Biology

A wildlife biology scientist is responsible for the study of organisms and their interactions with the environment. A world life biologist studies the different types of animals, plants and organisms and the relation to their environment. The wildlife ecologists on the other hand are more specific in dealing with plants animals and organisms. Their role is to dig deeper in the behavioral traits of animals and organism and explain the reasons behind the behavior traits. The ecologists are also concerned with the physical, chemical, and natural phenomena that affect the wildlife or plants in a particular way. Ecologists carry out research either to add knowledge or to solve a particular problem. Anyone aimed at becoming an ecologist would therefore have a passion for research, communication, and analytical work required in presenting the research to different people with different education and cultural backgrounds. An ecologist is therefore an important link between the people, the environment and the animals and organisms in that environment.

Before practicing as an ecologist, the education background requirement depends on the role that will be assumed. This may be either high-level research used by academicians or the management research. In both the above, some skills such as communication, analytical skills, and computer application skills are required. A wildlife ecologist is therefore a multi skilled professional with diverse skills that aid in their operations.


Who is a Wildlife Biologist
A wild life biologist is a person who deeply studies animals, plants and the environment in general. Specifically the biologists study the interaction of the animals and the environment, their patterns of behaviors, animal migrations, and the diseases affecting them (Black, 2010). The purpose of their studies is to have a better understanding of animal-animals interactions, and animals- environment interactions. A wildlife biologist plays a vital role in determining many policies affecting the wildlife in general. These policies include the effects of human development, effects of deforestation, the effects of hunting policies, and aiding in animal rehabilitation, rescue, or even relocation (Black, 2010). A wildlife biologist is therefore someone with the love and fascination of working outdoors in the environment and with animals.
 
A wildlife biologist is responsible for educating others about animals, their environment, and their respective behaviors. According to Black (2010), certain behaviors in animals are very fascinating. These include the  animal reactions, reasons for those specific reactions, explaining the movement of animals form one place to another and specifying why the animals move in those specific places. Understanding the above behavior traits would then go a long way in helping the communities to plan on animals wondering in the communal areas. Understanding the animals would also make the communities deal with the animals in a better and informed way.
   
A wildlife biologist is therefore an important professional in the community who bridges the gap between the people, the animals, and the environment and enhances better understanding and harmonized existence between the three. Having more wildlife biologists in the community would enhance better living and appreciation of nature in our communities.

Responsibilities of a Wildlife Ecologist
The responsibilities of a wildlife ecologist are diverse in indentifying the different environmental factors and their effects on the wildlife and environment. Examples of these responsibilities include investigating the effects of altitude, temperatures, population size, pollutants, and altitude on the relations of organisms and their respective environment. Their research is aimed at reporting the quality of the environmental factors and their effects on plants, organisms, and wildlife in that particular environment. An ecologist is expected to carry out extensive research aimed at developing solutions to the diverse problems affecting the environment or animals. This explains why an ecologist should be someone well fascinated by nature since most of their work is based out doors unlike many other careers.

An ecologist will collect data on pollutants in the environment and analyze the effects of the specific pollutants to the ecosystem (Diploma guide, 2010). This includes the collection of chemical, biological, and physical samples to define the characteristics of a specific site or environment, which later helps in decision making and management. The management involves defining the suitability of having plants and animals in a particular environment and what should be done to improve the existence of such organisms in that environment.

As an ecologist, you work closely with other professions in other fields such as engineers, technicians, and other scientists in different projects. The main role is to give environmental impact on different projects touching on the animal, fauna, and the environment in general. The professionals may either decline or adopt the ecologists advice at the end.

Educational and Employment Background
The specific job requirements of a particular ecologist largely depend on the position required. For ecologists who would like a teaching career in learning colleges or those with an aim of conducting independent research on the industrial scale, then the qualifications should be a bit higher than those of an average ecologist. They require a PhD in the field of biology and a strong publishing and research work history (Diploma Guide, 2010). They are the professionals who have mastered the ecology and give the required knowledge to students and other academicians through publication of journals and other academic writings.

