Dr. Jonathon Valente
I am a research ecologist and statistician who uses advanced quantitative tools to answer questions at the intersection of fundamental ecology and applied conservation. My research aims to understand the factors impacting the distributions and population dynamics for individual species and whole communities, then use that information to identify populations of conservation concern and ultimately develop effective conservation and management actions. I am the Assistant Unit Leader of the Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, which means I am a federal scientist stationed at Auburn University. I also have a faculty appointment in the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and the Environment at Auburn, through which I teach and advise graduate students.
Justin Hall (Research Assistant)
I am the Inventory and Conservation Planning (ICP) Project Manager. I received my B.S in Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech in 2016. During this time, I worked on a variety of projects including small mammal live trapping, mammal camera trapping, and endangered species monitoring. After graduation, I worked as an endangered species survey technician, National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) lead technician and full-time ecologist, American robin field assistant, and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR) CWD technician. My primary interests include migratory bird ecology, ecology, management, and conservation of shorebirds and secretive marsh birds, small mammal population dynamics, and the effects of forest management on bird and mammal populations.
Sinka Khadijah Abubakar (MS Student)
I am Sinka Khadijah Abubakar, a graduate student reading Natural Resources. Broadly, my research interest lies in remote sensing applications in the environment and for natural resources management. I have expertise in using GIS and remote sensing technologies for Landscape Mapping, Fragmentation Analysis, Land Use Land Cover Change and Intensity Analysis, and Carbon Stock Assessments. My current research focuses on using remote sensing to characterize vegetation structure in and around different Wildlife Management Areas across the state of Alabama as part of an Inventory and Conservation Planning action. I wish to become a great asset in the near future and contribute to regional and global discussions and engagements in line with Earth Observation for landscape analysis, forest monitoring, and biodiversity conservation.
Kylie Blake (MS Student)
I am a graduate research assistant pursuing a master’s degree in natural resources. I am exploring the role of social information in avian habitat selection. My research centers on using conspecific attraction as a management tool to attract birds of conservation concern to protected areas with high-quality habitat. My primary interests include avian ecology and behavior, environmental management, and the effects of habitat change on biodiversity. Outside of research, I love running, crafting, and discovering new places through hiking and exploration.
Darcey Gans (MS Student)
I am a Graduate Research Assistant pursuing a master’s degree in wildlife science. I received my B.S. in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota in 2020, with dual minors in Communications and Behavioral Biology. During my degree I participated in research on monarch butterfly development, stable isotope analysis in American black bears, and the influence of roads on wild canine movements. Following graduation, I worked as a bat field technician with Indiana State University, assisted in research on Appalachian cottontails with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and served as the Conservation Education Specialist for Bur Oak Land Trust. My current research focuses on evaluating the status and distribution of Alabama’s native mammal species as part of the Inventory and Conservation Planning (ICP) Project. My research interests include applied ecology, species distribution modelling, social-ecological systems, and the research-implementation gap in wildlife.
Lucas Parvin (MS Student)
I am interested in exploring the complexities of animal behavior, especially in response to environmental changes and human disturbance, in ways that inform and enhance management aimed at conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Rylee Tomey (PhD Student)
“I’m a graduate research assistant working toward a PhD, focusing on integrating diverse data sources into population models to guide decision-making for White-tailed Deer management in Alabama and beyond. My academic journey began at Purdue University in 2018 and continued at Auburn University, where I completed an MS thesis on rabies epizootiology. Splitting my time between fieldwork and model-based projects has given me an appreciation for a multifaceted approach to addressing complex ecological challenges. I’m passionate about applied research that supports practical wildlife management and the development of tools to make environmental health literacy more accessible to everyone.”
Willow Kay (Undergraduate Student)
I am a undergraduate student in Wildlife Ecology and Management. I am interested in population dynamics with breeding birds in Alabama Ecosystems. In the summer I assist with avian point counts and other lab duties.
Grace Southerland (Undergraduate Student)
I am an undergraduate student pursuing my bachelor’s in wildlife ecology and management. I work with the lab as a field technician performing avian point counts and vegetation sampling, and I hope to enter the field of conservation ecology. Some of my key interests are bird behavior, novel predator interactions, and other anthropogenic influences on bird populations.