Conservation Biology

Introduces the field of conservation biology as well as the conservation biology program at LMU. Engages in analysis of careers and topics of the field. Utilizing in-class discussions, career exploration assignments, and guest speakers, students will have the opportunity to begin building a plan for their education and future careers in conservation. Fall.

The course examines the meaning and significance of biodiversity from local to global scales. Current and emerging threats to biodiversity, including extinction, habitat fragmentation, land use change, over exploitation, invasive species, and global climate change are explored. Efforts to manage and maintain biodiversity, including how human activity impacts conservation efforts, natural resource policy and management, as well as the social, political and ethical decisions for conservation management are discussed. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Spring

Introduces the principles of wildlife conservation and management. Explores the history and philosophy behind the North American model of wildlife management, structured decision making, wildlife population dynamics, habitat, and animal behavior. Utilizing hands-on experience, primary literature, lectures, and case studies, students will have the opportunity to establish a foundational understanding of wildlife management. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Fall even years.

This course focuses on the production and stocking, harvesting and management of freshwater game fish species including management of fish populations in small ponds, larger reservoirs and rivers. State and federal regulations on commercial and recreational harvest will be reviewed. Students will learn about options for management and assessment of fish populations in both cold and warm water systems. Case studies will highlight management challenges for wild fish populations under threat from invasive species. Students will investigate issues surrounding the use of hatchery fish for conservation, restoration and enhancement of fisheries. In the latter portion of the class, assessment and management of nongame freshwater fish species will be discussed. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Corequisite: CBIO 220L lab, 1 credit hour. Spring even years.

This lab focuses on application of fisheries management techniques discussed in lecture. Common sampling methods and equipment will be used for data acquisition and analysis. Field trips will be made to regional hatcheries and more. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Corequisite: CBIO 220 lecture, 3 credit hours. Spring even years.

This course will introduce students to the deciduous ecosystem of Appalachia. The focus will be on living and physical components and species interactions within this system. This is a hybrid course that will consist of several in-person meetings and a field trip. Students will engage in two group projects to gain experience in observational investigation, drawing conclusions from these observations, and exploring the limitations of the project data. These projects will serve as the lab component of this course. An appreciation of the natural environment and its complexity will be emphasized.  Fall.

An introduction to the basic physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils, as well as the importance of soils and soil conservation to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and human populations. Major areas of study include soil formation, taxonomy, the basic physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, soilwater relationships, the development and maintenance of soil organic matter, the role of soils in nutrient cycling and management, the causes of soil degradation, and techniques for soil conservation and remediation. Pre-requisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of CHEM 111 and lab. Corequisite: CBIO 250L lab, 1 credit hour. Fall odd years.

This course is predominantly a field-based laboratory, though some samples will be collected and then processed in the laboratory. There is a strong focus on learning how to describe soils in the field, including a mandatory Saturday field trip. Basic soils analysis includes bulk density, loss-on-ignition, leaf litter decomposition, and soils texture determination. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of CHEM 111 with lab. Corequisite: CBIO 250 lecture, 3 credit hours. Fall odd years.

Classification, distribution, natural history, anatomy and physiology, and evolution of the fishes, with emphasis on local species. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Corequisite: CBIO 330L lab, 1 credit hour. Fall odd years.

This lab includes hands-on dissection, field trips, anatomy of preserved specimens, and identification of major lineages of fishes. Emphasis will be placed on classifying species using scientific keys. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Corequisite: CBIO 330 lecture, 3 credit hours. Fall odd years.

Classification, distribution, natural history, anatomy and physiology, and evolution of amphibians and reptiles, with emphasis on local species. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Corequisite: CBIO 340L lab 1 credit hour. Spring odd years.

Classification, distribution, natural history, anatomy, physiology, and ecology of amphibians and reptiles through both laboratory and field exercises with emphasis on local species. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Co-requisite: CBIO 340 lecture, 3 credit hours. Spring odd years.

Explores the evolution, anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavior, and conservation of birds. Utilizing lectures, case studies, and discussion of primary literature, students will have the opportunity to establish a foundational understanding of the Class Aves and their conservation. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL111 and 112 with labs. Corequisite: CBIO 350L lab, 1 credit hour. Spring even years.

Explores anatomy, ecology, behavior, utilizing field and laboratory techniques used by ornithologists and conservation biologists. Students will have the opportunity to develop aural and visual identification skills, explore avian anatomy and behavior, and generate and analyze data. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL111 and 112 with labs. Corequisite: CBIO 350 lecture, 3 credit hours. Spring even years.

Classification, distribution, natural history, anatomy and physiology, and evolution of mammals, with emphasis on local species. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Corequisite: CBIO 360L lab, 1 credit hour. Fall even years.

