University of Charleston

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Stephen G. Mech, Ph.D.

Stephen Mech
Contact Info

stephenmech@ucwv.edu

304-352-0026

Professor of Biology

  • Ph.D. in Zoology, Washington State University 1999.
  • M.S. in Statistics, Washington State University 1998.
  • BS in Biology, Boise State University 1992.

 

Post-graduate Positions Held

  • January2015-present – Coordinator of Casa de Gratitude, Río de Sueños, Albright College, Costa Rica
  • August2015-present – Professor, Albright College, Reading, PA
  • August 2011-May 2017 – Department Chair, Biology Department, Albright College, Reading, PA
  • August 2008-2015 – Associate Professor, Albright College, Reading, PA
  • January 2003-July 2008 – Assistant Professor, Albright College, Reading, PA
  • November2001-December 2002 – Post-doctoral Fellow, Dr. Andrew Storfer advisor, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
  • August2001-October 2001 – Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
  • July 1999-July2001 – Post-doctoral Fellow, Dr. Jerry O. Wolff advisor, Department of Biology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

Publications (* denotes undergraduate author)

  1. Brown, A. S.*, S. G. Mech, and J. Drasher. 2021. Implications of anthropogenic habitat disturbance on the home range size and habitat selection of the Eastern box turtle (Terrapene c. carolina). Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. 95:28-42.
  2. Pope, B. M., P. K. Kennedy, S. G. Mech, and M. L. Kennedy. 2017. Spatial variation in sexual size dimorphism of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) in eastern North America. The Southwestern Naturalist. 62:121-128.
  3. Mech, S. G. and A. Chesh*. 2014. Effects of roads on movement of displaced white-footed deermice (Peromyscus leucopus). Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. 88:89-94.
  4. Storfer, A., S. G. Mech, M. W. Reudink, and K. Lew*. 2014. Inbreeding and strong population subdivision in an endangered salamander. Conservation Genetics. 15:137-151. DOI 10.1007/s10592-013-0526-3
  5. Bolker, B.M., F. de Castro, A. Storfer, S. Mech, E. Harvey and J.P. Collins. 2008. Disease as a selective force precluding widespread cannibalism: A case study of an iridovirus of tiger salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum. Evolutionary Ecology Research. 10:105-128.
  6. Storfer, A., M. E. Alfaro, B. J. Ridenhour, J. K. Jancovich, S. G. Mech, M. J. Parris, and J. P. Collins. 2007. Phylogenetic concordance analysis shows an emerging pathogen is novel and endemic. Ecology Letters. 10:1075-1083. DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01102.x
  7. Reudink, M. W., S. G. Mech, and R. L. Curry. 2007. Structure and dynamics of the hybrid zone between black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina chickadee (P. carolinensis) in southeastern Pennsylvania. The Auk: Ornithological Advances. 124:463-478.
  8. Reudink, M. W., S. G. Mech, and R. L. Curry. 2006. Extra-pair paternity and mate choice in a chickadee hybrid zone. Behavioral Ecology. 17:56-62. DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ari098
  9. Storfer, A., S. G. Mech, J. P. Collins, M. W. Reudink, R. E. Ziemba, and J. Warren. 2004. Evidence for introgression in the endangered tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum stebbinsi. Copeia 4:783–796.
  10. Kollars, P. G., M. L. Beck, S. G. Mech, P. K. Kennedy and M. L. Kennedy. 2004. Temporal and spatial genetic variability in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Genetica. 121:269-276.
  11. Kennedy, M. L., S. G. Mech, B. Tran, J. W. Grubaugh, and C. Lydeard. 2003. An assessment of sexual size dimorphism in the coyote (Canis latrans). Mammalia. 67:411-417
  12. Mech, S. G., A. Storfer, J. E. Ernst, M. W. Reudink, and S. C. Maloney. 2003. Polymorphic microsatellite loci for tiger salamanders, Ambystoma tigrinum. Molecular Ecology Notes. 3:79-81
