Dr. Rick A. Sweitzer 205 Starcher Hall  Phone: 777-4676 richard_sweitzer@und.nodak.edu Office hrs:  TTh  10:30-1200

COURSE OVERVIEW
GRADING
    Group Project 1
    Group Project 2
CLASS SCHEDULE

COURSE TEXTBOOKS:

Demarais, S., and P, R Krausman.  2000. Ecology and Management of Large Mammals
in North America.  2000.  (Required and available at UND Bookstore)

Taylor, V. J., and N. Dunstone.  1996. The exploitation of mammal populations.  415 pp.
(Not required, referred to as SUP 1 in course schedule)

Kleiman, D. G., M. E. Allen, K. V. Thompson, S. Lumpkin.  1996.  Wild Mammals in Captivity.  639 pp.
(Not required, referred to as SUP 2)

NOTE: Copies of key chapters from supplemental texts and assigned journal articles will be provided
 

This is a bison

This is a buffalo

COURSE INFORMATION:
        Large mammals are of keen interest among the public because of they are often diurnally active and therefore viewable, inhabitat natural areas increasingly used for recreation, provide subsistence and sport hunting opportunities, are aesthetically and spiritually important for many groups of people, and are potentially dangerous to livestock and humans.  Because of their large body sizes and associated habitat requirements, large mammals are among the first groups of organisms to decline due to habitat loss or overexploitation.  Therefore, effective management and conservation programs are critical to the maintenance of free ranging populations of large mammals.  This course will provide an in depth overview of management and conservation activities associated with large mammals both in North America and in other parts of the world.

COURSE GRADING:
        Your course grades will be based on (1) weekly short quizzes covering assigned readings, (2) approximate bi-weekly questions sets, (3) a group project (Group Project 1) to prepare an in class presentation on the management of a large mammal speciesin North America, and (4) a group project (Group Project 2) research paper combined with an in class presentation on an international conservation problem/issue for a large mammal or group of large mammals.  Groups will consist of 3 students each.

Quizzes (8-10 @5 pts each): 4-8  questions on assigned papers relevant to lecture materials

Bi-weekly question sets (4-5@ 50 points each):  will consist of multiple choice questions, short answers, essays, and problem sets.  Take home question sets will be available on Friday afternoons and due by noon on Tuesday of the following week.

Group project 1 (50 points): Detailed outlines of lecture/presentation materials will be provided at class time (25 points) followed by a 20-30 minute presentation (25 points)

Group project 2 (150-200 pts): Research papers will be due on November 30 (100 points possible).  Grading of the paper will be based on format (10 points), grammar (20 points), and content (70 points).  Groups will provide an abstract including a detailed outline of the research paper at the time of their in class presentation (25 points), followed by a 20-30 minute presentation (25 points).  For Graduate Students, a poster will be required for an additional 50 possible points.

Grade Assignments: A = 100-90%, B =  89-80%, C = 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = less than 59%

GROUP PROJECT 1 (50 points): Management of a Large Mammal in North America Lecture Presentation

        This project will involve using your textbook and other primary literature sources to prepare an in class slide presentation-based lecture reviewing the management of a large mammals species in North America. Your group will work together on the presentation with each group member presenting a part of the management review.  Current or former students in Biol 431will need to select different species for Group Project 1 management presentations.

        Grading of Lecture/Management presentations will be based on outlines provided to the class (25 points) and quality of the presentation (25 points).  I can/will provide assistance with Powerpoint presentations, scanning images, figures, maps. Each group will also provide a set of 5 questions relevant to their species management project to be considered for use for bi-weekly question sets.
 

North American Mammal Management Species Group Project 1 List:
    1. Wolves
    2. Puma or mountain lion
    3. Black bear
    4. Brown bear
    5. Mountain goats
    6. Dall’s and Stone
    7. Moose
    8. Muskox
    9. Pronghorn
    10. Moose
    11. White-tailed deer
    12. Mule deer
    13. Caribou
    14. North American Elk
    15. Wild/feral horses
 

 

GROUP PROJECT 2 (150-200 points):  Research Paper and Presentation on an International Conservation Issue Involving a Large Mammal or Group of Large Mammals

White rhino

        This project will involve using the primary literature to research and prepare a term paper covering an important current conservation issue involving a large mammal or group of large mammals.  I will strongly encourage that this project be based around an international wildlife problem, but some U.S.-based issues may be possible.  In addition to a detailed 8-10 page fully referenced paper (100 points), each group will prepare and present their paper before the class (50 points).  Graduate students enrolled in the class will be additionally required to convert their paper into a poster for display in the department (50 points).
 
