Life History, Ecology, and Conservation of VertebratesMy research broadly focuses on (1) understanding vertebrate life history and ecology and (2) using this information to guide conservation and management decisions. I use ecological and natural history data to answer hypotheses related to thermal ecology, behavioral ecology, population connectivity, reintroduction ecology, and impacts of natural or anthropogenic stressors on reptile, amphibian, or avian populations. I also conduct species status surveys for rare reptile and amphibian species. To learn more about my current or past research, go to my research page.
My teaching interests closely mirror my research interests, so that one complements the other. As a field biologist, I value experiential learning and "learning by doing". This strategy provides better student engagement and deeper learning opportunities (and often good times too!). Such experiences include taking field trips to natural areas, identifying specimens to hone diagnostic skills, class field projects, and learning field techniques. To learn more about the classes I teach, go to my teaching page. If you have any questions or wish to collaborate on a project, please contact me at will.selman@millsaps.edu. 
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Recent NewsFebruary 2022
- Honor's Student Anna Grace Boxx presented her Honor's Thesis at the Millsaps Honor's Symposium and wins the award for best Honor's Project in the Division of Sciences. Congrats to AG! December 2021 - Co-author paper on the reproductive ecology and nesting success of Reddish Egrets published in the journal Waterbirds. September 2021 - Co-author paper on the aging of wild ectothermic vertebrates submitted to Science. - Co-author paper on the aquatic turtle community in an urban floodplain accepted in the Urban Naturalist. July/August 2021 - Completed the first year of field research to document the status of four rare salamanders in northeastern Mississippi. May/June 2021 - Completing final year of field research to determine the status of three turtles in the Pearl River system in Louisiana. March 2021 - Co-authored paper on 33 new reptile and amphibian county records or range extensions published in Herpetological Review. OLD NEWS |