Kim Tolson

Professor

School of Sciences

HANN 339

318-342-1805

Kim M Tolson, PhD
Professor, Biology

Education

Ph D

1988, Pharmacology/Toxicology
Northeast Louisiana Univesity

BS

1979, Wildlife Conservation and Management
Louisiana Tech University

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Kim Marie Tolson is a Professor of Biology at The University of Louisiana Monroe, and has been a member of the graduate faculty since 1990. Her teaching focus is primarily organismal/ecology based classes such as Game Mammals & Fur Bearers, Field Biology, Avian Ecology, Game Birds, and Mammalogy. Her favorite classes have an active laboratory component that takes the student out of the classroom and into the field for hands-on experiences.

She is active in professional organizations and is a past-president of the Association of Southeastern Biologists and the Louisiana Association of Professional Biologists/Louisiana Chapter of the Wildlife Society. She currently serves as the Chair of the Louisiana Feral Hog Management Advisory Task Force that was established by the Louisiana Legislature. She also sits on the Board of Directors, and serves as Secretary, for the non-profit organization Louisiana Hunters for the Hungry.

Dr. Tolson has a dynamic research laboratory that houses multiple graduate students engaged in various projects associated with wildlife (game and non-game species) conservation and management. She has been successful in securing external funding for research from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, USDA-APHIS, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program. Her contacts with these agencies/organizations have proven to be very beneficial for her graduate students securing employment upon graduation. Dr. Tolson’s graduate students also gain valuable exposure from presenting their research at professional meetings on the state and national level.

Since Louisiana is the “Sportsman’s Paradise”, Dr. Tolson has a close connection with the hunting public and is a popular speaker with civic groups and hunting organizations, and at other natural resource agency events. She loves engaging with the public and high-lighting the work conducted by both herself and her graduate students at ULM.

Licensure & Certification

Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Training Program, Richard Chinn Environmental Training, Inc.. (August 26 2010 - Present)

Advanced Wildlife Forensics Short Course, College of Forest Resources and Division of Continuing Education, Mississippi State University. (June 2000 - Present)

Louisiana Private Pesticide Applicator Certification, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. (August 2022 - March 31 2025)

Working with Amphibians in Research Settings, University of Miami, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program. (June 10 2020 - June 10 2023)

Intermediate Wildlife Forensics Short Course, College of Forest Resources and Division of Continuing Education, Mississippi State University. (June 1999 - June 2000)

Basic Wildlife Forensics Workshop, College of Forest Resources and Division of Continuing Education, Mississippi State University. (June 1998 - June 1999)

Research Interests

Wildlife Conservation and Management: Biology and control of feral hog populations; Biology and management of white-tail deer, emphasis on reproduction; Management and ecology of both game and non-game wildlife species in southeastern ecosystems.

Creative Works

Art - Exhibition, Group, DRAWN to Biology, Sterlington, LA. (February 1 2023).

Recent Publications

Wiedemeier, A., Tolson, K. M. DRAWN to Histology: A Novel Approach to Collaboration and Service Learning in a Upper Division Biology Laboratory. Monroe: American Biology Teacher.

Jenkins, N. L., Tolson, K. M., Carr, J. L., LaCour, J. M. Investigation of a shell-rot disease affecting freshwater turtles in northeast Louisiana. Monroe: Journal of Wildlife Diseases.

Haynes, J. C., Duguay, J. P., Tolson, K. M. (2019). Enhancing nocturnal habitat for the American Woodcock on Louisiana wintering grounds (pp. 130-135). Proceedings of the Eleventh American Woodcock Symposium/UMN Libraries Publishing.

Carr, J. L., Tolson, K. M. (2018). Observations on reproduction in the Western Chicken Turtle, Deirochelys reticularia miaria, in Louisiana (pp. 280-283). Southwestern Naturalist.

Duguay, J., Tolson, K., Holt, J. (2017). Lead shot deposition in fields managed for mourning doves in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana (pp. 68-72). Journal of the Association of Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Duguay, J., Tolson, K. M., Herrington, C. American woodcock (Scolopax minor) microhabitat use on the wintering grounds in Louisiana. Southeastern Naturalist.

