The Wildlife Society Conference 2025, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

This past October, a few members of Dr. Mathewson’s lab had the opportunity to travel to Edmonton, Alberta for The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference. All of the students in attendance presented research in the form of an oral or poster presentation, and got to speak with other like-minded students and professionals about their research. While in Canada, there were many events where students were able to network with professionals, other student chapters, and researchers alike. The event opened up a lot of opportunities for all in attendance, and Tarleton’s very own student chapter won Student Chapter of The Year out of all the student chapters! This trip proved successful in both research and collaboration.

Student Presentations

  • Atkinson*, H. P., T. Cosper**, A. Singleton***, A. B. Mitchell, and H. A. Mathewson. Predicting habitat for bumble bees in Texas based on floral availability and seasonality.

  • Cosper**, T. C., H. A. Abelein**, A. Mitchell, J. Xu, J. Huang, F. Wang, and H. Mathewson. Tarantula and whip scorpion response to erosion control blankets: an experimental approach.

  • Delahoussaye*, C.E., Z. B. Bellows**, C. R. Starnes**, and H. A. Mathewson. Activity of waterfowl in nontraditional wintering areas in Texas.

  • Garibay**, R., Z. Bellows**, C. Starnes**, D. B. Murray, and H. A. Mathewson. Seasonal shifts in temporal activity overlap between feral pigs and white-tailed deer in riparian habitats of north-central Texas.

  • Navar*, L. M., R. Garibay**, C. Starnes**, Z. Bellows**, and H. Mathewson. Nocturnal vs diurnal use of riparian areas by feral pigs in north-central Texas.

  • Starnes**, C. R., Z. Bellows**, and H. A. Mathewson. How Ashe juniper mitigation affects avian diversity along riparian corridors.

  • Triplett*, G., L. C. Willingham***, A. Hoxie**, A. Singleton***, R. Srinivasan, B. J. Heidinger, and H. A. Mathewson. Investigating potential pathways of microplastic ingestion in songbird nestlings.

American Ornithological Society Annual Conference 2025, St. Louis Missouri

Dr. Heather Mathewson, Zach Bellows, Ty Cosper, and Cameron Starnes attended the 2025 annual American Ornithological Society conference in August. Here, Zach, Ty, and Cameron presented posters on avian research.

  • Bellows**, Z., C. Delahoussaye*, C. Starnes**, R. Garibay**, and H. A. Mathewson. Site use of three waterfowl species in the Cross Timbers ecoregion of north-central Texas.

  • Cosper**, T. C., and H. A. Mathewson. Use of community science to further understanding of greater roadrunner habitat use.

  • Starnes**, C. R., Z. Bellows**, and H. A. Mathewson. Does restoration of a riparian area affect songbird populations and communities.

We also attended a St. Louis Cardinals game!!

Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Conference 2025, Denton Texas

Dr. Heather Mathewson and many of the students attended the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society in February 2025 in Denton Texas. We enjoy attending these conferences and meeting professionals. We as students involve ourselves at these conferences through volunteering and assisting with set up, take down, and everything in between! We’ve had students enter their photos and art into the photo and art contests held every year. (Student Awards) The Tarleton State University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society won the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Student Chapter of the year award at this conference, making this back to back wins for our students.

Student Presentations

  • Abelein**, H. A., T. C. Cosper**, A. Mitchell, J. Xu, J. Huang, F. Wang, and H. A. Mathewson. Herpetofauna impediment and entanglement risks in erosion control products.

  • Ament, R., T. Cosper**, H. A. Mathewson, and A. B. Mitchell. Evaluating efficacy of pollinator sampling techniques for comparison with novel molecular methods: preliminary findings.

  • Atkinson*, H. P., E. Shaw**, A. Singleton***, A. Mitchell, and H. Mathewson. Predicting habitat for bumble bees in Texas based on floral availability and seasonality.

  • Bellows**, Z. B., D. Murray, and H. Mathewson. Vegetation responses after disturbance from Ashe juniper removal.

  • Berry**, C., L. C. Willingham***, A. D. Patterson**, A. Mitchell, and H. A. Mathewson. Use of eBird community-science data to predict the distribution of wintering grassland songbirds in the western Cross Timbers ecoregion.

  • Bratten*, A.L., A.N. Hoxie**, L.C. Willingham***, A. L. Singleton***, R. Srinivasan, B. Heidinger, H.A. Mathewson. Prescence of microplastics in arthropods ingested by house sparrows.

  • Castanon**, N. N., A. B. Mitchell, H. A. Mathewson, D. B. Murray, and J. P. Muir. Sustainable grazing effects on spider communities in north-central Texas rangelands.

  • Cosper**, T. C., H. A. Abelein**, A. Mitchell, J. Xu, J. Huang, F. Wang, and H. Mathewson. Arachnid response to erosion control blankets: an experimental approach.

  • Delahoussaye*, C.E., Z. B. Bellows**, C. R. Starnes*, R. Garibay**, and H. A. Mathewson. Seasonal abundance and site use of three waterfowl species in north-central Texas.

  • Hoxie**, A.N., R. Srinivasan, A.B. Mitchell, B. Heidinger, H.A. Mathewson. Addressing assumptions of nonlethal monitoring of microplastic contamination in house sparrow nestlings. (1st place, Cottam Awards)

  • Hurta*, C.G., L. Willingham***, A. Hoxie**, B. Heidinger, and H.A. Mathewson. How does temperature across a latitudinal gradient affect house sparrow egg mass?

  • Tyler** Zahn*, A. B. Mitchell, and H. A. Mathewson. Exploring coleopteran community dynamics following long-term grassland restoration efforts in a New England grassland.

  • Morgan*, J., A. Hoxie**, L. Willingham***, G. Gold*, B. Heidinger, and H. Mathewson. Influence of nest insulation on hatching success during extreme heat.

  • Navar*, L. M., R. Garibay**, C. Starnes**, Z. Bellows**, and H. Mathewson. Nocturnal vs diurnal use of riparian areas by feral pigs in north-central Texas.

  • Sanders*, G. S, T. C. Cosper**, M. M. Koeck**, D. Beard, A.B. Mitchell, and H.A. Mathewson. Arthropod response to grazing of Southern Plains bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas.

  • Singleton*** A. L., A. B. Mitchell, and H. A. Mathewson. Evaluating caterpillar use of drought-tolerant landscape perennials under water restrictions in north-central Texas.

  • Soechting**, G.C., L. Linhoff, M. Shea, and H.A. Mathewson. 2025. How does foraging enrichment reduce maladaptive behavior in captive giraffes?

  • Starnes**, C. R., Z. Bellows**, and H. A. Mathewson. Does restoration of a riparian area affect songbird populations and communities.

  • Willingham***, L. C., B. J. Heidinger, and H. A. Mathewson. How are environmental factors influencing hatching failure in house sparrows along a latitudinal gradient?