Dr. Mullin's research focuses on two concepts:

1. The ecological influence of physical structure on interspecific interactions.

2. The environmental and developmental cues which stimulate the expression of behavior.

Subtle changes in the structural complexity of a microhabitat may influence not only the expression of animal behavior, but also regulate patterns of habitat selection. Predator-prey systems that include snakes are typically examined in addressing these topics. Dr. Mullin teaches Vertebrate Natural History and Herpetology with a field-based component for each course.

Positions held

2005-present Publications Secretary, The Herpetologists' League Board of Directors.
2004-present Joint Herpetological Societies Education Committee.
2004 Organizer and co-host for the 4th Snake Ecology Group conference.
2003-present Director, Departmental Honors Program
2000-present American Institute for Biological Sciences, list moderator of EVOLEDIL (internet discussion group that promotes evolution in educational curricula).

Recent poster presentations

Olds, M.J. and S.J. Mullin

A Levee Runs Through It: Habitat Use by Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) in an Aquatic Mosaic. 2007

Gross, L.M., Gaines, K.F.,  and S.J. Mullin

Atrazine in agricultural runoff and its impacts on two anuran species in central Illinois. 2007

Walston, L.J., and S.J. Mullin. Population responses of wood frog (Rana sylvatica) tadpoles to overwintered bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles. 2006.

Florey, J. and Mullin, S.J. A survey of anuran breeding activity in Illinois, 1986-1989. 2005.

Klueh, S. and S.J. Mullin. Population ecology of the Jefferson salamander, Ambystoma jeffersonianum, in Illinois. 2005.

Walston, L.J. and S.J. Mullin. Resilience of a pond-breeding amphibian community following the mitigation of introduced fish. 2005.

Mullin, S.J. and C.A. Phillips. Snake Ecology 2004: Another meeting of the minds. 2003.
 

Recent presentations

2006 Mullin, S.J. Ecological effects within communities: Population responses to intra- and

             inter-ecosystem introductions. Biology Department, University of Illinois at Springfield.

             (invited lecture)
2005 Mullin, S.J., S.J. Dunn, and R.N. Fisher. Attacking the invaders: how a generalist snake

             forages successfully for three introduced prey species. Joint Meetings of Herpetologists &

             Ichthyologists. (paper)
2004 Flitz, B. and S.J. Mullin. Daily movement in the Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina,

             in a population in central Illinois. Joint Meetings of Herpetologists & Ichthyologists. (paper)
2004 Mullin, S.J. Rat snakes in variable environments: Do generalists 'care' about optimality?

             Department of Biology, Northern Illinois University. (invited lecture)
2003 Mullin, S.J. Ecological disturbance in local and regional settings: Boon or bane for the

             Herpetologist? Department of Biology, University of Texas – Pan American. (invited lecture)
2003 Mullin, S.J., J.M. Fish, E.L. Ervin, and R.N. Fisher. Chemosensory cues from exotic and native

             prey species: How does a native natricine snake respond? Joint Meetings of Herpetologists

             & Ichthyologists. (paper)
2002 Mullin, S.J. and R.J. Cooper. Climbing performance and behavior in an avian nest predator

             (Colubridæ: Elaphe). Animal Behavior Society. (paper)

Recent publications
 

Walston, L.J., and S.J. Mullin. 2007. Responses of a pond-breeding amphibian community to the

             experimental removal of predatory fish. Amer. Midl. Nat. 157:63-73.

Walston, L.J., and S.J. Mullin. 2007. Population responses of wood frog (Rana sylvatica) tadpoles to

             overwintered bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles. J. Herpetol. 41:23-30.
Flitz, B., and S.J. Mullin. 2006. Nest-site selection in the eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina

             carolina, in Illinois. Chelonian Conservat. Biol. 5:309-312.
Florey, J., and S.J. Mullin. 2005. A survey of anuran breeding activity in Illinois, 1986-1989. Trans.

               Illinois State Acad. Sci. 98:39-47.
Walston, L.J., and S.J. Mullin. 2005. Evaluation of a new method for measuring salamanders.

               Herpetol. Rev. 36:290-292.
Forsythe, P., B. Flitz, and S.J. Mullin. 2004. Radio telemetry and post-emergent habitat selection of

               neonate box turtles (Emydidae: Terrapene carolina) in central Illinois.

               Herpetol. Rev. 35:333-335.
Mullin, S.J., J.B. Towey, and R.A. Szafoni. 2004. Using Rotenone to enhance native amphibian

               breeding habitat in ponds (Illinois). Ecol. Restorat. 22:305-306.
Mullin, S.J., H. Imbert, J.M. Fish, E.L. Ervin, and R.N. Fisher. 2004. Snake (Colubridae: Thamnophis)

               predatory responses to chemical cues from native and introduced prey species. Southwest.

               Nat. 49:449-456.
Mullin, S.J. and R.J. Cooper. 2002. Barking up the wrong tree: Climbing performance of rat snakes

               and its implications for depredation of avian nests. Can. J. Zool. 80:591-595.

Recent grant awards

2006-07    Repatriation as a mechanism for restoring a pond-breeding amphibian community. U.S.

                Fish & Wildlife Service and Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources; US$75,220°°.
2006-07    Colonization of newly-constructed wetlands by an amphibian community. Wildlife

                Preservation Fund, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; US$2,000°°.
2005-06    Spatial ecology and microhabitat fidelity of northern watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) using

                an artificial den site. Eastern Illinois University Council on Faculty Research; US$2,768°°.
2003-04    Size and reproductive activity of a geographically-isolated population of mole salamander

               (Caudata: Ambystoma) in east-central Illinois. Eastern Illinois University Council on Faculty

               Research; US$2,804°°.
2003-04    Recovery of pond-breeding amphibians at Warbler Woods Nature Preserve