, and herbivore, and give
examples of each for both aquatic and terrestrial species
3. Compare and contrast the differences between ruminant and monogastric mammals;
4. Compare and contrast the differences between cold water and warm water fishes
5. Compare and contrast the differences between fresh water and salt water fishes
Lesson 2: Wildlife Behavior
Objectives:
1. Explain the concepts of home range and territoriality
2. Explain the concept and role of migration
3. Explain the concept and role of hibernation, estivation, and torpor
4. Describe the mating systems of wildlife
5. Describe the various type of communication used by wildlife
6. Describe the social systems of wildlife
7. Explain biological rhythms such as circannual, diurnal, nocturnal, and crepuscular
Lesson 3: Wildlife Nutrition
Objectives:
1. Explain and identify the essential nutrient needs of wildlife
2. Differentiate between fat, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals
3. Explain how nutritional needs of wildlife are related to habitat
Lesson 4: Food and Feeding Strategies of Wildlife
Objectives:
1. Identify different food sources for wildlife
2. Describe feeding strategies for plant-eating animals, and list examples
3. Describe feeding strategies for carnivores, and list examples
4. Describe feeding strategies for omnivores, and list examples
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Unit 7: Wildlife Damage Management
Lesson 1: Human and Wildlife Conflicts
Objectives:
1. List conflicts between wildlife populations and human activities
2. Define the wildland-urban interface and how it related to human wildlife conflicts
3. Describe methods used to resolve human/wildlife conflicts
4. Recommend appropriate resolutions to human/wildlife conflict using examples and
case studies
Lesson 2: Wildlife Damage Management
Objectives:
1. Identify the roles of the private sector and governmental agencies responsible for
wildlife damage management
2. Identify common damage caused by wildlife
3. Describe common methods used to prevent wildlife damage
4. Describe the role of Integrated Pest Management and how it related to resolving
human-wildlife conflicts
Unit 8: Populations Dynamics
Lesson 1: Population Management
Objectives:
1. Define the concept of a population
2. Explain the importance of populations versus the importance of individuals in
wildlife management
3. Explain the concepts of limiting factors and surplus
4. Explain the relationship between carrying capacity, limiting factors and wildlife
populations
5. Distinguish between exponential and logistic population growth
6. Explain techniques used to estimate population abundance
Lesson 2: Biotic Potential
Objectives:
1. Define biotic potential, productivity, birth rate, and the death rate
2. Describe factors affecting birth rate and death rate
3. Explain calculation of birth and death rates for a population
4. Predict future population size using population parameters
5. Explain the principle of inversity
6. Explain the principles of compensatory and additive mortality
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Lesson 3: Species Interactions
1. Describe the role of predation on populations
2. Explain the difference between predation, competition, mutualism, parasitism, and
commensulism
Unit 9: Diseases and Parasites of Wildlife
Lesson 1: Diseases of Wildlife
Objectives:
1. Describe causative agents, clinical signs, and diagnosis of significant diseases found
in wildlife
2. Discuss the effects of diseases on wildlife populations
3. Explain the impact of wildlife diseases on human health and domestic animals
Lesson 2: Parasites of Wildlife
Objectives:
1. Describe clinical signs and diagnosis of common parasites found in wildlife
2. Discuss the effects of parasites on wildlife populations
3. Explain the impact of wildlife parasites on human health and domestic animals
Other Related Lessons
(To be provided by Ag Education Curriculum Director)
Unit 0: Introduction to Agriculture Education
Lesson 1: Benefits of FFA and Agricultural Education
Objectives:
1. Explain the benefits of enrolling in agricultural education
2. Explain the benefits of being an FFA member
3. Explain the steps in the FFA degree ladder
Lesson 2: Supervised Agricultural Experience Projects
Objectives:
1. Identify awards programs relative to individual interests
2. Explain why SAEP’s are important
3. Develop plans for a supervised agricultural experience program
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