LAB MEMBERS
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Dr. Lisanne Petracca, Principal Investigator lisanne.petracca [at] tamuk.edu Howe Agriculture Bldg 215D Lisanne's CV I am the Principal Investigator of the Spatial and Population Ecology of Carnivores (SPEC) Lab and Assistant Professor of Carnivore Ecology at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University Kingsville. My research focuses broadly on quantitative approaches to gain a better understanding of carnivore populations. A large part of my Professorship is devoted to recovery of the federally endangered ocelot, a neotropical small felid that is the center of a multi-partner reintroduction effort. I am also Principal Investigator of the South Texas Lion Project, which focuses on mountain lion population status and movement ecology in the US-Mexico borderlands region. I was formerly a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Washington, where I worked with Drs. Sarah Converse and Beth Gardner on gray wolf population dynamics and progress toward recovery goals in Washington State. Prior to entering academia, I spent nearly a decade as a Conservation Scientist and Geospatial Analyst in the nonprofit sector. |
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Dr. Matthew Smith, Research Assistant Professor
matthew.smith [at] tamuk.edu Matt's CV Matt's interests intersect applied and basic ecology, with a focus on how wildlife responds to global change. A central theme of his research has been understanding the different mechanisms that facilitate species recovery across a broad set of taxa. This work has included (1) understanding the environmental context that shapes occupancy, demography, foraging, and species interactions, (2) elucidating the genetic history and connectivity of populations, and (3) simulating demographic and genetic trajectories in the context of environmental change. As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Matt developed research to understand how the consumption of human food subsidies impacts the foraging ecology, movement, and demographics of black bears. This research integrated statewide datasets of stable isotopes, genetic data, and habitat use to disentangle the impact of human food subsidies. He is excited to join the SPEC lab working on ocelot recovery in South Texas and broader carnivore ecology. |
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Dr. Ariana Cerreta, Postdoctoral Research Associate
ariana.cerreta [at] tamuk.edu Ariana's CV Ariana’s research integrates cutting-edge genomic tools and spatial analyses to inform effective wildlife population management. Her research has largely focused on (1) employing state-of-the-art genomic tools to connect genes with eco-evolutionary processes, (2) using cost-effective, non-invasive methods for wildlife population monitoring, and (3) integrating spatial and genetic tools to prioritize management decisions. As a doctoral researcher at the University of Idaho, Ariana developed a novel genomic panel to survey candidate adaptive loci in gray wolves and investigate the genomic basis for processes such as dispersal and group cooperation. She will be leading the assessment of adaptive genomic regions from ocelots rangewide to inform reintroduction. |
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Robert Alonso
Program Manager, South Texas Lion Project robert.alonso [at] tamuk.edu Robert’s research interests span a variety of topics, including carnivore ecology, predator-prey dynamics, wildlife-habitat interactions, connectivity conservation, and conservation in working landscapes. Robert started his wildlife journey at West Virginia University with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resource Management. He then completed his M.S. in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University where he studied an isolated population of bobcats in an urban coastal reserve and evaluated coyote and bobcat connectivity across a fragmented landscape in southern California. His Ph.D. research at Virginia Tech focused on coyote, bobcat, and black bear niche dynamics, resource utilization, and deer consumption in the central Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. Robert strives to integrate multiple research methodologies (e.g. GPS telemetry, fecal DNA surveys, remote camera surveys) to answer applied management and conservation questions. |
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Ali Dart
Program Manager, SPEC Lab Ocelot Research alexandra.dart [at] tamuk.edu Ali Dart was born and raised in Minot, ND. She graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Minot State University in 2015. Since graduating, Ali and her daughter Emma have traveled the country in support of her husband, Marlin, as he pursued his Master’s degree and later began his Ph.D. program. Their journey has taken them to diverse and unique places, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii, and now Texas. Throughout her travels, Ali has found a passion for working in administrative positions at universities where she can assist students as they pursue their own careers. Throughout her career, she has worked for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Veterinary Science Department at South Dakota State University, as well as Travel Services at Texas A&M University - Kingsville. After two years, Ali transitioned to her new role as the Program Manager for the SPEC Lab team, and she is very excited for this opportunity! |
GRADUATE STUDENTS
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James Helferich, Ph.D. Candidate
