Natural Resources
Conservation and management of natural resources implies a considerate use of these resources in a multifaceted way. This approach includes the development of novel management practices that ensure both the preservation of habitat for rare plants and animals as well as sustainable agriculture and grazing practices, which conserve the quality of our soil, waterways, lakes and streams. Rangelands are the foundation of livestock production operations, wildlife habitat, watershed management and outdoor recreational opportunities within the state and region. We strive to work together in an interdisciplinary way to preserve the integrity of our natural resources.
Natural resources provide (1) nonconsumptive economic benefit through the conservation of terrestrial and aquatic habitat that supports plant and animal species as well as (2) consumptive economic benefit through the annual harvest of surpluses from renewable natural resources such as waterfowl, pheasants and fish. Rare organisms, such as the western fringed prairie orchid, swift foxes or pallid sturgeon, often are best managed through conservation management plans.
Our department's field-based instructional approaches complemented by lab and experiential learning opportunities increases our fundamental knowledge of the ecology and biology of factors impacting both threatened species, populations, and ecosystems, and nonthreatened and game species.
Learn more about our programs.
The department's on-campus facilities are primarily located in the Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Laboratory, which was constructed in 1993. There is approximately 22,700 square feet of assigned space in the building. Some faculty are also located in the West River Research and Extension Center in Rapid City.
- Main office and 3 office spaces for the South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
- Ph.D. graduate student office suite.
- Bird, fish, reptile, mammal, invertebrate, and herbarium teaching collection rooms, including the C.A. Taylor Herbarium.
- Necropsy-dissection laboratory.
- Oak Lake Field Station
- Natural Resource Management Wildlife and Fisheries Research Unit
- Cottonwood Range and Livestock Field Station
