Note: This is the 2013–2014 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
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 McGill Arboretum, the Stonycroft Wildlife Area, the Molson Reserve, and the Ecomuseum.
Specialization Coordinator: Professor Murray Humphries
Academic Adviser: Dr. Julie Major
Macdonald-Stewart Building, Room 2-082
Telephone: 514-398-8380
Required Courses (13 credits)
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PLNT 358 Flowering Plant Diversity (3 credits)
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 2013
Instructors: Waterway, Marcia J (Fall)
2 lectures, one 3-hour lab, plus a 4-day field week held the week preceding the start of classes
Prerequisite: PLNT 201 or AEBI 210 or ENVR 202 or permission of instructor
A $51.30 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.
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WILD 307 Natural History of Vertebrates (3 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : Review of higher taxonomic groups of vertebrates and prochordates, emphasizing diagnostic characters evolution and distribution.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Humphries, Murray Mitchell (Fall)
Fall
Lectures and modules
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ZOOL 307
This course carries an additional charge of $15.39 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
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WILD 401 Fisheries and Wildlife Management (4 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : Principles of fisheries and wildlife management are considered and current practices of research and management are discussed.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Solomon, Christopher; Humphries, Murray Mitchell (Fall)
Fall
3 lectures, one 2-hour lab and one week field laboratory prior to fall term
Prerequisite: PLNT 358
A $307.80 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 a research facility in New York. The Department of Natural Resource Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost of this compulsory activity.
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WILD 421 Wildlife Conservation (3 credits)
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: This course is not scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Winter
3 lectures
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken NRSC 421.
Complementary Courses (11 credits)
11 credits of complementary courses selected as follows:
At least 6 credits from the following:
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BIOL 427 Herpetology (3 credits)
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 2013
Instructors: Green, David M (Fall)
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WILD 350 Mammalogy (3 credits)
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 2014
Instructors: Humphries, Murray Mitchell (Winter)
Winter
2 lectures and one 3-hour lab
Prerequisites: AEBI 211 or WILD 200 (formerly AEBI 200), and WILD 307 (formerly ZOOL 307)
A $35.91 fee is charged to all students registered in WILD 350, a course that has a required field trip. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, accommodations, and equipment rental associated with an overnight field trip to Mont St Hilaire. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund.
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WILD 420 Ornithology (3 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds are outlined. Reproduction, migration and population processes of North American birds are examined.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Winter
3 lectures and occasional field trips
Prerequisite: WILD 307 (formerly ZOOL 307) or permission of instructor
This course is scheduled for video-conferencing.
This course carries an additional charge of $15.39 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
At least 5 credits from the following:
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ENVB 315 Science of Inland Waters (3 credits)
Overview
Environmental Biology : Nature and history of limnology; divisions of inland waters; properties of fresh water; habitats; zones; nutrient cycles; biota; adaptations; seasonal variation; distributions; pollution; succession and evolution of fresh water environments. Includes field excursions.
Terms: Fall 2013
Instructors: Lewis, David James (Fall)
Fall
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken NRSC 315.
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NRSC 514 Freshwater Ecosystems (3 credits)
Overview
Natural Resource Sciences : Origin, diversity, structure, function and evolution of freshwater ecosystems; fauna, flora and biotic communities of freshwater habitats; indicator organisms; biotic indices; human impact on freshwater ecosystems.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Fall
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WILD 311 Ethology (3 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : Invertebrate and vertebrate behaviour; innate behaviour, learning, motivation, agonistic behaviour, rhythms, social organization, mating systems and communication.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Winter
2 lectures, one 3-hour lab
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ZOOL 311
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WILD 415 Conservation Law (2 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : A study of the various federal, provincial and municipal laws affecting wildlife habitat. Topics include: laws to protect wild birds and animals; the regulation of hunting; legal protection of trees and flowers, sanctuaries, reserves, parks; techniques of acquiring and financing desirable land, property owner rights.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Fall
2 lectures
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WILD 424 Parasitology (3 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species.
Terms: Winter 2014
Instructors: Rohrbach, Petra (Winter)
Winter
2 lectures and one 3-hour lab
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WILD 424 (formerly ZOOL 424).
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WILD 475 Desert Ecology (3 credits)
Overview
Resource Development : This course deals with adaptations to heat and drought. Representative areas of Coastal Bend, Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts are visited over a two-week period. In the third week, emphasis is on the high desert and historical and cultural aspects of desert life observed in at the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings. A pre-trip analysis of an area to be visited and field notes are the principal bases of evaluation. Students must bear transportation costs.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Winter
Field course
Prerequisites: PLNT 460, WILD 307 (formerly ZOOL 307), WILD 420
Enrolment limited to 20
A $1,000.00 fee is charged to all students registered in WILD 475 Desert Ecology, a course that is based on site visits in the southwestern US, that include representative areas of the Chihuahuan (Texas), Sonoran (Arizona) and Mojave (California) Deserts. This fee is used to support the cost of transportation once in the USA, entrance fees and the operation of the support vehicle and crew. Students will be responsible for their own airfare and food expenses.
Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences—2013-2014 (last updated Aug. 21, 2013) (disclaimer)
