Research in our lab at the University of Arkansas focuses on understanding factors that drive population and community dynamics of reptiles and amphibians including inter- and intraspecific interactions, environmental variation, and anthropogenic impacts such as land-use change, pollution, and invasive species. Our work uses a combination of descriptive, experimental, and theoretical approaches to integrate responses from the level of the individual organism to the landscape. We are also interested in basic aspects of reptiles and amphibian ecology that set them apart from other vertebrates.

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Current research areas in the Willson Lab include:

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1) Evaluating population and landscape-scale effects of anthropogenic stressors (pollution, land-use change, intensive forestry, invasive species) on amphibians and reptiles.

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2) Understanding the ecology, impacts, and management of Burmese pythons and other invasive snakes.

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3) Assessing biotic and abiotic drivers of aquatic snake population and community dynamics within wetland ecosystems.

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4) Development of novel field and analytical methods to understand reptile and amphibian distribution and abundance.

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Please contact Dr. Willson if you are interested in research or graduate student opportunities.