Project: Ocelot density estimation in South Texas using spatially explicit and genetic capture-recapture Contact: james.helferich [at] students.tamuk.edu James’ project focuses on using a variety of techniques to estimate population densities (including scat collection, camera traps, and spatially explicit capture-recapture) of ocelots in South Texas. More broadly, his research interests include population ecology, GIS & geospatial techniques, capture-recapture, climate change, and endangered species conservation. He is originally from Albany, NY and received his Associate’s degree from Chattanooga State CC in Chattanooga, TN, and his Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science (minor in Applied Statistics) from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. He has worked for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Big Game Unit, and worked alongside the U.S. Forest Service while serving as an AmeriCorps member in Chattahoochee National Forest in GA. Most recently, he completed his Master’s degree at Mississippi State University where he studied conservation threats to the endangered Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake. This work included predicting the effects of climate change on growth and size, and using spatial capture-recapture to gain insight into population density and landscape use. |
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Tori Locke, Ph.D. Student
Project: Ocelot reproduction and kitten survival in South Texas Contact: victoria.locke [at] students.tamuk.edu Tori grew up in a small town in Ohio. From a young age, she had a strong desire to work with small wild cats. After she graduated with her Bachelor's degree in 2015 from The Ohio State University, she worked with a variety of small carnivore species including spotted and striped skunk, raccoon, opossum, gray fox, bobcat, and ocelot. Tori is very excited to be back in South Texas to complete her graduate work on ocelot reproduction and kitten survival at Texas A&M University - Kingsville. |
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Chloe Nouzille, Ph.D. Student
Project: Mountain lion ecology in South Texas Contact: chloe.nouzille [at] students.tamuk.edu Chloe received her B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of California, Irvine. Over the course of her undergraduate career, she worked as a veterinary technician and a laboratory assistant in Irvine, and as a research assistant at Mabula Game Reserve in South Africa. Following graduation, Chloe interned with the National Park Service, studying mountain lions in the fragmented landscape of Los Angeles. Her M.S. at the University of California, Los Angeles, focused on mammal recovery and recolonization following one of California’s megafires. Now as Ph.D. student, Chloe studies mountain lion ecology in South Texas. |
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Zachary Wardle, M.S. Student
Project: Florida panther spatial ecology Contact: zachary.wardle [at] students.tamuk.edu Zachary is a Florida panther biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where he is working to develop conservation incentive programs for panthers, mitigate human-panther conflict, and support panther research and monitoring efforts. His Master’s research focuses on understanding Florida panther spatial ecology in a changing landscape and aims to inform recovery strategies and conservation planning. Zachary is from southwestern Pennsylvania and received a B.S. in Environmental Science from American Public University. Prior to entering the wildlife field, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force working in geospatial intelligence and remote sensing. Zachary has conducted university and agency wildlife research across the country, focusing on carnivore and predator-prey ecology. He has studied multiple carnivore and ungulate species using a variety of techniques and is certified in Wildlife Track and Sign by CyberTracker Conservation. His recent work includes studying the spatial and road ecology of ocelots and bobcats in South Texas as a research associate with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. |
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Ray Turner, M.S. Student
Project: Impacts of linear infrastructure on mountain lions and other large mammals in South Texas Contact: Raymond.Turner [at] students.tamuk.edu Ray grew up in Northern California, where the surrounding public land solidified his fascination with the natural world. After working for several years at county and state parks, he yearned for a closer relationship with wildlife and pursued a Bachelor’s in Wildlife Conservation and Management at Cal Poly Humboldt. As a wildlife technician, Ray has worked on numerous projects involving ocelots, ducks, elk, and Humboldt martens. |
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Tam Ta, M.S. Student
Project: Wild and zoo-based ocelot genomics to inform reintroduction efforts Contact: tam.ta [at] students.tamuk.edu Tam received her B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science and a minor in Environmental Science & Resource Management at the University of Washington. During her undergraduate years, she dipped her toes into many different niches, from acoustic monitoring of rockfishes in British Columbia to analyzing cougar feeding behaviors via camera traps in the Cascades. After graduation, she spent two years as a lab scientist in the Medical Microbiology lab at the University of Washington Medical Center. She is continuing her focus on genomics through her M.S. at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville studying the genetic diversity of captive and wild populations of ocelots in South Texas. |
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Truman Collins, M.S. Student
Project: Assessing dietary niche of the mesocarnivore community in South Texas Contact: truman.s.collins [at] students.tamuk.edu Truman received his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institution and State University. Truman discovered his passion for wildlife conservation during his freshman year and channeled his lifelong love of animals into a degree. While at Virginia Tech, Truman interned with the WHAPA lab in Belize and maintained a camera trapping grid. Since completing his undergraduate degree, Truman has worked as a technician on mountain lion and white-tailed deer projects, helping collect data on prey selection. He joined the SPEC Lab in 2025 as a technician with the South Texas Lion Project. Originally from Virginia, Truman is enjoying learning more about the Texan ecosystem. He can usually be found outdoors and enjoys fishing, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, forestry, and camping. |