Those students who would like to venture in product development, inspection, management and applied research require a masters degree in a science discipline or ecology (Diploma Guide, 2010). Their qualifications rating are not required to be as high as for the previous class. Apart from these qualifications in ecology, any one pursuing a career as an ecologist should have the following additional qualifications at the background of the profession Chemistry, geology, environmental science, statistics, and climatology, strong communication skills, technical writing skills and taxonomy (Diploma Guide, 2010). These are required to ensure a better understanding of the general environment including plants, soils, water, animals, and organisms, and the knowledge to do research and carry out analytical work and reporting.

Employers apart form these ecology related degrees would be looking for candidates with software experience in applications and experience in similar methodologies and related experience in the field. According to Diploma Guide (2010), the Ecological society of America (ESA), offers certifications to prospective ecologists with an aim of making them certified ecologists.

Wildlife Biologists and Personal Requirements
Any candidate who might consider venturing into wildlife biological science and particularly ecology requires the following characteristics A strong sense in taking responsibility of wildlife resources, the urge and drive to promote wildlife multiplication so as to increase their population, the drive to work in the field for long hours and the urge and ability to assist others to appreciate the value of wildlife (University of Wisconsin, 2009). Therefore only those who consider themselves as real environmentalists , those who love and cherish the natural history and those who are real conservationists do qualify to study and practice in the field of Wildlife ecology. If any of the above characters is not interesting to a student, then wildlife ecology would not be the profession to be practiced by such a student.

Current Research Projects
 One of the current research developments in progress in wildlife ecology is the development of a vaccine to control the grey squirrel population.  Professor Harry Moore of Sheffield University initiated the vaccine development in a bid to control the population of grey squirrels, which were threatening both the red squirrels and deciduous trees by swallowing large seedlings (Red squirrel Group, 2009). The control of the grey squirrel would therefore save many deciduous trees and give the red squirrel a better breeding space. This was after a research suggested that the removal of gray squirrels enhances multiplication of red squirrels (Red squirrel Group, 2009). Trapping of the grey squirrels would not be a successful mechanism, and hence a vaccine to prevent their procreation would be necessary to reduce them
 
Another current research on progress is the reduction of people- elephant conflict in India. This conflict has resulted into destruction of property, loss of life for both the locals and the elephants while others have been left injured. The Indo- U.S based forum of Science and Technology (IUSSTF), the GeoDa Center, NCF, and NCBS, funded a members visit to India to discuss the effects and mitigation measures of the elephant  people conflict in Bandipur and Valparai areas of India. (GEODA, Arizona). These among others are the current areas of research and development in Wildlife Ecology now.

Essential Scientific Skills
Communication skill is the most essential skill as a Wildlife Biologist. This is because most of the work has to be done in the field as research work. The researchers have to interact with different people in correcting data, sensitizing communities or in education forums. Communication skills both written and verbal are therefore essential as a wildlife biologist professional.

Future of Wildlife Biology
There is uncertain future for wildlife biologists globally. With the current developments in the environmental degradation and global climate effects, many changes in the field of wildlife biology are still expected in the future. Although there are some commitment in habitat conservation in some areas such as in the U.K (Anglia Ruskin University, 2010), the global warming effect is increasingly making some constituents of biodiversity to gradually change or perish. This is a challenge to the wildlife biologists in the current and the future era to find other methods of conserving wildlife, fauna, and other microorganisms, which have been largely threatened by the global changes. The population increase and the technological growth in the current era have been singled out as some of the worst threats to animal habitats (Anglia Ruskin University, 2010). The fact that most organizations have been receiving much funding in wildlife conservation and development research paints a bright and promising near future for the wildlife Biologists who are deeply involved in research work aimed at procreation, or conservation of wildlife plants or organisms.

Conclusion
A wildlife biologist and more specifically and ecologist is someone with a passion for nature and how it operates, must have attained high qualifications in biological sciences, must be ready to facilitate the understanding of nature to others and must have a passion for working in the field. Therefore, the profession of an ecologist requires a devoted person to nature rather than taking the profession as a choice like the rest of the professions. The commitment and the work of a wildlife biologist are vital in enhancing knowledge of nature to the community and other professions.

There have been many challenges in the field of wildlife biology due to the current technological and population growth, in areas previously occupied by wildlife. This has led to serious wildlife-Human conflicts leading to loss of lives and property. All the same, the wildlife biologists are in an effort to establish solutions in how the conservation of endangered species in plants and animals could be carried out are carrying out much research and developments. This is the biggest challenge facing the wildlife biologists as they strive to explain and conserve nature.