Wildlife and Restoration Ecology

Applied ecology is the focus of Wildlife Restoration Ecology concentration. Introductory coursework emphasizes a core understanding of biological science, principles of plant and animal ecology, and the techniques and principles of ecosystem management. Students then can choose to focus their coursework on wildlife ecology or restoration ecology.

The discipline of Ecological Restoration provides a scientific basis for the reconstruction of degraded ecosystems and focuses on practices designed to improve the ecological structure and function, and meeting societal needs for sustainable and functional ecosystems. The restoration process includes identifying the causes of degradation, devising methods and goals for the restoration effort, developing management strategies for the restored sites, monitoring changes on the site and assessing restoration success. Restoration practices may include improving wildlife habitat, reintroducing missing plants or animals, removal of invasive species, rebuilding of soils, and returning natural processes such as fire and flooding to ecosystems that historically experienced these disturbance regimes. Successful restoration projects require community involvement and demand consideration of the economic and social context in which restoration is carried out.

The Wildlife Ecology coursework's distinction arises from its strong emphasis on habitat management. While students are expected to master the material found in traditional wildlife biology curricula, they are also expected to develop a strong expertise in habitat management. This background in habitat management requires proficiency in the botanical sciences including plant ecology and provides a synergistic link with the ecological restoration concentration. The applied nature of the concentration is emphasized by the requirement for mastery of the analytic technologies (ranging from quantitative ecology and ecological modeling to the use of geographic information systems) as well as a comprehensive understanding of the economic and policy contexts in which wildlife habitat management occurs.

View the Wildlife and Restoration Ecology Check Sheet