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Kyle Yorke, M.S. Student
Project: Interspecific interactions between bobcats and coyotes in a proposed ocelot reintroduction landscape Contact: kyle.yorke [at] students.tamuk.edu Kyle grew up in the Midwest with a deep appreciation for wildlife and natural spaces. After receiving a bachelor's degree in forestry and wildlife from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, he worked on a variety of projects in Northwest Montana. Prior studies have included monitoring threatened and endangered species in Glacier National Park and grizzly bear population trends in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. |
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Mikenzie Mathis, M.S. Student
Project: Noninvasive techniques to assess mountain lion populations in Val Verde County, Texas Contact: mikenzie.mathis [at] tamuk.edu Mikenzie earned her B.S in Conservation Biology at Illinois State University, not far from where she was raised. Mikenzie’s field experience includes work with bobcats and coyotes in Illinois and, eventually, with ocelots in South Texas with the SPEC Lab at TAMUK. Her positions as a field technician involved carnivore live trapping and collaring, population monitoring, kitten monitoring, den site investigations, and remote camera surveys. She is now a master's student and can pursue her passion for researching carnivores and working outdoors. |
TECHNICIANS
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Cameron Buck
Project: Texas Lion Project Contact: cameron.buck [at] tamuk.edu Cameron grew up in the New Jersey Pine Barrens and has always had a fascination with nature and wildlife, especially carnivores. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in 2024 from West Virginia University, which further cemented her passion for wildlife conservation and her appreciation for the vast diversity of ecosystems across the country. She has studied tidal marsh habitats, conducted bird surveys, and assisted in osprey nesting research in her home state, and she has also volunteered on projects in other states helping with raptor rehabilitation as well as deer trapping/research. Cameron is very excited to be working with the South Texas Lion Project; she’s greatly looking forward to getting involved in felid research as well as exploring everything that South Texas has to offer! |
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Annalise Diaz
Project: Density estimation of ocelots in South Texas Contact: annalise.diaz [at] tamuk.edu Annalise earned her BA in Conservation Biology and MS in Environmental Science & Policy from Clark University. Her field experience spans North, Central, and South America, including desert tortoise surveys in Nevada, sea turtle monitoring in Costa Rica, psittacine surveys in the Amazon, coral reef research in Panama, and camera trap surveys for jaguars in Belize. Annalise worked as a senior wildlife biologist in her home state of California for over ten years, leading surveys for northern spotted owls, marbled murrelet, northern goshawk, and other special status species. She recently joined the SPEC Lab as a research technician on the Ocelot Project and is excited to learn more about the South Texas ecosystem. |
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Thomas Simms
Project: Density estimation of ocelots in South Texas Contact: thomas.simms [at] tamuk.edu Thomas earned his B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management and audio production certificate at the University of Wyoming and is currently pursuing a geospatial information science and technology certificate at Central Wyoming College. Hailing from Minnesota, Thomas has spent much of his time in the Intermountain West working with a range of wildlife, including coldwater fisheries, elk, and bobcats. He is excited to join the SPEC Lab as a research technician. |
SPEC LAB GRADUATE ALUMNI
Katherine G. McDaniel, M.S. 2023-2026. Mountain lion (Puma concolor) presence and genetics in the context of the Texas-Mexico border barrier system. Co-advised with Dr. Michael Cherry.
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Alexandria N. Hiott, M.S. 2023-2025. Implications of potential disease transmission pathways to endangered ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in South Texas. Co-advised with Dr. Alynn Martin.
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Victoria L. Locke. M.S. 2023-2025. Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) survival and toxicity-related threats to survival in South Texas, USA.
First job after graduation: Ph.D. student, SPEC Lab :) |
Tyler A. Bostwick, M.S. 2023-2025. Genomic insights into endangered ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) populations to inform species recovery.
First job after graduation: Carnivore Research Specialist, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID |
FORMER SPEC LAB TECHNICIANS
Ocelot, Bobcat, and Coyote Research Program: Ray Turner, Nicole Durtschi, Katherine Campbell, Zaden Larson, Alannah Dodd, Allison Carter, Madison Null, Daniel Newman, Mikenzie Mathis
South Texas Lion Project: Mia Farah, Truman Collins, Kevin Kremer
Bolded names represent SPEC Lab technicians who became SPEC Lab graduate students
SPEC LAB UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ALUMNI
Shayla Haiflich. 2023-2025. LEADING Program.
Project 1: Mountain lion feeding ecology in the American Southwest
Project 2: Occupancy of ocelot and bobcat in private ranchlands of South Texas
SPEC LAB UNDERGRADUATE INTERNS
HEB Ocelot Interns:
Jacob Montoya, Samuel Longoria, Riley Griffin, Rebekah McPeek
Ocelot Research Undergraduate Employees (N=20):
AY 2023-2024: Haley Escamilla, Chisum Greene, John Krautz, Jeanette Velazquez
AY 2024-2025: Ethan Bennie, Lane Cody, Haley Escamilla, Riley Griffin, Shayla Haiflich, Jessica Johnston, John Krautz, Rebekah McPeek, Ja’Von Thomas, Kayla Totter, Jeanette Velazquez
AY 2025-2026: Abdiel De Hoyos, Haley Escamilla, Oscar Estrada, Riley Griffin, Megan Guerra, Enrique Hernandez, Samuel Longoria, Angel Martinez, Rebekah McPeek, Serena Quinones, Wraith Rodriguez, Ja’Von Thomas, Kayla Totter
