{"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 MoWest 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>