Welcome to the Mott Lab webpage!

We use field, mesocosm, and laboratory approaches in addressing issues in amphibian ecology, biogeography, and conservation.  Our behavioral ecology research focuses on the roles of cannibalism, heterospecific predation, and other agonistic interactions in creating and maintaining aquatic communities, particularly in larval salamander assemblages exhibiting guild structure.  We also investigate geographic range-wide patterns of distribution and abundance among the Amphibia, with particular focus on ecological and evolutionary phenomena occurring at range margins.  Most recently, we have started to utilize publicly available datasets and macroecological methods to address large-scale questions in amphibian ecology and conservation.

Outside of these three broad research areas, undergraduate and graduate students also frequently pursue related topics in herpetology, amphibian ecology, conservation biology, etc.  Current projects are briefly described in the "Research" tab.

LAB NEWS
(17-Aug) The lab welcomes two new grad students this fall.  Sandra Elliott and Brady Parlato will both be taking on projects dealing with tadpole ecology.  Renae Steinberger is also now pulling double duty as an undergrad lab assistant while conducting undergrad research on size-diet-energetic relationships in larval salamanders.

(15-May) Out in southern Indiana and Eastern Kentucky this summer collecting data on Jefferson salamander populations toward our EKU Research Enhancement Grant!

(11-Feb) Congratulations to summer 2019 REU student Lexi Robison, as she's accepted a summer technician position with the USGS under the Northeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (NEARMI)!!!

(31-Jan) Just getting final approvals for more climate change + phenotypic plasticity research, with funding provided by a Research Enhancement Grant from EKU!