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Just a reminder that there are two new wildlife-related courses for students to take this fall (Restricted Electives for Wildlife students):
ENST499A- Special Topics in Environmental Science and Technology; Urban Ecology (formerly ENST461) - 3 credits
Prerequisite: BSCI160 and BSCI161.
Urban Ecology is an interdisciplinary subject at the intersection of social, environmental, and economic systems. This course will examine ecology in the city (i.e. why do certain species live in certain greenspaces?), ecology of the city (e.g. how do urban ecological processes influence the health and safety of human residents?), and ecology for the city (i.e. how do we plan and restore greenspaces in a just way so that all residents have equitable access to nature?). This course will have a strong focus on natural systems within urban ecosystems. Each topic willfocus on key urban ecological concepts and then explore how these topicsapply to urban planning and design. The course will be a mix of traditional lectures and a few field trips to see urban ecology in action in Washington, D.C
ENSP399N: Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy; Wildlife and Zoo Nutrition Management - 1 credit
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has one of the county s oldest zoo nutrition departments, created in the late 1970s, supporting an active research program and nutrition lab (conducting both clinical, zoo-based and field-based studies) and a clinical program with two nutritionists responsible for the dietary management of the zoo collection. This course will be taught by both nutritionists. We will introduce comparative animal nutrition as it applies to animals in general and their management in a captive setting, with considerations for understanding wild populations. Primary topics will include an overview of nutrients and energy, digestive systems and metabolism, nutritional ecology and requirements, philosophy of diet formulation in a captive setting, considerations for in situ and ex situ nutrition research, and some practical applications to wildlife management, among other related subject matter.