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. |
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LAB NEWS
(6-Aug) Collaborative ambystomatid eDNA project with Ben Brammell and undergraduate students at Asbury University has been accepted in Conservation Genetics Resources! (1-Aug) Maddie Mann (B.S. Hanover College) joins the lab as a grad student; her thesis research will involve ecological tradeoffs associated with aposematic coloration! (8-Jun) Josey's thesis research on honeysuckle impacts in experimental mesocosms is published in Biological Invasions! (11-May) Ian successfully defends his thesis research on intraspecific size variation optima in spotted salamander larvae! (13-Apr) The first part of Brady's thesis is out in Ecosphere! doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4474 (1-Apr) Mott presents at Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (22-Mar) Aaron is accepted into the doctoral program at the University of Houston in Molly Albecker's lab!! (23-26 Feb) Mott and Ian present at Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation |