Undergraduate Catalog

Natural Resources Management and Engineering (NRME)

Interim Department Head: Professor John Clausen
Department Office: Room 308, W.B. Young Building

For major requirements, see the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources section of this Catalog.

100. Environmental Science

First semester. Three credits. Rudnicki

An introduction to basic concepts and areas of environmental concern and how these problems can be effectively addressed. Topics include human population; ecological principles; conservation of biological resources; biodiversity; croplands, rangelands, forestlands, soil and water conservation; pollution and water management; and wildlife and fisheries conservation. CA 3.

110. Introduction to Natural Resources

First semester. One credit. Open only to Freshman - Sophomore students.

An introduction to the field of renewable resources. Field trips required.

130. Environmental Conservation

Second semester. Three credits. Barclay

Overview of conservation policy development from colonial period to present and development of the environmental movement in the U.S. Discussion of the context and complexity of some contemporary environmental policy issues.

201. Conservation Law Enforcement

Second semester. Three credits.

Basic pre-professional course for majors in natural resource conservation and related disciplines. Recommended for persons considering a career in wildlife, fisheries, law enforcement, or other natural resource conservation and management disciplines.

204. Wetlands Biology and Conservation

First semester, alternate years (even). Three credits. Three class periods and one weekend field trip. Recommended preparation: BIOL 107 and 108. Clausen

Principal wetland habitats of North America are surveyed, and the relationship of wildlife associations to biological and physical features of wetlands is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on issues relating to wetlands conservation and management.

205. Stream Ecology

Second semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: BIOL 108 or equivalent. Vokoun

A broad overview of stream ecology will be presented. Emphasis will be placed on types of lotic habitats and the diversity and community patterns of organisms which inhabit them. Adaptations to life in running water and energy flow in stream ecosystems will also be discussed. Efforts targeted at the conservation of streams will be integrated throughout the semester. One or more field trips required.

207. African Field Ecology and Renewable Resources Management
(Also offered as EEB 207 and EEB 307.) Second semester, alternate years. Four credits. One class period during the semester, followed by three weeks in the field in South Africa. Recommended preparation: EEB 244. Instructor consent required. Ortega
An intensive, field oriented methods course conducted primarily in South Africa at the Basil Kent Field Station, Great Fish River Reserve in collaboration with the University of Fort Hare. An introduction to South Africa culture and history, ecology, and natural resources is provided in weekly meetings during the semester. This is followed by three weeks in the field in South Africa. Topics covered include vegetation and faunal surveys, data collection and analysis, biodiversity monitoring, and conservation management. A research paper relating to an independent project conducted by the student in the field is required. CA 4-INT.

208. Introduction to Aquaculture

Either semester. Three credits. Two class periods, one 2-hour laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 107 or 108.

Basic principles and practice of environmentally compatible aquaculture. Emphasis on commercial aquaculture production including concepts and principles of various re-circulation systems, species, and culture techniques. Application of biotechnology will also be covered.

210. Air Pollution

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: NRME 241. Miller

The meteorology, effects and controls of air pollution.

211. Watershed Hydrology

Second semester, alternate years (even). Three credits. Recommended preparation: NRME 242 or ENGR 150 . Open to sophomores or higher. Warner

Fundamental hydrologic processes, water balances, precipitation analyses, infiltration, soil water, evapotranspiration, open channel flow, discharge measurements, and analysis, flow frequencies, ground water-surface water interactions, runoff processes and prediction. Problem oriented course requiring use of computer spreadsheets.

214. Dendrology

First semester. Three credits. Two class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Recommended preparation: BIOL 108 or 110. Open to sophomores or higher. Schroeder

The taxonomy, silvics, and distribution of trees and shrubs of the United States with emphasis upon Northeastern species. Field trips will be required

217. Introductory Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

First semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: BIOL 107. Open to sophomores or higher. Ortega

An introduction to wildlife ecology, conservation programs and resource values. The distribution, life history and status of those amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals whose populations humans are attempting to preserve, reestablish, or to control are examined.

218. Water Resources Assessment, Development and Management

Second semester. Three credits. Three class periods and two field trips. Recommended preparation: NRME 100 and GEOL 105. Robbins

Introduction to surface and ground water resource assessment, development and management. Integration of scientific, legal, environmental and human factors that enter into developing and maintaining sustainable water resources. Examines current and future plight of water shortages and water quality issues here and abroad.

