Fisheries and wildlife sciences

Statement of programs and library needs

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, located in the College of Forestry and Wildlife Resources, offers programs leading to the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees.

The department's research, instructional, and extension programs are among the most comprehensive in the nation because of the broad interests and expertise of the faculty. Research interests include aquaculture; analysis and management of endangered species; environmental toxicology; ichthyology; management of fisheries and other types of habitats; wildlife and fisheries population ecology; land use planning; wildlife ecology, nutrition, and physiology; malacology; river and stream ecology; use of geographic information systems; and fish genetics. Emphasis continues to grow in the area of conservation biology and man's effect on natural resources. This emphasis can be noted in the department's international projects being conducted in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Undergraduate majors follow a first year common core curriculum in science before entering one of three programs: wildlife science, fisheries science, or wildlife science/pre-veterinary science. The department's graduate program stresses preparation for research positions in public agencies and for university faculty positions. The department works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service and the National Park Service to provide student researchers with access to lands, water, animals, facilities, and equipment.

Fisheries and wildlife sciences involve many subject areas in other disciplines, such as biology, forestry, agriculture, landscape architecture, geography, veterinary medicine, animal science, and psychology.

I. Collection areas

A. Area: Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

 

B. Classes and Levels

GC                Marine Science 			Study
QH 540-549        Ecology        			Research
QL 1-345          Zoology, General                      Research
QL 605-739        Zoology, Invertebrates, Vertebrates   Research
QL 750-795        Animal Behavior			Research
QP 1-348          Physiology     			Research
QP 501-801        Animal Biochemistry                   Research
SD                Forestry       			Research
SF 402-459        Fur-bearing Animals                   Research
SF 461-510        Birds, Game-bird Culture              Research
SF 997            Diseases of Wild Animals              Research
SH 1-399          Fisheries      			Research
SH 401-691        Sport Fishing  			Study
SK                Wildlife       			Research
TA 593, TR 810    Remote Sensing of Environment         Research
TD 172-427        Environmental Pollution               Research
	

C. Chronology

Emphasis is on the acquisition of current materials. Major works on a species or a region may be needed regardless of publication date. Historical developments of conservation attitudes, or political, economic, and environmental concerns, are of primary interest. Serials may be heavily used from origin to date.

D. Geographic Guidelines

The most intensive collecting is for the eastern region of the United States, and in particular for Virginia and adjoining states. Worldwide material is needed and collected when of general interest or fitting some specialized interest.

E. Languages

English is the primary language of the collection.

F. Treatment

Technical reports, conference proceedings, journals, publications of state academies of science and societies, and documents from all levels of government are important. Scholarly and semi-popular publications describing local level research are also important. Popular treatments and lower division textbooks are selectively acquired. Paper copies of theses and dissertations, especially on topics of general interest or local and regional ecology, and species, are purchased usually through requests from faculty or students.

G. Formats

Primarily print for monographs and most journals, though electronic full-text is also of growing importance for journals. Bibliographic databases are available through the Internet. The Libraries support access to key bibliographic databases in biology, fisheries and wildlife sciences, and zoology. Videos are occasionally purchased, usually through faculty request.

H. Multiple copies

Multiple copies (usually one extra copy) are occasionally purchased for heavily used titles as funds permit.

II. Acquisition Strategy

The majority of materials are selected by the fisheries and wildlife sciences bibliographer, with priority given to requests from faculty and students. Many serial titles have established standing orders, and the libraries hold membership in some of the pertinent professional organizations, such as the American Fisheries Society. The Libraries maintain an approval plan for books from many university presses and significant trade publishers. Retrospective purchases or out-of-print items are ordered from time to time as funds and availability coincide. There is no systematic retrospective purchasing. Gifts are not an important means of acquisition. Most federal documents come by deposit. Many FAO publications come on standing order.

III. Collection Notes

Fisheries and wildlife studies and research are an integral part of the biology and forestry programs, and subject matter is frequently inseparable from that of zoology. Because of local or regional studies, more semi-popular material is needed than for zoology.

Revised 10/1995