By:
Carole L. Jaworski

Source:
Michael Moulton (352) 846-0571

GAINESVILLE – “Ecology and Management of Wildlife Invasions” will be offered as a distance education course this spring by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

The course will focus on introduced and invasive wildlife species and their effects at the community and ecosystem levels. Topics covered include traits of invasive and introduced species, environmental characteristics that promote invasions, use of introductions as a management strategy in conservation, as well as analyses of selected case studies.

“I don’t know of any other course that deals with invasive species,” says Michael Moulton, UF/IFAS wildlife ecology and conservation associate professor. “Florida is one of the worst states for nonindigenous invasive species. The course is not limited to Florida, however: It is global.”

The three credit hour course will be offered via compressed videoconferencing. Because compressed videoconferencing is interactive, allowing instructor and students to communicate live with two-way audio and video, it requires attendance at one of five UF/IFAS sites throughout the state: Ft. Lauderdale, Gainesville, Homestead, Immokalee or Milton. Classes will meet on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. Eastern time.

An introductory ecology course is a prerequisite for the course.

To receive a catalog of this and other UF/IFAS distance education spring semester courses, listing full course descriptions, enrollment information, deadlines and fees, contact UF/IFAS Communication Services by phone at (352) 392-3893; by fax at (352) 392-3896; or by e-mail at DistanceEd@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu. Course descriptions and catalog information can also be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ifas.ufl.eduwww.ifas.ufl.edu/~newsifas/courses.htm.

Pre-registration for spring courses must be completed before Dec. 19, 1997. Classes begin in January.

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