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Emma Willcox

Professor | School of Natural Resources
Overview

I graduated with my BS in Zoology from Cardiff University, U.K. in 2001 and my MS in Conservation Biology, from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, UK in 2002. After working for the Frankfurt Zoological Society an ecologist in Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania, East Africa for 2 years, I decided to pursue my PhD. I graduated from the University of Florida with a PhD in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation in 2010, following which I worked for the University of Florida Extension Service. I joined the faculty in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries at the University of Tennessee as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Wildlife Science in 2012 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2018.

Research Focus

Research in my lab is primarily focused on examining how mammals respond to anthropogenic stressors and the threats emerging infectious diseases pose to mammal populations.

Research Questions
  • My research program has 4 primary concentrations: 1) examining the effects of habitat degradation, loss, management, and restoration on mammal populations; 2) understanding the ecology and management of emerging infectious diseases of mammals; 3) identifying habitat components necessary for the persistence of threatened mammal populations; and 4) developing novel methods and technologies that allow more effective monitoring of declining mammal populations. Much of my current work is focused on bats and other small to medium sized mammals.
Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
FWF 415 - Upland Habitat Management
2 credit hour(s)

Detailed examination of applied management practices and their impact on wildlife habitat in forests, early successional cover, and cropland. Includes silvicultural techniques, prescribed fire, mechanical field treatment, herbicides, and food plots.

(RE) Prerequisite(s) : FWF 212 and FWF 315.

Other Instructors: Phillips, Lindsey Morgan

Semesters Offered: Fall
FWF 416 - Planning and Management of Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
3 credit hour(s)

Integrated forest and wildland resource management through developing land management plans and analyzing case studies including conflict resolution. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (EI)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour and 2 labs.
Registration Restriction(s): Restricted to Forestry and Wildlife and Fisheries Science majors only; minimum student level – senior.

Other Instructors: Jean-Philippe, Sharon | Sharp, Ryan Leonard

Semesters Offered: Spring
FWF 432 - Communicating Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Issues
1 credit hour(s)

Identification of the complex issues related to forestry, wildlife, and fisheries (FWF) management and conservation and develop the environmental communication skills needed to effectively convey these issues to various target audiences. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (AOC)

Semesters Offered: Spring
FWF 590 - Advanced Topics in Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
1 - 3 credit hours

Recent advances and concepts, research techniques, and analysis of current problems.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Phillips, Lindsey Morgan | Kwit, Charles | Harper, Craig A | Taylor, Adam

Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
FWF 603 - Research Planning
1 - 15 credit hours

Preliminary research and investigation of dissertation research topic.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 21 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level -graduate.

Other Instructors: Harper, Craig A

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
WFS 100 - Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries Science
1 credit hour(s)

Introduction to wildlife and fisheries management; review of research and management topics in wildlife and fisheries and current issues.

Semesters Offered: Fall
WFS 425 - Tropical Ecology, Conservation, and Field Methods
3 credit hour(s)

This study abroad course will cover tropical ecology and conservation concepts, issues, principles, and practices. In addition, it will provide experience in the field methods and techniques used by managers and researchers to study terrestrial natural resource ecology and conservation in tropical regions.

Other Instructors: Willcox, Adam Sage

Semesters Offered: Summer
WFS 434 - Ecology and Conservation of Tropical Mammals
3 credit hour(s)

This course will examine tropical ecosystems and the taxonomy, diversity, life history, management, and conservation of associated mammal species.

(RE) Prerequisite(s) : FWF 315. Credit Restriction: Students may not receive credit for both FWF 434 and FWF 534.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
WFS 440 - Wildlife Techniques
2 credit hour(s)

Methods in wildlife damage control, forest, farmland, wetland wildlife habitat management, identification of wildlife field sign, wildlife capturing techniques, and management plan preparation. Weekend field trips (2) required. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (EI)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour and 1 lab or field.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : WFS 100 and FWF 212, FWF 250, FWF 310, and FWF 315.

Semesters Offered: Fall
WFS 496 - Internship in Wildlife and Fisheries Science
3 credit hour(s)

Supervised experience at departmental-approved employment location arranged by the student. Internship learning objectives must be pre-approved by the advisor/instructor and the field supervisor. Daily log, supervisor evaluations, and final report required. One credit per two weeks of full-time supervised field experience maximum. Up to 3 credits may be used for science elective.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
WFS 560 - Advanced Topics in Wildlife and Fisheries Science
1 - 3 credit hours

Recent advances and concepts, research techniques and analysis of current problems.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : 443, 444, and 445 or consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Wilber, Mark Quentin | Muller, Lisa Irene

Semesters Offered: Fall
WFS 593 - Independent Study in Wildlife and Fisheries Science
1 - 4 credit hours

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.

