NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY, Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Zoology 3554 - Section 1540 - Fish Life History and Habitat Management

Spring 2004 - T-Th 10-12 and one hour TBA; Science 305

Dr. James K. Schooley

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this course is to examine the life histories of important commercial and recreational fisheries' species and how fishery biologists use this information in either management of the environment of wild stocks or the culturing of fishes. This course is also used as an introduction to the broad field of fisheries science.

PREREQUISITES:

Zoology 2244 - Ichthyology; or permission of the instructor.

CLASS MEETS:

Class meetings will normally be in Science 305 on T-Th 10-12 and one hour to be arranged. These arranged hours will be often used in field trips and are considered an integral part of the course and are required.

FORMAT:

The course is a lecture/discussion format with occasional student presentations and field exercises designed to compliment the lecture sequences. Students will be expected to have read the assigned readings and reviewed all handouts BEFORE each lecture/seminar or field trip. Examinations will emphasize the understanding of principles and the ability to synthesize material and apply it to novel situations. If any member of the class feels that he or she has a disability and needs special accommodations please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended.

OFFICE HOURS:

Hours open for appointments in Tahlequah are Tues 9-10; 4-5 and Thur 9-10; 1-4 in Broken Arrow are Wed 9-11. Appointments can be made for times other than these. My office in Tahlequah is Science 309 and in BA is C127, my e-mail schooley@cherokee.nsuok.edu and my extension 3825. You may also wish to leave messages with the Natural Sciences Office in Science 221 and extension 3800.

TEXTS:

Wedemeyer, Gary A. editor 2002. Fish Hatchery Management, 2^nd Edition . Published by the American Fisheries Society. Bethesda, Maryland. ISBN 1-888569-26-3

Kohler, Christopher C. and Wayne A. Hubert (editors) 1999. Inland Fisheries Management in North America 2^nd Edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. ISBN 01-888569-13-1

GRADING:

Final grades are computed using the following percentage weightings:

20% Midterm exams - primarily multiple choice, essay and short answer questions over the lecture and reading assignments. Tentative dates are: 12 Feb and 1 April

10% AFS Meeting - a subjective evaluation of preparation, participation and involvement during the Feb 27-29 meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Oklahoma City.

10% Oral Report - a student presentation on an assigned area of fish hatchery management. It is a given that the student will have a complete mastery of the paper and the background literature in the subject area. The oral report is required to be delivered using a computer presentation program such as "Presentations" or "Powerpoint". The articles and the oral presentations will also be covered in the comprehensive final exam. Reports begin 23 March.

10 % Fish Life History Project - Each student is required to write a chapter for a class booklet on the key life history features and management options for selected fishes. Students must cooperate and integrate their chapters into a combined class booklet due 13 April. Details will be discussed in class.

20% Pond Management Plan. Students will review the current literature over the management of ponds common in Oklahoma. They will then arrange with a local pond owner to prepare a management plan for the pond owner. Each student must seek out and find their own pond. They must also serve as field crew /assistant for two other student's pond projects. Oral presentation of plans and papers are due 20 April.

20% Comprehensive Final - primarily essay, short answer, multiple choice and matching questions over all material covered in the lectures, readings, student oral presentations, guest speakers and field trips. Scheduled on 4 May

10% Field Trip Participation - a subjective evaluation of preparation and involvement with class field trips

Yet to be scheduled : Stream Field Trip; Aquarium Field Trip

References found helpful in past courses:

Bennett, G.W. 1970. Management of lakes and ponds. Robert E. Krieger Pub. Co., Malabar, Florida.

Brown, E.E. and J.B. Gratzek. 1980. Fish farming handbook. AVI pub. Co., Westport, Conn.

De Santo R.S. 1978. Concepts of applied ecology. Springer-Verlag, New York.

Dean, Jan and Glen Gebhart (Eds.) 1995. Managing Pond Fisheries in Oklahoma. OK AFS and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. 1991. Managing Oklahoma Ponds for Fishing.

Pflieger, William L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, MO

Robison, Henry W. and Thomas M. Buchanan. 1988. Fishes of Arkansas. University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville.

Royce, W.F. 1984. Introduction to the practice of fishery science. Academic Press, Orlando, FL.

Spotte, S.H. 1970. Fish and invertebrate culture: Water management in closed systems. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Taylor, J.N., W.R. Courtenay, and J.A. McCann. 1984. Known Impacts of Exotic Fishes in the Continental United States. in W.R. Courtenay, Jr., and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. (editors) Distribution, biology, and management of exotic fishes. John Hopkins Univ. Press, Baltimore, MD.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983-19__. Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates. U.S. Fish Wildl. Ser. Biol. Rep. 82(11). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4.

Wesche, T.A. 1985. Stream channel modifications and reclamation structures to enhance fish habitat. IN: J.A. Gore (ed) The restoration of rivers and streams: Theories and experience. Butterworth Pub., Boston.

Internet Resources :

www.wildlifedepartment.com this is the OK Dept of Wildlife Conservation site. Reviews are encouraged over the Stream Management; Management; and Fish ID sections of this site.

Student Name : _____________________________