The Herpetology Lab
Eastern Illinois University
image of SJM  
cartoon frog
Stephen J. Mullin, Ph.D.

Department of Biological Sciences
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL  61920.3099
tel: 217.581.6234
fax: 217.581.7141
e-mail:  sjmullin<at>eiu.edu

  Shameless plug –   Snakes: Ecology & Conservation (ed. S.J. Mullin and R.A. Seigel).  Available from Cornell Univ. Press,
    and now available on a Kindle platform.
Professional Activities
 (Mullin's webpage)
Courses Offered
Research Projects
  :  Graduates
  :  Undergraduates


Former graduate students

Student publications
Graduate
  Herpetology (Bio4952)
  Ethics Seminar (Bio5150)

Undergraduate
  Animal Diversity (Bio1300g)
  Honors Environmental Life Science (Bio2092g)
  Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (Bio3620)
  Vertebrate Natural History (Bio3950)
Sociobiology (EIU4118g)
Honors Seminar (Bio4666)


On-going research projects
  The framework for my research interests is centered on predator-prey interactions and has two focal concepts:  the ecological influence of physical structure on interspecific interactions; and, the environmental and developmental cues that stimulate the expression of behavior.  Subtle changes in the structural complexity of a microhabitat may influence not only the expression of animal behavior, but also patterns of habitat selection and the frequency of organismal interactions.  Studies of this type can elucidate the factors regulating the population dynamics of species within particular habitat types, and have implications in conservation biology where the choice of sites appropriate for preservation is often debated.  A promotional video describing one recent project can be viewed here.

: Graduate Student

Corissa Lennon (B.S. in biology from Truman State Univ.)

–– diet analyses of North American Racers (Coluber).
image of Corissa
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  Former Graduate Students
Andrew Durso (2009-2011)

 -- the interaction of diet and behavior in Hog-nosed Snakes (Heterodon).

Presently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the Dept. of Biology at Utah State University.
  image for Durso
Beth Flitz  (1999-2003)

-- demography and nesting ecology of the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) in a fragmented habitat.

Presently employed by the McHenry County Conservation District , Illinois Department of Natural Resources 		image of Terrapene carolina
Angela Fornell (2006-2008)

-- foraging ecology of Prairie Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis c. calligaster) in response to different environmental cues.

Presently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the Dept. of Biology at the University of Texas at Arlington.		 image of angela f.
 
 C. Drew Foster (2002-2004)

-- performance of Two-striped Gartersnakes (Thamnophis hammondii) following ingestion of toxic and non-toxic prey types.

Presently employed as a Curator, Department of Herpetology, Phoenix Zoo
image of Drew Foster

Lee Gross (2005-2009)

-- conservation and repatriation of pond-breeding amphibians.

Presently enrolled in the Univ. of Illinois Veterinary Medicine Program
image of Gross

Kathryn Hale  (2008-2010)
-- predatory behavior in neonate Two-striped Gartersnakes (Thamnophis hammondii).

Presently employed as a Research Account Manager for ThermoFisher Scientific
Hale image
Sarabeth Klueh  (2003-2005)

-- demography and population modeling of Jefferson Salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum).

Presently employed as the Herpetologist, Wildlife Diversity Section, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources.
image of Klueh
Lorin Neuman-Lee  (2008-2010)

-- effects of in utero toxicant transfer on multiple endpoints in neonate Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon).  [video summary]

Presently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the Dept. of Biology at Utah State University.
Neuman-Lee image

Melanie Olds  (2005-2007)

 -- habitat selection and over-wintering site fidelity in Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon).

Presently employed as a Wildlife Refuge Specialist for the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (Colorado).
image of Olds
J. Brian Towey  (2001-2007)

-- recovery of pond-breeding amphibian populations following predator removal.

Presently employed as a Staff Ecologist at the Richardson Wildlife Foundation (Illinois).
image of Towey

Lee Walston  (2003-2005)

-- conservation ecology of pond-breeding
amphibian communities.

Presently employed as a Staff Ecologist at Argonne National Laboratories.
image of Walston

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Student Publications – the following are papers published during a student's association with the Mullin Lab, although not all of them have direct connection to the lab group's research.

Baumgartner, K.A.  2011.  Natural history notes: Incilius coniferus (breeding behavior).  Herpetological Review 42: 411-412.

Dunn, S.J.  2004.  Foraging and prey handling behaviors of the generalist Thamnophis hammondii offered various prey types.  Bios 75:58-64.

Durso, A.M.  2011.  Interations of diet and behavior in a death-feigning snake (Heterodon nasicus).  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

Durso, A.M., and K.P. Durso.  2010.  Natural history notes: Opheodrys aestivus (foraging).  Herpetological Review 41:95-96.  <download .pdf>

Durso, A.M., D.A. Warner, T.S. Mitchell, and A.M. Reedy.  2011.  Natural history notes: Heterodon nasicus (diet).  Herpetological Review 42:439-440.

 Durso, A.M., J.D. Willson, and C.T. Winne.  2011.  Needles in haystacks:  Estimating detection probability and occupancy of rare and cryptic snakes.  Biological Conservation 144:1508-1515.

Flitz, B.A.  2003. Nest-site Selection in the Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina , in a population in central Illinois.  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

Fornell, A.M.  2008.  Foraging site selection in Prairie Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis c. calligaster): An experimental approach.  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.
Foster, C.D.  2004. Physiological performance of Thamnophis hammondii is not affected after eating the toxic frog Xenopus laevis .  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

Foster, C.D. and P.M. Hampton.  2003.  Reptiles and amphibians of three state parks in east-central Illinois.  Transactions of the Illinois Academy of Sciences 96:219-228.

Foster, C.D., P. Hampton, & J.B. Towey.  2004.  Natural history notes: Scincella lateralis (predation).  Herpetological Review 35:269-270.

Gross, L.M.  2009.  Long-term assessment of predatory fish removal on a pond-breeding amphibian community in central Illinois.  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

 Hale, K.B.  2010.  Prey preference as a function of feeding experience and prey type in neonate gartersnakes (Colubridae: Thamnophis). M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

Klueh, S.  2005.  Size and reproductive activity of a geographically-isolated population of Ambystoma jeffersonianum in east-central Illinois.  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

Olds, M.J.  2007.  Habitat use and overwintering ecology of the Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) on an artificial levee in central Illinois.  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

Nelson, K.T., A.M. Durso, and R.V. Horan.  2010.  Natural history notes: Diadophis p. punctatus (diet).  Herpetological Review 41:90-91.  <download .pdf>

Neuman-Lee, L.A.  2010.  Multiple endpoints of endocrine disruption in gravid watersnakes (Colubridae: Nerodia) as a function of ingestion of a common herbicide.  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

Towey, J.B.  2007.  Influence of fish presence and removal on woodland pond breeding amphibians in central Illinois.  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.
Walston, L.J.  2005.  Resilience of an amphibian community following the removal of introduced fish.  M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University.

Walston, L.J., and K.J. Register.  2004.  Natural history notes: Ambystoma opacum (frequency of albino life stages).  Herpetological Review 35:365.

For other publications of the lab's work, please see Mullin's website .
For reprints of these articles, feel free to e-mail your request to:  sjmullin<at>eiu.edu

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