

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. In 2022 I accepted a position as a Biology professor at University of Louisiana at Monroe, where I currently work on research related to species conservation and habitat management.
Licensure & Certification
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 three projects. The first research project is focused on estimating Baird's Pocket Gopher abundance in the Vernon Unit of Kisatchie National Forest, LA. The deliverables from this project are axpected to support the reintroduction efforts for the Louisiana Pine Snake in Northern Louisiana.
The second project is a camera trap study for occupancy modeling of Gray Fox in Winn Ranger District of Kisatchie National Forest. This project aims to contribute important information on distribution, occupancy, and habitat selection of an important furbearer species (the Gray Fox) in Louisiana.
Finally, I am also working on developing a model to estimate the White-tail deer population in Louisiana by using harvest data and the Downing Population Reconstruction Model. My research interests are broad, but my current focus is the development of spatial and quantitative models that facilitate wildlife management.
Recent Publications
Research Grants
Courses Taught
BIOL 1001LIVING WORLD, 1 course(s)
BIOL 1022PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY II, 2 course(s)
BIOL 2041HUMAN ANATOMY LABORATORY, 2 course(s)
BIOL 3002PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY, 2 course(s)
BIOL 3016COMPARATIVE ANATOMY, 2 course(s)
BIOL 4099SENIOR BIOLOGY SEMINAR, 2 course(s)
BIOL 5005RESEARCH METHODS, 1 course(s)
BIOL 5006RESEARCH METHODS LABORATORY, 1 course(s)
BIOL 5007SEMINAR, 1 course(s)