Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer: 
For Assignment 2, you are to choose a species of wildlife you would like to work on for the rest of the semester and develop a scientific, (cited) 4-5 page (excluding cover sheet, figures, and Works Cited pages) detailed life history. Sections should include an Introduction, Species Description (from the literature), Life Cycle, reproductive Strategy, Conclusions/Student Learning Point, and Literature Cited. At least 5 published journal articles MUST be used!

This is meant to be a scientific life history, full of data and details found in the published literature, not an overview one would give to a non-scientist.

You do not have to limit your species choice to the "charismatic megafauna" (bears, wolves, etc.). Also acceptable are small mammals, amphibians and reptiles, bats, and birds - something that interests you as well as makes for interesting reading.

As a guide, check out the following article because there is a nice table within that provides a list of items that can appear in a life history study: (You should use at least half of these items in your life history submission!)
McCallum, M.L. and J.L. McCallum. 2006. Publication trends of natural history and field studies in herpetology. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 1(1):62-67.http://www.herpconbio.org/volume_1/issue_1/McCallum_McCallum_2006.pdf

If you are wondering why it is important to understand an animal's life history as a wildlife manager, read this article written by long-time wildlife ecologist and winner of the Fitch Award for his contributions to natural history, R. Bruce Bury.  Bruce Bury is considered one of the international leaders and world experts on wildlife responses to fire....

R. Bruce Bury. 2006. Natural history, field ecology, conservation biology and wildlife management: Time to connect the dots.  Herpetological Conservation and Biology 1(1):56-61.
http://www.herpconbio.org/volume_1/issue_1/Bury_2006.pdf