  13. Mech, S. G., A. S. Dunlap*, and J. O. Wolff. 2003. Female prairie voles do not select mating partners based on scent marking or agonistic behavior. Behavioural Processes. 61:101-108
  14. Wolff, J. O., S. Mech, A. S. Dunlap*, and K. E. Hodges. 2002. Multiple-male mating by paired and unpaired female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Behaviour. 139:1147-1160.
  15. Hodges, K. E., S. Mech, and J. O. Wolff. 2002. Sex and the single vole: impacts of social grouping on prairie vole reproductive success. Ethology. 108:871-884.
  16. Wolff, J. O., S. G. Mech, and S. A. Thomas. 2002. Scent marking in female prairie voles: a test of alternative hypotheses. Ethology. 108:483-494
  17. Mech, S. G., and P. A. Zollner. 2002. Using body size to predict perceptual range. Oikos. 98:47-52.
  18. Mech, S. G., and J. G. Hallett. 2001. Evaluating the effectiveness of corridors: a genetic approach. Conservation Biology. 15:467-474.
  19. Ferkin, M. H., S. G. Mech, and G. Paz-Y-Mino C. 2001. Scent marking in meadow and prairie voles: A test of three hypotheses. Behaviour. 138:1319-1336.
  20. Call, D. R., J. G. Hallett, S. G. Mech, and M. Evans. 1998. Measuring genetic variation and population structure with multilocus fingerprinting: some cautionary notes. Molecular Ecology. 7:1337-1346.
  21. Presentations (last five years):
  22. Mech, Stephen G. 2024. Exploring the urban-rural gradient: Engaging undergraduates in ecological research. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Boulder, CO.
  23. Schiding, Victoria*, Stephen Mech, and Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar. Impact of fenced exclosure on mammal abundance in an old orchard. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Boulder, CO.
  24. Mech, Stephen G., Amanda Cheesman, Elmer Finck, et al. 2023. Changing topics: Presentations at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists 2008-2022. 13th International Mammalogical Congress (a joint meeting of the International Federation of Mammalogists and the American Society of Mammalogists), Anchorage, AK.
  25. Mech, Stephen G. 2023. Potential factors affecting Peromyscus tick burden. 13th International Mammalogical Congress (a joint meeting of the International Federation of Mammalogists and the American Society of Mammalogists), Anchorage, AK.
  26. Mech, Stephen G., Ryan Brett, and Emily Lenkevich*. 2022. Impacts of periodical cicada outbreaks on Peromyscus leucopus. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Tuscon, AZ.
  27. Brett, Ryan* and Stephen Mech. 2021. Population response of Peromyscus leucopus to ectoparasite density and succession in a managed forest. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Virtual Meeting.
  28. Organizer of the 2019 PAS Symposium “Connecting Society with Science: How can scientists better communicate with the public” at Cedar Crest College.

Past Student Projects

  1. Road-crossing behavior of small mammals.
  2. Population dynamics of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) in Nolde Forest (PA).
  3. Impact of logging on small mammal communities in a managed forest.
  4. Exploring population genetics of white-footed mice in Nolde Forest.
  5. Influence of ectoparasites on movement and demographics of white-footed mice.
  6. Response of white-footed to periodical cicada emergence.
  7. Monitoring wildlife exclosures in conjunction with Antietam Park (PA) deer removal program.
  8. Tracking effects of powerline replacement on Eastern Box Turtles.
  9. Assessing acoustic call monitoring and mist-net captures of bats in Costa Rica.
  10. Exploring the sound ecology of an urban-rural gradient.

My research focuses on the impact humans have on the natural environment and how animals respond to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts. I am particularly interested in how animals use and respond to the urban-rural gradient.

My hobbies include hiking (often with my dogs), cycling, and brewing beer. I am also interested improving my nature photography skills.