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Conservation in Human-Dominated Landscapes and Wildlife Monitoring

Students are introduced to the advanced concept of PAM as a network of reserves linked within the landscape and off-reserve systems and management through ecological interactions. Major drivers of wildlife endangerment and threats to terrestrial species extinction; concept of fragmentation and habitat loss and effects (faunal relaxation,

extinction debt, edge effects isolation effects, patch size effects, matrix effects) shall be introduced. Maintaining biodiversity over time and space i.e. Concept of spatial ecology. Landscape connectivity and wildlife corridors; and concept of managing matrix habitats to improve habitat connectivity shall be emphasized.

Course Code: 
CBE 407
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

Insect Ecology   

This course is designed to introduce students to ecological processes with regard to insects and the role of insects in ecosystems. The course will discuss the behavioural ecology of insects, trophic interactions and population ecology.

Chemical communication will be discussed. Overall, the course will emphasize on how ecological information and concepts could be applied usefully in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

Course Code: 
CBE 406
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

Medical and Veterinary Entomology    

This course offers an overview of insects and other arthropods of medical and veterinary importance and their role in the transmission of disease to humans and animals. Concepts in parasitology, entomology and molecular biology will be discussed within the context of public health. Methods of control of insect vectors will be examined.

 

Course Code: 
CBE 405
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

Pollination Biology    

This course will provide students with a fundamental understanding of animal-mediated pollination. Focus will be on plant and pollinator diversity, biology and natural history as well as pollination syndromes, mutualisms and evolutionary strategies of generalists and specialists.

Foraging economics and learning behaviour, the importance of pollination to both natural and agro ecosystems will be discussed. Threats to pollinators and conservation strategies will also be covered.

Course Code: 
CBE 404
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

Insect Physiology and Biochemistry 

Student will learn about the main physiological processes that regulate insect life. The course examines the physiology of the nervous system, sound production, mechanoreceptors and chemical reception in insects.  Synthesis, storage, mobilization, and transport and utilization of fuels in flight and the functioning of the flight muscles will also be studied.

The endocrine organs and hormones, pheromones, growth and metamorphosis, and reproduction are discussed.  The use of such knowledge in the control of insect pests is emphasized.

Course Code: 
CBE 403
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

Ornithology II      

The course begins with a recap of principles of bird conservation; importance of birds to man; basic ornithological techniques such as vocalization; trapping, handling and morphometrics; birds and environmental management shall be linked to monitoring and sampling birds in different ecosystems such as forest and savanna. 

Avian haematology and parasitology shall be introduced. The fieldwork component emphasizes bird ringing/banding and flagging. Modern methods in ornithological research including population and community ecology, methods of analyzing bird survey data using computer software e.g.  Introducing students to R-Statistic; DISTANCE program,

estimates and introduction to multivariate analysis in community ecology indicator species analysis (ISA), and Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) shall be emphasized (Pre-requisite CBE 201).

Course Code: 
CBE 402
No. of Credits: 
3
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

Protected Area Management and Wildlife Conservation   

Students are introduced to the concept and purpose of protected areas (PAs) as basic process of protected area management (PAM) approaches (e.g. species and habitat management); sustainability management; principles and practice of PAM;

natural habitat and cultural heritage management; utilization options available within PAs; development of a management plan; implementation of the management plan; Linking the landscape; wildlife conservation principles;conservation and management shall be carried out.

Laboratory work shall emphasize identification techniques and methods used for sampling reptile and amphibian populations.

Course Code: 
CBE 401
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 400
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

Research Methods in Biology

The course exposes students to the processes involved in the scientific method of investigation.  There will be exercises in observational skills, making enquiries, formulating hypotheses, experimental designs biological techniques, data acquisition, analysis and scientific presentation. 

Students will be required to do a literature review on specific topics and present them at seminars. Oganization of wild animals, population studies (life tables, survivorship and age distribution); population dynamics and models and range ecology. Field trips within at least one Protected Area in Ghana shall be organized.

Course Code: 
BIO 399
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

Insect Systematics 

This course is structured to equip students with techniques and methods in Insect Systematics studies, understanding the relevance and key concepts that underpin the subject. Some important concepts: Taxonomy, Systematics and Phylogeny will be clarified. Students will be introduced to the concept of the species, taxonomic characters, use of dichotomous keys in identification of major families.

A major component will be field trips for insect collection as well as techniques in preparation of specimens for taxonomic studies; preservation; maintenance and value of reference collections. Principles of The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature will be discussed. There will be introduction to current trends: computer-aided taxonomy and molecular systematics as well new taxonomic initiatives.

Course Code: 
CBE 308
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
First Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

Crop Pest Entomology 

Application of management strategies for insect pests of small grains, corn, cotton, rice, sorghum, stored products and sunflower; nature and symptoms of damage, life history and habits of common pests. Laboratory consists of pest and pest damage identification supported by field trips.

The primary purpose of the course is to show students how the discipline of entomology is applied by studying the biology and management of the various insect pests attacking major crops both in the field and in storage including migratory insect pests. The biology and ecology of insect agricultural pests and the science underlying their management.

 

Course Code: 
CBE 307
No. of Credits: 
3
Level: 
Level 300
Course Semester: 
Second Semester
Select Programme(s): 
Entomology and Wildlife

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