Management of Alaska's wildlife populations is of fundamental importance to the biotic as well as the economic integrity of the nation and the state. This project gives undergraduates in wildlife biology exposure to the tools used in contemporary management of wildlife populations. This exposure is distributed among three courses taken during the sophomore, junior, and senior years. Students explore the dynamics of wildlife populations in the sophomore-level course; gain experience in gathering field data in the junior-level course; and synthesize data and project future population levels as seniors. Students also learn analytical techniques, with collaborative exercises, mimicking management teams used by resource management agencies. Students are expected to present results of their investigations to peers, both orally and in writing, to enhance communication skills.