 

African elephant populations are recovering in reserve areas where they are damaging vegetation.  Controversial culling programs are being used to control numbers

Giant pandas continue to decline in the wild  in China

      Although the large mammal conservation issue topics will vary, the central theme will be to identify the major management problems contributing to the conservation concern/issue for the species or group of species.  In essence, the task of each group will be to consolidate what is known about their large mammal conservation issue, identify and evaluate the relative importance of each population limiting factor, critically evaluate how proposed or ongoing programs are dealing with these factors, and synthesize the information into a relatively concise research paper.

        After independently forming groups with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 members, I will meet with each group separately to discuss projects (beginning in early October).  I will be able to provide each group with some materials (published papers, book chapters, etc.) useful for initiating their respective project.  Additional materials will need to be identified and compiled by each group for their respective projects, but I will provide guidance on several methods/resources available for identifying appropriate primary literature.   Subsequent to our meetings, each group will then formulate a plan for completing their project detailing how each individual will contribute.  These group project plans will be turned in for evaluation and comment (due October 19).

        Group projects will be graded on both the write-up (100 points) and the organization and content of the classroom presentation (50 points). Prior to the classroom presentations/discussion sessions, each group will provide handout materials to the class including an abstract of their project paper, an outline of their research paper, and any other materials the group considers relevent to the presentation.   Each group will also provide a set of 5 questions relevant to their large mammal conservation issue project to be considered for use for the final bi-weekly question sets (final exam).
 

Large Mammal Conservation Issue Group Project 2 Topic List (not exhaustive):
 

1. Management and Conservation of Bighorn Sheep Populations  in California 2. Effects of Fish Stock Depletion on Marine Mammals in Alaska 3. Grizzly Bear Conservation Efforts and Proposed Reintroduction in Northern Idaho 4. Conservation Genetic Concerns with African Felids 5. Management Approaches for Protecting and Conserving Black and White Rhinoceroses in Africa 6. Potential Effects of Climate-change on Polar Bear Populations in the Circumpolar Arctic 7. Management Conflicts over Expanding Elephant Populations in African Reserves 8. Management and Conservation of Mountain and Lowland Gorillas in Africa 9. Giant Panda Management and Conservation in China 10. Control of Trade in Wildlife Parts for Conserving Mammals 11. Conservation of Tigers in Russia or India 12. Conflict with proposed oil development and large mammals (caribou, wolves, bears) in the Arctic 13. Conflicts over management/human disturbance to Cetaceans and whaling 14. Conflicts over increasing and expanding wolf populations in North America 15. Diseases in African Canids 16. Exotic mammals on islands (New Zealand, Galapagoes, etc.)

Polar bear on pack ice   Blue whale and calf

 

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULING (subject to change)

WEEK OF         LECTURE TOPICS/SCHEDULING NOTES                         READINGS

AUG 27	Course overview, Taxonomy and conservation of biodiversity	TEXT - Chapter 1
SEPT 4	Human values and uses of large mammals Monday, September 3, Labor Day Holiday  Group Projects 1 assigned by Friday	TEXT - Chapter 3 SUP 1 - Chapter 1
SEP 10	Historical dimensions in management/exploitation of mammals Group Projects 2 assigned by Friday	TEXT - Chapter 15 SUP 1 - Chapter 2
SEP 17	SEP 17 Population biology	TEXT - Chapters 4, 5
SEP 24	Population regulation and nutritional ecology	TEXT - Chapters 6,8 SUP 2 - Chapters 11-14
OCT 1	Harvesting and sustainable use, Game ranching	TEXT - Chapters 7, 10 SUP 1 - Chapter 14
OCT 8	Human dimensions and Conflict resolution	TEXT - Chapter 11 SUP 1 - Chapter 13
OCT 15	Behavior and ecological considerations for management Group Project 2 Plan due by Friday	TEXT - Chapter 9 SUP 1 - Chapter 21 SUP 2 - Chapter 33
OCT 22	Genetic considerations, Management of captive mammals	TEXT - Chapter 12 SUP 2 - Chapter 25
OCT 29	Wildlife trade and international conservation conventions	SUP 1 - Chapters 13, 15
NOV 5	Management of marine mammals (Cetaceans & Pinnipeds)	SUP 1 - Chapters 8, 22
NOV 13	Group Project 1 presentations November 12  - Veterans Day Holiday	TEXT - TBA
NOV 19	Group Project 1 presentations	TEXT - TBA
NOV 26	Group Project 2 presentations/discussions	Abstracts/outlines/articles TBA
DEC 3	Group Project 2 presentations/discussions	Abstracts/outlines/articles TBA
DEC 10	Group Project 2 presentations/discussions	Abstracts/outlines/articles TBA
DEC 18	Final Question Set Due by 3:15 p.m.	Abstracts/outlines/articles TBA