Lizard in hand
Wildlife research at ASU Polytechnic

Heather Bateman

Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab

We focus on field ecology and conservation biology with an interest in how human land-use affects vertebrate populations and habitats. As Earth’s ecosystems move into a future of growing human influence, restoring the integrity of these ecosystems will become central to the conservation of biodiversity. Human activities tend to perturb ecosystems by suppressing natural disturbances such as flooding or fire. This can lead to a decline in native species and proliferation of non-native species. Our lab research interests lie in exploring population and community responses to habitat alteration, with a particular interest in reptiles, amphibians, and birds in riparian areas.