The gathering of range, forest, watershed, entomology and soil scientists into one integrated department is unique. Our department was organized in this fashion to best address the research, teaching and extension needs characteristic of the western U.S. The rationales for cross-disciplinary integration are illustrated by many examples, some of which follow. Range and forest land management decisions have a direct impact on the quality and quantity of water produced. Vegetation ecology is inextricably linked to habitat and forage on which wildlife and livestock rely. Invasive weeds are identified by the U.S. government as the biggest threat to biodiversity and productivity of range and forest lands. Bio-control, relying primarily on insects, is the most promising way to achieve practical long-term suppression of some invasive weeds or noxious insects. Grasshoppers, ticks, and bark beetles, do great damage to range and forest productivity; the key to their suppression is often based on melding an understanding of insect biology with range and forest ecology. Pivotal components of reclamation and restoration ecology relates to soil physical, chemical and microbiology issues. Understanding plant, wildlife, livestock, and insect interaction often is underlain by principles of soil and water management. Soil and insects are often some of the most useful indicators of the health of range and forest ecosystems. These examples illustrate the vital connectivity of the disciplines housed in our department.

The education of students in our department is enhanced by learning not only of their discipline but also how their discipline relates to others. This increases the marketability of our students when they seek rewarding jobs and is appreciated by their future employers. Our research increasingly tackles the information gaps which are at the frontiers of science, which lie in the connection between disciplines. Our extension programs offer integrated options needed to face real-world problems, which often are not separated along scientific disciplinary boundaries. Please contact us if we can be of any service in helping address your education or management needs.

Entomology: The Insect Science

Entomology is the study of insects and their relatives (ticks/spiders/mites); they comprise more than three-fourths of all animal species and are very important components of forest, range, crop, and aquatic ecological processes. Areas of study within the discipline of entomology include biology, ecology, and population suppression.

Insects are our greatest competitors for food and fiber, and some are responsible for the spread of human, animal, and plant diseases; therefore, one focus of entomology is development of suppression methodologies that are effective, economical, and compatible with the maintenance of environmental quality. One approach is to use some types of insects to prey on noxious plants and insects (a form of bio-control). Indeed, bio-control is one of the most promising ways to achieve practical long-term suppression of some invasive weeds on range and forest lands or suppression of some insect pests.

Many insects provide beneficial services such as pollination. Insects are increasingly used as part of environmental assessments because they are good bio-indicators of the health of terrestrial and aquatic environments. These are the types of things we focus on in our entomology teaching, research, and extension program.

Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management

Rangelands are the areas of the Earth that are capable of supporting plant and animal life but are not cultivated or dominated by trees; approximately 50 percent of the U.S. and 60 percent of the world's land area is classified as rangelands. These lands are complex ecosystems that provide food, fiber, water, recreation, wildlife, minerals, oil/natural gas and timber.

Understanding how rangeland ecosystems function, and developing skills to manage these lands for sustainable provision of multiple products, is the focus of the range science profession. This requires multi-disciplinary insights. Some examples are as follows. Water is increasingly becoming a limiting factor for many semi-arid regions of the world; therefore, management techniques to promote water yield and water quality is a growing focus of range and forest management. Issues regarding improved wildlife habitat management and biodiversity enhancement are also growing in importance as public interest increases regarding the aesthetic and recreational value of rangelands. Many rangelands are or have been the site of mineral extraction requiring development of innovative reclamation and restoration ecology techniques. Strategies to assure the ongoing economic viability of ranching enterprises involve balancing livestock, hunting, and eco-tourism enterprises. These are the types of things we focus on in our rangeland ecology and watershed management teaching, research, and extension program.

Soil Science

Soil is a natural resource that is an important factor determining the types, quality, and quantity of plants and animals which can thrive on a site. Soil strongly influences the movement of water, nutrients, and chemicals through ecosystems and, therefore, has a central role in influencing the quality of our environment. The physical properties of soil are a fundamental consideration for mining, construction, and mechanized agriculture.

Soil scientists use their understanding of soil properties to guide a wide variety of land uses associated with agriculture, waste treatment and recycling, reclamation and environmental assessment. Some examples are as follows: soil is the main storage site of the earth's carbon and is therefore an important consideration in understanding the nature of global climate change. Energy development often poses challenges for sustainable land use management, such as how the soil interacts with the chemical constituents (e.g., salt) in product water yielded as a result of coal-bed methane development. Understanding soil microbiology can be the most important factor to reclamation of range and forest sites after disturbance. Soil fertility issues are often complex and are germane to anyone who has lawn or potted plant or tries to earn a living on a farm or ranch. These are the types of things we focus on in our soil science teaching, research, and extension program.

Agroecology

The Department shares the agroecology degree program with the Department of Plant Sciences. The Agroecology program focuses on the agricultural ecosystem and its management. 

Research programs span the breadth of diverse issues facing Wyoming and the West including rangeland, forest, and agricultural ecology and management, disturbed lands reclamation and pest management including biological control. Service programs of the department include soil testing, insect identification and management, the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS), The Insect Museum, and the Beetle Rangelands Reference Center.