Classification, distribution, natural history, anatomy, physiology, and ecology of mammals through both laboratory and field exercises with emphasis on local species. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 111 and 112 with labs. Co-requisite: CBIO 360 lecture, 3 credit hours. Fall even years.

This course will introduce students to U.S. environmental policy and the concept of managing natural resources at the landscape scale. The first portion of this course will provide an introduction to federal natural resource management agencies, as well as the federal statutes that govern land-use and management of natural resources. In the second portion of this course, students will be introduced to the principles of landscape ecology and use primary literature to examine the relationship between U.S. environmental policy, land-use patterns, and ecological processes at the landscape scale. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of ENGL 102. Fall even years.

The seminar course explores advanced topics in the conservation of biological diversity via two major emphases. Emphasis 1: Foundational and current papers in the primary literature are critiqued and discussed. A wide range of conservation topics, including but not limited to, captive breeding, species reintroductions, reserve design, management of ecosystems and endangered species as well as conservation tools are explored. Each meeting consists of a brief summary lecture (initially by the instructor, but later by the student) followed by required discussions. The student will, in consultation with the instructor, select discussion papers, develop a brief lecture, and facilitate the discussion. Emphasis 2: Hands-on experience will be gained via exercises in solving the types of problems typically encountered by conservation biologists. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 200, BIOL 370 with lab, two biodiversity courses and senior standing, or permission of instructor. Spring.

This course provides an overview of wetland ecology, management, and policy. We will explore how wetlands are defined, the history of wetland attitudes and values, and wetland ecosystem services. Wetland ecosystems addressed will include tidal marshes, mangroves, and peatlands, but will focus mostly on freshwater marshes, swamps, and riparian wetlands. We will also examine U.S. wetland policy, the practice of wetland delineation, wetland restoration, as well as wetland management to promote valuable ecosystem services, including the maintenance of biodiversity. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 370 and lab. Fall even years.

Basic concepts and uses of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Practice with the use of GIS in solving land management and evaluation problems. Introductory applications, scope, and benefits of GIS including classification and components of GIS; data acquisition; data management; data errors; implementation considerations; and applied experience using GIS software. Students should be familiar with Windows OS. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of ISYS 100. Fall even years.

Advanced concepts and uses of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Practice with the use of GIS in evaluation and solving complex land management problems. Applied experience using GIS software for a greater variety of situations. Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or better) of CBIO 421. Spring odd years

This course investigates the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems and explores the benefits of utilizing an ecosystem approach in the development of management and conservation plans. It will focus on the mechanisms by which terrestrial ecosystems function: water and energy balance; carbon and nutrient cycling; trophic interactions; environmental effects; and disturbances. Temporal and spatial scales are considered through the examination of both natural and anthropogenic disturbance events. Lastly, the integration of these processes and sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems is addressed. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 370 with lab. Spring even years.

This course will explore the basic ecological processes that occur in freshwater systems. Close examination of the abiotic components of the freshwater system will be emphasized along with the specialized adaptations that organisms utilize to succeed in these environments. Origins and morphologies of lakes, the formation of streams, and the concept of watershed will also be discussed. In addition, this course will include an overview of the various communities within aquatic ecosystems. Prerequisites: Successful completion (C- or better) of BIOL 370 with lab. Spring odd years.

A Special Topic course (195, 295, 395, 495) is a limited time offering, by an Academic Department, of a course not listed in the undergraduate catalog. Special Topic courses are designed and offered by full-time faculty members and provide an opportunity to (a) offer a course that addresses a recently emerging issue, (b) pilot a course before submission for approval as a regular offering in the undergraduate programs course catalog, and/or (c) provide a limited offering of a topical course to enrich and expand offerings based on current student and faculty interest. Special Topic courses must be approved by (a) the department chair and (b) the school Dean. The Course Approval Form documenting departmental and school approval, as well as the course syllabus, will be archived in the Dean’s Office. Special Topic courses cannot be used as course equivalent substitutions for satisfying LMU’s General Education Core Curriculum requirements. The Department Chair can approve a Special Topic course as an elective toward a major. A Special Topic course can be taught as many as three times before it must be submitted to Academic Council for consideration as a regular course offering to be published in the Undergraduate Programs Catalog.

Staff/apprentice work experience at an approved business/agency directly related to conservation biology. Each credit hour earned requires 60 hours of logged, on-duty work. The student must submit a written report or journal at the conclusion of the internship. The internship is monitored and evaluated by a faculty sponsor, in verification and close consultation with the supervising representative of the business/agency. LMU retains ultimate control and supervision of the internship. Prerequisites: at least Junior classification and approval of the Department Chair. Fall, Spring, Summer as needed.