Wildlife Conservation Unit 1

Job of a Professor

A role that includes teaching, research, and service, typically requiring a PhD or terminal degree.

Assistant Professor

The entry-level rank for faculty on the tenure track.

Associate Professor

The first level of tenure for faculty members.

Professor

A rank that requires at least 4 years of experience after becoming an assistant professor.

Publish or Perish

A concept emphasizing the necessity for professors to publish research to succeed in academia.

Tenure Review

A process that evaluates a professor's performance for job security and promotion.

Academic Advising

The role of mentoring graduate and undergraduate student researchers.

Local Ecology

The study of the relationships between organisms and their environment in a specific area.

wildlife of the panhandle

We are near the western boundary for many eastern species and near the eastern boundary for many western species

why do we manage wildlife?

to alter the abundance of or conserve species

llano Estacado

A prominent land feature in the Panhandle, characterized as a large plateau.

Playas

Shallow depressional wetlands that are the most common feature in the Llano Estacado.

Characteristics of the Playas

• Have erratic hydroperiods–drying and filling frequently in most years–and fill primarily by thunderstorms 

• Formed by dissolution and wind forces & Lined with clay

Escarpment

A rugged canyon land along the eastern edge of the Llano, differing in habitat from the surrounding plains.

Our Climate

A relatively dry area with significant temperature fluctuations and seasonal precipitation patterns.

Annual rainfall in the plains

20” annually however, ¾ of precipitation falls between april-september

North slopes of mountains tend to be

the most coolest and most mesic (moist)

South slopes of mountains tend to be

are the warmest and most xeric (driest)

mesic

moist or wet conditions

xeric

dry or warm conditions

Rainshadow

A phenomenon where mountains block moisture, creating dry conditions on the leeward side.

What topographic featrue causes the dry conditions we experience in the panhandle?

Rocky Mountains

Fire

A natural process that favors grasses over woody vegetation and is a component of prairie ecosystems.

Biggest river in the panhandle is what?

Canadian river, flowing west to east and filling up lake Merideth

how many fires did the plains historically experience?

fires ever 5-10 years

Local Rivers

The Canadian River is the largest in the Panhandle, flowing from New Mexico into Texas.

Three basic management approaches

direct, indirect, and preservation

Example of indirect preservation

building nest boxes for migrating birds

example of direct preservation

culling reindeer or St. Matthew’s Island

example of preservation management

blocking off a plot of land to ban human interaction with the environment

 31,700 sq. mile plateau (largest in North America)

the llano estacado plateau

What is the correct name of the river that flows through Palo Duro Canyon

Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River

How many Playas are in Randall County

564 playas totaling 16,606 acres of wetlands     

How much CRP lands are in texas?

2 million acres

Approximately how much of the shortgrass prairie is left in texas

18%

Wildlife

Living organisms outside direct human control, including both game and non-game species.

Wildlife Management

The application of ecological knowledge to balance the needs of wildlife populations and human interests.

Public Trust

The concept that wildlife is a public resource managed by the government, not private landowners.

Lacey Act

(1900) A law prohibiting the transportation of illegally killed game across state lines.

The former name for the lacey act was..

Game and Wild Birds Preservation and Disposition act.

Dingell-Johnson Act

(1950) legislation that taxes (10%) fishing tackle and equipment

Dingell-Johnson Act requires…

1:3 ratio on federal funding. Amount received based on the number of licensed anglers and water area of state.

Dingell-Johnson Act funds are used for?

Funds are used for boating safety, fish management, construction of new boating facilities, and research.

Former name of the Dingell-Johnson act was?

Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act

Pittman-Robertson Act

(1970) Legislation that taxes (11%) sporting arms to fund wildlife restoration and management.

Pittman-Robertson Act funds are used for?

 research, land acquisition, and construction, maintenance of completed projects, management of state wildlife areas, and hunter safety programs

CAN NOT BE USED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

The former name for the Pittman-Robertson Act was…

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act

What does the Pittman-Robertson Act Regulate?

Hunting: sporting arms, ammunition.

What does the Pittman-Robertson Act require of States?

for every 3 dollars the federal government gives to the state for hunting management the state must contribute one dollar back. If they misuse the P-R fund then they do not receive federal money.

Wilderness Act

Established criteria for designating wilderness areas with minimal human impact.

Endangered Species Act

(1966/69/73) Provides protection for species at risk of extinction and establishes a listing process.

before the ESA

previous “protective” legislation only focused on individual species

NEPA

(1970) Requires federal actions to consider environmental impacts and disclose them through an Environmental Impact Statement.

What does NEPA stand for?

National Environmental Policy Act

Food Security Act (FSA)

(1985) Established the Conservation Reserve Program to reduce soil erosion and benefit wildlife.

Sikes Act

(1960) Requires Department of Defense lands be managed for wildlife. Professional biologists must be involved in the management of fish and wildlife resources or lands under the jurisdiction of the act

The Sikes Act Provides…

many jobs for wildlife biologists

Policies of Sentiment

Decisions based on public perceptions rather than scientific evidence, affecting wildlife management.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Farmers receive rental payments to take highly erodible lands out of production for 10-15 years: most end up using exotic grasses to cover

Endangered Species

species faced with extinction in all or much of their distribution

Threatened Species

species that are likely to become endangered

What is special about the ESA?

Recognized separate populations and subspecies as species

Ex: florida panther is endangered despite healthy populations of mountain lions (panthers)

True or false: the listing process for an endangered species can be initiated by anyone?

true

What does EIS stand for?

Environmental Impact Statement

What does an EIS do?

discloses fully the effects of the action on the environment. Must propose alternate actions

often requires field studies to properly identify the status of wildlife and other resources at the site.

Does proposed listing require public notification?

Yes, Requires public notification in the federal register.

Who is petitioned to list an endangered species?

Secretary of the interior

reindeer are the same as

caribou

True or False: Public trust is always true

Federal authority can supersede state authority in certain cases

e.g., Migratory Bird Treaty Act (enacted in 1918)

Aldo Leopold says mountains are afraid of what? (aldo leopold reading)

humans—> the ones who feared and killed wolves

monument to the pigeon (aldo leopold reading)

our species has developed beyond hunting solely for food. We now can “mourn the death of another is a new this under the sun”

the odessy (aldo leopold reading)

visualizes the vast and interconnected relationships of prairie flora & fauna, highlighting that humans do not know everything when it comes to wildlife management.

The Odessey quote

“men are only fellow-voyagers with other creatures in the odessy of evolution”

Thinking Like a Mountain quote

“in wildness is the slavation of the world…perhaps this is the hidden meaning of a wolf’s howl. Long known among the mountains but seldom heard by them.”