Anastasia Couvillon, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biology

Education

Ph D

2016, Wildlife Management
Texas A&M University - Kingsville

MA

2011, Conservation Biology
Columbia University

BA

2009, Conservation Biology
State University of New York - College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Biographical Sketch

My background is in conservation biology and wildlife management. For my BA, I attended State University of New York - College of Environmental Science and Forestry. After receiving my BA in 2009, I went on to work on a Masters of Arts degree in captive management of endangered species at Columbia University. I received my MA degree in 2011. From 2012 to 2016 I completed my PhD dissertation in developing a decision support tool for the management of Mottled Duck populations in the Western Gulf Coast. From 2017 to 2021, I worked on a postdoctorate applying structured decision making and a decision-making framework to the prioritization of habitat in North America of waterfowl populations. Additionally, I worked on the re-stratification efforts of the North American waterfowl survey known as BPOP, which occurs annually across Canada and northern United States.

Licensure & Certification

Hunter Education Certification, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. (November 1 2023 - Present)

Research Interests

My research interests include the development and application of structured decision making and spatial modeling to conservation and management of threatened and endangered species. Currently, I am working on developing a research project on the estimation of Baird's Pocket Gopher abundance in Kisatchie National Forest, LA. Additionally, I am interested in the conservation and management of the endangered Black Rail in Southern Louisiana. Finally, my research interests also include the development of spatial and modeling tools that bridge the gap between policy and academic research.

Recent Publications

House, M., Couvillon, A., Wester, D. B., Glascock, S., Perotto, H., Weegman, M. A model for estimating the availability of foraging habitat for shorebirds in the Laguna Madre of Texas. Monroe: Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management.

Couvillon, A., Bidinosti, L., Morais, T., Eggeman, D., Lyons, J. Structured Decision Making and Value Model Approach to Habitat Prioritization for Conservation in the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture. Monroe: Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management.

Couvillon, A., Soulliere, G. J., Coluccy, J. M., Gordon, D., Eggeman, D., Al-Saffar, M. A., Humburg, D. D., Lyons, J. E. Regional Conservation Planning Tool: Exploring Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Priorities at Various Scales. Landscape Ecology.

Krainyk, A., Soulliere, G. J., Coluccy, J. M., Wilson, B. C., Brasher, M., Al-Saffar, M. A., Humburg, D. D., Lyons, J. E. (2022). Structured Decision Making to Rank North American Wetlands Conservation Act Proposals within Joint Ventures (pp. 375-395). Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management.

Krainyk, A., Lyons, J. E., Rice, M. B., Fowler, K. A., Soulliere, G. J., Brasher, M., Humburg, D., Coluccy, J. (2021). Multicriteria Decisions and Portfolio Analysis: Land Acquisition for Biological and Social Objectives. Ecological Applications.

Krainyk, A., Koczur, L. M., Ballard, B. M. (2020). A Spatial Model for the Beneficial Use of Dredge Spoil Deposition: Creation and Management of Breeding Habitat for Colonial Waterbirds in Texas. Journal of Environmental Management.

Krainyk, A., Lyons, J. E., Brasher, M., Humburg, D. D., Souillere, G. J., Coluccy, J. M., Petrie, M. J., Howerter, D. B., Slattery, S. M., Rice, M. B., Fuller, J. C. (2019). Spatial Integration of Biological and Social Objectives to Identify Priority Landscapes for Waterfowl Habitat Conservation (pp. 41). U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2019-1029.

Crouch, C. G., Flores, A. J., Krainyk, A., Brennan, L. A., Wester, D. B., Grahmann, E. D., Benson, R. H., Hernandez, F., Kelly, J. F. (2019). Comparative Habitat Use of Wintering American Kestrels and Loggerhead Shrikes Along South Texas Roadways (pp. 240-255). Southeastern Naturalist.

Krainyk, A., Ballard, B. M., Brasher, M., Wilson, B. C., Parr, M. W., Edwards, C. K. (2019). Decision support tool: Mottled duck habitat management and conservation in the western Gulf Coast (pp. 43-52). Journal of Environmental Management.

Krainyk, A., Finger, R. S., Ballard, B. M., Merendino, T., Wester, D., Terry, R. H. (2018). Habitat selection by Mottle Duck Anas fulvigula broods (pp. 104-122). Wildfowl.

Krainyk, A., Ballard, B. M. (2016). Testing the Performance of the Mottled Duck Decision Support Tool for Habitat Conservation and Management in the Western Gulf Coat. Gulf Coast Prairie Landscape Conservation Cooperative.

Bates, E. M., Koczur, L. M., Krainyk, A., Ballard, B. M., Kasner, A. C. (2016). Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Foraging Habitat Availability for Reddish Egrets in the Laguna Madre, Texas (pp. 251-258). International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation.

Krainyk, A., Ballard, B. M. (2014). Decision Support Tool: Prioritization of Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) Habitat for Conservation and Management in the Western Gulf Coast. . Gulf Coast Prairie Landscape Conservation Cooperative.

Research Grants

Couvillon, A. (Principal), "Local and Landscape Level Habitat Use by Big-headed Squirrel (Sciurus niger ludovicianus) in Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana" (Pending Funding Decision), Sponsored By Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $198,510. (August 1 2024 - May 1 2026).

Couvillon, A. (Principal), Hoffman, J. (Co-Principal), "Estimating Abundance and Distribution of the Baird's Pocket Gopher in Kisatchie National Forest" (Not Funded), Sponsored By Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $226,159. (August 2023 - August 2025).

Couvillon, A. (Principal), "US Fish and Wildlife Service Internship Program" (Funded), Sponsored By US Fish and Wildlife Program, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $49,975. (September 1 2023 - February 28 2025).

Couvillon, A. (Principal), "Kitty Degree Endowed Professorship" (Funded), Sponsored By University of Louisiana at Monroe, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $7,660. (July 1 2023 - June 30 2024).

Courses Taught

BIOL 1022PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY II, 1 course(s)

BIOL 2041HUMAN ANATOMY LABORATORY, 1 course(s)

BIOL 3016COMPARATIVE ANATOMY, 1 course(s)

BIOL 4099SENIOR BIOLOGY SEMINAR, 1 course(s)

BIOL 5005RESEARCH METHODS, 1 course(s)

BIOL 5006RESEARCH METHODS LABORATORY, 1 course(s)

Anastasia Couvillon, PhD Assistant Professor, Biology