Wildlife Sciences

Michel Kohl checks a wildlife camera

Research topics in the wildlife sciences area focus on the biological, ecological, and managerial aspects of wildlife populations. Our wildlife faculty are active in a variety of graduate teaching and research areas, including:

  • Population dynamics
  • Community ecology
  • Physiology and nutrition
  • Behavioral ecology
  • Wildlife diseases and population health
  • Habitat management
  • Nongame and endangered species
  • Urban wildlife management
  • Wildlife damage management
  • Conservation biology
  • Biometrics
  • Game management
  • Human dimensions of wildlife
  • Invasive species
  • Quantitative wildlife ecology
  • Wildlife population genetics

Graduate Degrees in Wildlife Sciences

The graduate program in wildlife sciences is designed to provide a strong background in the biological, ecological, and managerial aspects of the wildlife profession. Federal cooperative research and service units in Warnell bring additional adjunct faculty to the graduate wildlife program from the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Several wildlife faculty have collaborative teaching and research relationships with other academic units on campus, such as the Odum School of Ecology, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the College of Veterinary Medicine. These associations provide opportunities for interdisciplinary research projects.

CURRICULUM

Wildlife Science can be pursued under the MNR, MS, and PhD degree programs. Course requirements are at the discretion of major professors, but in general:

  • Master of Natural Resource students within the wildlife sciences area of emphasis must complete a minimum of 33 course credit hours, 12 of which must be listed with the COFA, FANR, FISH, FORS, GISC, PRTM, or WILD prefix and 9 of which must be outside the primary study area.
  • Master of Science students in wildlife sciences must complete at least 21 course credit hours, 12 of which at the graduate-only level (8000/9000) and 12 of which must be listed with the COFA, FANR, FISH, FORS, GISC, PRTM, or WILD prefix.
  • Doctor of Philosophy students in wildlife sciences must complete a minimum of 21 course credit hours, 16 of which at the graduate-only level (8000/9000) and 12 of which listed with the COFA, FANR, FISH, FORS, GISC, PRTM, or WILD prefix.

 

QUESTIONS?

For general questions about pursuing a graduate degree at Warnell, contact a member of the graduate team:

Dr. Jacek Siry, Graduate Coordinator

Office: 4-501

Phone: 706-542-3060

Kate deDufour, Graduate Program Administrator

Office: 1-217

Phone: 706-542-1183

Prospective students should also contact faculty members for questions specific to this disciplinary area. Please check faculty members’ personal pages for information about their individual research interests and projects to ensure that you are contacting the most relevant ones.

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Personnel

James Beasley

Terrell Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Management

Dr. Steven B. Castleberry

Professor, Wildlife Ecology and Management

Dr. Michael Chamberlain

National Wild Turkey Federation Distinguished Professor

Dr. Richard Chandler

Professor, Wildlife Ecology and Management

Gino D'Angelo

Associate Professor, Deer Ecology and Management

My research focuses on the ecology and management of deer species, primarily white-tailed deer.  I and my students conduct studies aimed at improving deer population management, guiding science-driven management by state and federal agencies, mitigation of deer-human conflicts, and…

Dr. Jeff Hepinstall-Cymerman

Professor, Landscape Ecology

I am a landscape ecologist and am interested in studying patterns across landscapes. I apply spatial data and modeling techniques to ecological and social systems to measure patterns and processes and to explore the interactions between coupled natural and human systems. I explore landscape…

Dr. Sonia M. Hernandez

Professor, Wildlife Disease & Wildlife

I am interested in all aspects of wildlife disease, particularly how pathogens affect wildlife populations, communities and ecosystems and primarily with an applied perspective. I have and will continue to conduct research that attempts to understand how anthropogenic changes to the landscape…

Dr. Elizabeth G. King

Associate Professor, Ecosystem Ecology & Management

Community and ecosystem ecology, restoration ecology, dryland vegetation dynamics, social-ecological systems, pastoralism in Africa, Georgia coastal salt marshes, resilience, sustainability science

Michel T. Kohl

Associate Professor of Wildlife Management & Wildlife Extension Specialist

My research generally focuses on wildlife spatial ecology, the fitness consequences of spatial behaviors, and the implications of those behaviors for the conservation and management of wildlife. Under this umbrella, most of my previous research has focused on developing a better understanding of…

Dr. John Maerz

Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor, Wildlife

Dr. Maerz is broadly interested in animal ecology, evolution and conservation management. Much of his research focuses on the effects of terrestrial and aquatic environmental change, particularly the effects of nonnative species invasions, land use, and climate, on the ecology of amphibians and…

Dr. James Martin

Professor, Wildlife

In my lab we do research within and across three broad themes: landscape ecology and management, gamebird ecology and management, and sustainable agriculture and forestry. Birds and insects are the common taxa studied--a lot of quail work! We typical work in managed ecosystems where food,…

Dr. Michael T. Mengak

Professor, Wildlife Specialist

Research focuses on human dimensions aspects of wild pigs; management and economic impact of wild pigs; nuisance wildlife management, natural history and ecology of woodrats (Allegheny and Key Largo); and,  inventory and monitoring of mammals.

Management and Impact of Wild Pigs

…

Dr. Clinton T. Moore

Adjunct Professor

structured decision making adaptive management decision theory optimization modeling of natural resource systems sampling and estimation of wildlife populations

Dr. Nate Nibbelink

Interim Dean, Associate Dean for Research, Professor, Spatial Ecology and Geographic Information Science

Spatial patterns in fish and wildlife populations GIS tools for natural resource decision-making We apply spatial theory and technology to a broad range of ecological and management problems

Joel Owen

Elizabeth F. Pienaar

Associate Professor, Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conservation

Conservation of wildlife, habitat and ecosystem services on private lands Risks and benefits associated with the live animal trade Economic valuation

Clark Rushing

Associate Professor of Wildlife

Dr. Brian Shamblin

Senior Research Scientist

My research focuses on the application of genetic tools to inform management and conservation. Much of this work has addressed knowledge gaps in marine turtle life history. Marine turtle populations are defined based on female natal homing, but the scale of this homing behavior is often…

Dr. Michael Yabsley

Arnett C. Mace Jr. Distinguished Professor, Wildlife Disease

Wildlife Diseases, Zoonotic Diseases, Parasitology, Vector-borne pathogens

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