219. Introduction to Geomatics

Second semester. Four credits. Three lecture periods and one laboratory period. Open to sophomores or higher. Not open to students who have passed NRME 237 or 252. Civco, Meyer

Principles and applications of geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), and remote sensing will be covered. Students will be provided with the scientific knowledge and technical skills needed to collect and use spatial data effectively in a Geographic Information System (GIS).

232. Wildlife Management

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: NRME 217. Recommended preparation: Prior course work in ecology. Ortega

Brief review of wildlife conservation and ecological principles; management of wetlands, farmlands, rangelands, and forest lands for wildlife; programs dealing with exotic, urban, nongame, and endangered wildlife; contemporary economic, administrative, and policy aspects of management.

233. Wildlife Management Techniques

First semester, alternate years. Two credits. One 4-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: NRME 232. Open only with consent of instructor. One or more field trips will be required. Barclay

Collection and reporting of biological data upon which wildlife conservation decisions are based.

234C. Introduction to Ground-Water Hydrology

(Also offered as GEOL 234C.) First semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one 2-hour laboratory for which occasional field trips will be substituted. Prerequisite: MATH 114 or 116 and GEOL 102 or 105, or instructor consent. Robbins

Basic hydrologic principles with emphasis on ground water flow and quality, geologic relationships, quantitative analysis and field methods.

235. Fisheries Management

First semester. Three credits. Two class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: STAT 100QC. Vokoun

Introduction to fisheries management principles with application to the biotic, habitat, and human components of fisheries. Selected topics include sampling and gears, harvest regulations, stocking, population dynamics, and habitat management practices in pond, lake, reservoir, river, and stream fisheries.

237. Introductory Remote Sensing

First semester. Three credits. Two class periods and one 2-hour laboratory period. Open to only CANR students and GEOG major. Civco

The principles of the interpretation of remote sensing imagery acquired from aircraft and satellite platforms will be studied. Various applications of remote sensing will be discussed.

238C. Remote Sensing Image Processing

Second semester. Three credits. Two class periods and one 2-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: NRME 219 or 237. Open only with consent of instructor. Civco

The principles of quantitative remote sensing, image processing and pattern recognition will be studied. Computer-assisted data analysis techniques will be used.

239W. Natural Resources Planning and Management

Second semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: Senior standing; ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. Clausen

Concepts and methods of planning for the allocation, management and utilization of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Techniques and methods of managerial decision making. Written technical reports required.

240. Environmental Law

First semester. Three credits.

An overview of environmental law including the common law principles of nuisance, negligence, and trespass. Students will become acquainted with legal research techniques; emphasis will be on federal, state, and municipal programs addressing clear air, clean water, hazardous waste, inland wetlands, coastal zone management, and prime agricultural farm land and aquifer protection.

241. Meteorology

First semester. Three credits. Yang

A survey course in meteorology at the introductory level covering weather and climate processes.

242. Natural Resources Measurements

First semester. Four credits. Two class periods and two 2-hour laboratories. Field trips required. Open to sophomores or higher. Miller

Principles and instrumentation used in the measurement of environmental conditions and processes.

246. Water Quality Management

First semester, alternate years (odd). Three credits. Recommended preparation: NRME 211 or NRME 260. Clausen

An introduction to all aspects of water quality problems relating to the many beneficial uses of water, including the physical, chemical, and biological properties.

247. Public Lands Wildlife Management

Second semester. Three credits. Recommended preparation: NRME 217, 232, EEB 244. Open only with consent of instructor. Ortega

Applied natural resources management in different ecosystems (forestlands, grasslands, and drylands). Meet one hour per week for background readings from current literature. Two short research papers and presentation to the class. Required field trip last two weeks of May. Students are responsible for cost of field trip.

248. Private Lands Wildlife Management

First semester. Alternate (odd) years. Three credits. Two class periods and one 3-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: One 200-level course in ecology or wildlife management. Barclay

Companion course for Public Lands Wildlife Management (NRME 247). Provides practical experience and acquaintance with persons or groups managing wildlife resources on private properties such as nature preserves, land trusts, non-governmental organizations, farms, recreational clubs, commercial shooting preserves and propagation facilities. Appreciation for private land management options, economic realities and other challenges, plus ability to assess resource potentials on private land, are stressed. Field trips required..

