A wildlife biologist studies animals and their behavior along with the role each animal plays in its natural habitat. The duties of a wildlife biologist can include: developing and conducting experiments/studies on animals in their natural habitats, studying the characteristics of animals such as their interaction with different species, their reproductive and movement patterns, the dynamic within a population, and the transmission of diseases. Wildlife biologists can also play important roles in managing and monitoring population dynamics to preserve certain species and/or environments. They observe how animals interact with one another as well as how they interact with humans. Some wildlife biologists study the impacts of human interference on an ecosystem. Wildlife biologists can work with endangered species, advocate for preservation of wildlife, resolve issues pertaining to wildlife, and manage animal populations.
Education
Educational requirements for wildlife biologists typically include tertiary education, such as a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology, zoology, wildlife ecology, or general biology. Many universities offer specialist degrees or courses in wildlife biology. Career progression into research or university-based roles will usually require relevant doctoral qualifications.
Annual pay
In the
United States, the average pay for a wildlife biologist is $62,290 per year or $29.95 per hour. The top 10% of wildlife biologists can earn up to $99,700 a year. According to the
US Department of Labor, employment of wildlife biologists and zoologists is predicted to increase by 8% between 2016 to 2026, which is similar to the projected rate of increase in other occupations.
Specialized wildlife biologist
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Entomologists - study of insects
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Arachnologists
Arachnology is the scientific study of arachnids, which comprise spiders and related invertebrates such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, and harvestmen. Those who study spiders and other arachnids are arachnologists. More narrowly, the study of sp ...
- study of
spiders and related animals, such as
scorpions,
pseudoscorpions
Pseudoscorpions, also known as false scorpions or book scorpions, are small, scorpion-like arachnids belonging to the order Pseudoscorpiones, also known as Pseudoscorpionida or Chelonethida.
Pseudoscorpions are generally beneficial to humans sin ...
, and
harvestmen, collectively called
arachnids
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Herpetologists
Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) and rept ...
- study of amphibians and reptiles
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Ichthyologists - study of fish
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Mammalogists - study of mammals
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Primatologist - study of primates
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Marine mammalogist - study of marine mammals
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Cetologists
Cetology (from Greek , ''kētos'', "whale"; and , ''-logia'') or whalelore (also known as whaleology) is the branch of marine mammal science that studies the approximately eighty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in the scientific order ...
- study of whales
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Ornithologists - study of birds
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Marine biologists - study of marine animals
References
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