Faculty Profile for Dr. James D Emerson

profile photo for Dr. James D Emerson
Dr. James D Emerson
Senior Lecturer — Biology
SUPP 248
phone: (512) 245-7246
Scholarly/Creative Work

Biography Section

Biography and Education

 I am originally from Texas, being born and raised in the Texas Panhandle. My B.S. is in wildlife biology from West Texas A&M University, and my Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Teaching Interests

 I'm interested in teaching courses related to wildlife biology and management, ecology and conservation, behavior, and taxonomic courses for most vertebrate groups

Research Interests

 I am an early career behavioral ecologist, specializing in reptile and amphibian model systems. My primary areas of focus are movement patterns, habitat use and selection at multiple scales, and predator-prey interactions. Additionally, I have interests in conservation biology and natural history of herpetofauna.

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Emerson, J. D., & Emerson, J. D. (2023). Evidence for an Innate Basis of Prey Preference in a Desert Ambush Predator. Evolutionary Ecology, (37). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-023-10286-w
  • Emerson, J. D., DeSantis, D. L., Wagler, A. E., Mata-Silva, V., & Emerson, J. D. (2022). Movement, home range size, and habitat use of Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ornatus) in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Herpetologica, 78, 110–118.
  • Emerson, J. D., & Johnson, J. D. (2020). Crotalus ornatus: early feeding behavior. Herpetological Review, 51, 346.