252. Geographic Information Science for Natural Resources Management

Second semester. Four credits. Three class periods and one two-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: NRME 242, MATH 112Q or higher calculus course. Recommended preparation: PHYS 121Q. Open only to natural resource majors or with consent of instructor. Meyer

Introduction to geodetic and cartographic principles underlying the creation of accurate maps. Particular emphasis is given to mapping topography and natural areas. Topics include: horizontal and vertical geodetic datums, the geoid, map projections, coordinate systems, global positioning systems (GPS), GIS data modeling with regional database management systems, and digital terrain models.

253. Geodesy

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: NRME 219, STAT 110, PHYS 121 or higher. Three class periods and one two hour laboratory period. Fieldwork required. Meyer

Horizontal and vertical geodetic datums, proper integration of spatial information collected in disparate datums, distortions created by cartographic projections, and proper use of standard cartographic coordinate systems. Integrate measurements from opto-mechanical instruments such as total stations with Global Positioning System measurements.

256. Natural Resources Modeling

First semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: MATH 112Q or higher. Open only to natural resource majors except by consent. Clausen, Warner

Applications of conservation of mass, energy and momentum in modeling natural resources systems. Defining systems; determining flows and storages; interactions and feedback mechanisms within systems. Problem oriented course including computer solutions using spreadsheets or modeling programs.

260. Soil and Water Management and Engineering

Second semester, alternate years (odd). Three credits. Recommended preparation: NRME 211 or CE 265. Warner

Floodplain management, erosion and erosion control, reservoir management, storm water control, watershed management, and on-site sewage treatment systems. Written technical reports, use of spreadsheets and field work required. Some field trips required.

271. Environmental Meteorology

Second semester, even numbered years. Three credits. Recommended preparation: NRME 241. Yang

Applied meteorology in environmental science and engineering. Solar energy, winds and air pollution, atmospheric-hydrologic interactions, agricultural and forest meteorology, and biometeorology.

277. Natural Resource Applications of Geographic Information Systems

First semester. Three credits. Civco

Principles and applications of computer-assisted spatial data analysis in natural resources management. Hypothetical and actual case studies of the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to solve natural resource problems will be discussed. Raster- and vector-oriented, microcomputer-based GIS software will be applied.

280. Forest Management

Second semester, alternate years (odd). Four credits. Two class periods and one 4-hour laboratory period. Prerequisite: NRME 214.

An introduction to forest mensuration, ecology, silviculture, and multiple-use management. Field trips required.

285. Forest Ecology

First semester. Three credits. Two class periods and one 3-hour laboratory. Prerequisite: NRME 214, may be taken concurrently. Rudnicki

Ecological basis of forest management. Ecological diversity and relationships to the physical environment (light, temperature, soil, etc.); the influence of time (succession, disturbance, stand dynamics) and space (landscape ecology, ecosystem management) on forest ecosystem dynamics; forest production ecology and nutrient cycling. Laboratory will be in the field or in computer lab.

287. Field Study Internship

Either semester or summer. One to six credits. Hours by arrangement. Open only to Junior - Senior students with consent of advisor and department head. This course may be repeated provided that the sum total of credits earned does not exceed six. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).

This course is designed to acquaint students through actual work experience with research and management activities not available on campus. Students will work with professionals in an area of concentration. Student evaluation will be based upon the recommendation of the field supervisor and a detailed written report submitted by the student.

295. Seminar

Second semester. One credit. May be repeated for credit. Open only with consent of instructor.

296. Undergraduate Research in Natural Resources

Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. May be repeated for credit for maximum of six credits. Open only with consent of instructor.

Field or laboratory research performed by the advanced undergraduate student in an area of natural resources under the supervision of a NRME faculty member. A report and/or an oral presentation will be required at the end of the semester.

297W. Undergraduate Research Thesis in Natural Resources

Either semester. Three credits. Hours by arrangement. Prerequisite: Three credits of either NRME 296 or 299, which may be taken concurrently; ENGL 110 or 111 or 250. Open only with consent of instructor.

Writing of a formal thesis based on independent research conducted by the student. Thesis proposal and final thesis must follow guidelines developed by the Department; and be submitted to, and approved by, a department review committee.

298. Special Topics

Either semester. Credits and hours by arrangement. May be repeated for credit with a change of topic. Open only with consent of instructor.

Topics and credits to be published prior to the registration period preceding the semester offerings.

299. Independent Study

Either or both semesters. Credits and hours by arrangement. May be repeated for credit. Open only with consent of instructor.