Semesters Offered: Summer
Picture of Emma Willcox

865-974-7888

ewillcox@tennessee.edu

459 Agriculture and Natural Resource Building
2431 Joe Johnson Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Managemen, University of Florida, 2010
  • MS, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Other, 2003
  • BS, Zoology/Animal Biology, Cardiff University, 2001

Emma Willcox

Professor | School of Natural Resources
Picture of Emma Willcox image

865-974-7888

ewillcox@tennessee.edu

459 Agriculture and Natural Resource Building
2431 Joe Johnson Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Managemen, University of Florida, 2010
  • MS, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Other, 2003
  • BS, Zoology/Animal Biology, Cardiff University, 2001
Overview

I graduated with my BS in Zoology from Cardiff University, U.K. in 2001 and my MS in Conservation Biology, from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, UK in 2002. After working for the Frankfurt Zoological Society an ecologist in Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania, East Africa for 2 years, I decided to pursue my PhD. I graduated from the University of Florida with a PhD in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation in 2010, following which I worked for the University of Florida Extension Service. I joined the faculty in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries at the University of Tennessee as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Wildlife Science in 2012 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2018.

Research Focus

Research in my lab is primarily focused on examining how mammals respond to anthropogenic stressors and the threats emerging infectious diseases pose to mammal populations.

Research Questions
  • My research program has 4 primary concentrations: 1) examining the effects of habitat degradation, loss, management, and restoration on mammal populations; 2) understanding the ecology and management of emerging infectious diseases of mammals; 3) identifying habitat components necessary for the persistence of threatened mammal populations; and 4) developing novel methods and technologies that allow more effective monitoring of declining mammal populations. Much of my current work is focused on bats and other small to medium sized mammals.
Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
FWF 415 - Upland Habitat Management
2 credit hour(s)

Detailed examination of applied management practices and their impact on wildlife habitat in forests, early successional cover, and cropland. Includes silvicultural techniques, prescribed fire, mechanical field treatment, herbicides, and food plots.

(RE) Prerequisite(s) : FWF 212 and FWF 315.

Other Instructors: Phillips, Lindsey Morgan

Semesters Offered: Fall
FWF 416 - Planning and Management of Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
3 credit hour(s)

Integrated forest and wildland resource management through developing land management plans and analyzing case studies including conflict resolution. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (EI)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour and 2 labs.
Registration Restriction(s): Restricted to Forestry and Wildlife and Fisheries Science majors only; minimum student level – senior.

Other Instructors: Jean-Philippe, Sharon | Sharp, Ryan Leonard

Semesters Offered: Spring
FWF 432 - Communicating Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Issues
1 credit hour(s)

Identification of the complex issues related to forestry, wildlife, and fisheries (FWF) management and conservation and develop the environmental communication skills needed to effectively convey these issues to various target audiences. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (AOC)

Semesters Offered: Spring
FWF 590 - Advanced Topics in Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
1 - 3 credit hours

Recent advances and concepts, research techniques, and analysis of current problems.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Phillips, Lindsey Morgan | Kwit, Charles | Harper, Craig A | Taylor, Adam

Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
FWF 603 - Research Planning
1 - 15 credit hours

Preliminary research and investigation of dissertation research topic.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 21 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level -graduate.

Other Instructors: Harper, Craig A

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
WFS 100 - Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries Science
1 credit hour(s)

Introduction to wildlife and fisheries management; review of research and management topics in wildlife and fisheries and current issues.

Semesters Offered: Fall
WFS 425 - Tropical Ecology, Conservation, and Field Methods
3 credit hour(s)

This study abroad course will cover tropical ecology and conservation concepts, issues, principles, and practices. In addition, it will provide experience in the field methods and techniques used by managers and researchers to study terrestrial natural resource ecology and conservation in tropical regions.

Other Instructors: Willcox, Adam Sage

Semesters Offered: Summer
WFS 434 - Ecology and Conservation of Tropical Mammals
3 credit hour(s)

This course will examine tropical ecosystems and the taxonomy, diversity, life history, management, and conservation of associated mammal species.

(RE) Prerequisite(s) : FWF 315. Credit Restriction: Students may not receive credit for both FWF 434 and FWF 534.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
WFS 440 - Wildlife Techniques
2 credit hour(s)

Methods in wildlife damage control, forest, farmland, wetland wildlife habitat management, identification of wildlife field sign, wildlife capturing techniques, and management plan preparation. Weekend field trips (2) required. Satisfies Volunteer Core Requirement: (EI)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour and 1 lab or field.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : WFS 100 and FWF 212, FWF 250, FWF 310, and FWF 315.

Semesters Offered: Fall
WFS 496 - Internship in Wildlife and Fisheries Science
3 credit hour(s)

Supervised experience at departmental-approved employment location arranged by the student. Internship learning objectives must be pre-approved by the advisor/instructor and the field supervisor. Daily log, supervisor evaluations, and final report required. One credit per two weeks of full-time supervised field experience maximum. Up to 3 credits may be used for science elective.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
WFS 560 - Advanced Topics in Wildlife and Fisheries Science
1 - 3 credit hours

Recent advances and concepts, research techniques and analysis of current problems.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : 443, 444, and 445 or consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Wilber, Mark Quentin | Muller, Lisa Irene

Semesters Offered: Fall
WFS 593 - Independent Study in Wildlife and Fisheries Science
1 - 4 credit hours

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.

Semesters Offered: Summer