{"id":2459,"date":"2026-06-10T11:01:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T16:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/biology\/?page_id=2459"},"modified":"2026-06-10T11:01:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T16:01:37","slug":"dr-mark-mills-research-profile","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/biology\/dr-mark-mills-research-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Mark Mills | Research Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Mark<\/span><\/div>

Dr. Mark Mills<\/span><\/h2><\/div>

Title:<\/strong><\/span> Professor<\/span><\/span>
\nEmail:<\/strong> mmills3@missouriwestern.edu<\/a><\/span>
\nPhone:<\/strong> (816)271-4384<\/a><\/span>
\nAccepting Students:<\/strong> <\/span>Yes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Quick Bio<\/span><\/h2><\/div>

Dr. Mark Mills has been at ΄σΟσ΄«Γ½ since 2008. His research interests include herpetology, vertebrate ecology, aquatic ecology, and ichthyology. He is also the Faculty Cosponsor for Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society..<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Education\/Academic Qualifications<\/span><\/h2><\/div>

Ph.D., Ecology, University of Georgia<\/span>
\nB.S. and M.A., University of Nebraska at Omaha<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Campus Turtle Study<\/h2><\/div>

My students and I have been studying the ecology of turtles living in the 9 campus ponds since 2008. Using mark-recapture techniques, we have over 1000 captures of approximately 250 individually marked turtles of 5 native and 3 non-native species. To date, we have documented 77 turtles moving among campus ponds, with 3 turtles moving off or on campus from off-campus ponds.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Requirements<\/h3><\/div>

Preferably at least one Biology course; a strong interest in ecology and working in the field.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Spatial Ecology of Blanding’s Turtles at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge<\/h2><\/div>

Working with Darrin Welchert, USFWS Wildlife Biologist, we are using radio-telemetry to document habitat use and movement patterns of this state-endangered turtle.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Requirements<\/h3><\/div>

Prefer students who have at least taken Ecology; ability to work in sometimes difficult and physically demanding environments (i.e. the marsh at Loess Bluffs NWR).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Other Ongoing Research\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><\/div>