Dr. Heather Mathewson is a project specialist for the Research and Management System for Endangered Species (RAMSES) team. She coordinates research projects pertaining to the study of the golden cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo in Texas. Her primary research interests focus on population demographics, impact assessments, avian ecology, and wildlife-habitat relationships.
Mathewson joined the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources in 2008. She earned her doctorate in the Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology program.at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her dissertation focused on factors affecting reproductive success and population demographics of willow flycatchers. She continues to supervise the long-term research in the Sierra Nevada on willow flycatchers and other riparian-nesting passerines.
Education
Ph.D. (Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology) University of Nevada, Reno, 2010
M.S. (Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences) Texas A&M University, 2002
B. S. (Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences) Texas A&M University, 1998
Professional Experience
Project Specialist, Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, 2011–present
Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, 2008–2011
Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, University of Nevada, Reno 2003–2008
Graduate Research Assistant, Texas A&M University, 2000–2002
Research Assistant, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, 1998–2000
Current Research
Effects of Wildfire on Black-capped Vireo and Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat
Positive effects of vegetation thinning on Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat
Distribution of Black-capped Vireos in Texas
Potential Impacts of highway construction on Golden-cheeked Warblers
Black-capped Vireo populations in Oklahoma
Black-capped Vireo population distribution in Mexico during the breeding season
Willow Flycatcher demographic monitoring in the Sierra Nevada, California
Student Advisory Committees
Dianne Robinson. M.S.
Hannah Pruett, M. S.,
Melanie Colon. Ph.D.
Ashley Long. Ph.D.
Teaching Experience
Human Anatomy and Physiology Labs I and II, Lab Coordinator & Head Teaching Assistant, University of Nevada, Reno 2003–2008
Colloquium in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno 2007–2008
Research and Management Techniques for Wildlife laboratory, Texas A&M University, 2000–2002
Publications
Peer-Reviewed
Campomizzi, A. J., J. A. Butcher, M. C. Cocimano, T. J. Conkling, S. L. Farrell, C. M. Lituma, H. A.Mathewson, M. L. Morrison, and R. N. Wilkins. Understanding reproductive failure in an endangered songbird. In review.
Cocimano, M. C., M. L. Morrison, H. A.Mathewson, and L. M. Vormwald. 2011. The influence of meadow moisture levels on activity of small mammals as potential nest predators in meadows in the Sierra Nevada, California. Northwestern Naturalist 92:50–56.
Collier, B. A., J. E. Groce, M. L. Morrison, J. C. Newnam, A. J. Campomizzi, S. L. Farrell, H. A.Mathewson, R. T. Snelgrove, R. J. Carroll, and R. N. Wilkins. 2012. Predicted patch occupancy in fragmented landscapes at the rangewide scale for an endangered species: an example of an American warbler. Diversity and Distributions 18:158–167.
Conkling, T. J., T. L. Pope, K. N. Smith, H. A.Mathewson, M. L. Morrison, R. N. Wilkins, and J. W. Cain, III. Black-capped vireo nest predator assemblage and predictors for nest success. Journal of Wildlife Management.In review.
Klassen, J. A., and H. A.Mathewson. Western scrub-jay detections in golden-cheeked warbler breeding habitat. Wilson Journal of Ornithology.In review.
Klassen, J. A., M. L. Morrison, H. A.Mathewson, G. G. Rosenthal, R. N. Wilkins. Canopy characteristics affecting avian reproductive success: the golden-cheeked warbler. Wildlife Society Bulletin.In press.
Peacock, M.M, M. L. Robinson, T. Walters, H. A.Mathewson, and R. Perkins. 2010. The evolutionary significant unit concept and the role of translocated populations in preserving the genetic legacy of Lahontan cutthroat trout. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 139:382-395.
Martin, T. E., R. D. Basser, S. K. Auer, J. J. Fontaine, P. Lloyd, H. A.Mathewson, A. Chalfoun, and A. Niklison. 2006. Geographic variation in egg mass among passerine species: effects of allometry, nest predation, and clutch size. Evolution 60:390-398.
Mathewson, H. A., J. E. Groce, T. M. McFarland, B. A. Collier, M. L. Morrison, and R. N. Wilkins. 2012. Estimating population abundance of Golden-cheeked Warblers. Journal of Wildlife Management 76: in press. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.352.
Mathewson, H. A.,H. L. Loffland, P. Brussard, and M. L. Morrison. Breeding ecology of Willow Flycatchers in the Sierra Nevada. Ornithological Monographs.In review.
McFarland, T. M., H. A. Mathewson, J. Groce, M. L. Morrison, C. Newnam, T. Snelgrove, K. Skow, B. Collier, and R. N. Wilkins. 2012. Utilization of a species distribution model for management and conservation. Wildlife Society Bulletin in press
Schwertner, T. W., H. A.Mathewson, J. A. Roberson, M. Small, and G. L. Waggerman. 2002. White-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica).InThe Birds of North America, No. 710. A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
Vormwald, L. M., M. L. Morrison, H. A.Mathewson, M. C. Cocimano, and B. A. Collier. 201.1. Survival and movements of fledgling Willow and Dusky Flycatchers. Condor 113:834–842.
Technical Reports
McFarland, T. M., H. A. Mathewson, M. L. Morrison, R. T. Snelgrove, J. E. Groce, K. Skow, B. A. Collier, and R. N. Wilkins. 2012. Estimating the distribution and abundance of the black-capped vireo in Texas. Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, College Station, Texas, USA.
Groce, J.E., H. A. Mathewson, N. Wilkins, and M.L.Morrison. 2010. Scientific evaluation for the 5-year state review of the Golden-cheeked Warbler. Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources.
Morrison, M. L., R. N. Wilkins, B. A. Collier, J. E. Groce, H. A. Mathewson, T. M. McFarland, A. G. Snelgrove, R. T. Snelgrove, and K. L. Skow. 2010. Golden-cheeked Warbler population distribution and abundance. Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, College Station, Texas, USA