Haynes, J. C., Duguay, J., Tolson, K. M. A management approach to nocturnal habitat selection of the American woodcock (Scolopax minor) on the wintering gounds in south-central Louisiana. The Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Tolson, K. M., LaCour, J. M. (2013). The Reproductive Potential of Feral Hogs in Louisiana and Their Impact on Forestry and Agronomic Activities (pp. 47-56). Baton Rouge, LA: LSU AgCenter.

Quinn, J. E., Tolson, K. M. (2009). Proximate mechanisms of parasitic egg rejection by the Northern Mockingbird (pp. pp. 180-183). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology.

Baranski, M. J., Tolson, K. M. Seasonal Avian Use and Abundance at Two Wildlife Management Areas in Northeast Louisiana. Louisiana Journal of Ornithology.

Tolson, K. M. (2005). Alabama Wildlife, Vols. 1-4 (pp. 446-448). Burlington, NC: Southeastern Biology.

Tolson, K. M. (1999). Just When is the Rut Around Here Anyway?. Vicksburg, MS: Anderson-Tulley.

Tolson, K. M. (1999). Breeding Date Research: Area 4. Baton Rouge, LA: DMAP Newsletter.

Research Grants

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), "ASN Turtle Nest Project" (Funded), Sponsored By USFWS through GC-CESU, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $9899. (April 11 2022 - March 31 2023).

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), Jenkins, N. (Co-Principal), LaCour, J. M. (Co-Principal), "Pilot Study of an Undiagnosed Disease Affecting Freshwater Turtles in a Northeast Louisiana Bayou" (Not Funded), Sponsored By Wildlife Disease Association - Wildlife Veterinary Section Small Grants, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $4,152.92. (April 1 2021 - December 31 2021).

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), Jenkins, N. (Co-Principal), "Pilot Study of an Undiagnosed Disease Affecting Freshwater Turtles in a Northeast Louisiana Bayou" (Not Funded), Sponsored By Chelonian Research Foundation, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $650.00. (March 1 2021 - December 31 2021).

Sasek, T. (Principal), Tolson, K. M. (Co-Principal), Case-Hanks, A. (Co-Principal), Leppert, K. (Co-Principal), Anderson, J. (Co-Principal), "School of Sciences on a Sphere" (Not Funded), Sponsored By Louisiana Board of Regents Super Fund, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $66,270. (July 01 2020 - July 30 2021).

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), "Establishing a Multimedia Instructional Facility on the First Floor of Hanna Hall" (Funded), Sponsored By ULM Student Technology Access Plan (STAP) Committee, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $3,906.30. (February 17 2021 - June 30 2021).

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), "Wi-Fi for Hanna Hall and the ULM Museum of Natural History to Benefit Instruction" (Funded), Sponsored By ULM Student Technology Access Plan (STAP) Committee, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $6,768.00. (February 17 2021 - June 30 2021).

Wiedemeier, A. (Principal), Tolson, K. M. (Co-Principal), "Drawing is the Art of Learning" (Funded), Sponsored By ULM Academic Innovation Center, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $751.91. (February 22 2021 - May 2021).

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), "Facility Enhancement for ULM Museum of Natural History" (Funded), Sponsored By ULM Office of Student Life and Leadership, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $10,000. (October 2019 - June 2020).

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), "Travel Grant - International Wild Pig Conference in Jacksonville, FL" (Funded), Sponsored By CAES Dean's Faculty Support Fund, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $842.00. (November 2019 - April 2020).

Tolson, K. M. (Co-Principal), "Assessment of Feral Hog Damage in Terrebonne Marshes: A Five Year Follow Up Study" (Funded), Sponsored By BTNEP, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $9,000.00. (December 1 2017 - August 31 2018).

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), "Travel Grant - Attend SEDSG Meeting in Nashville, TN" (Funded), Sponsored By Dean's Faculty Support Fund, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $612. (January 8 2018 - February 22 2018).

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), "An Inventory of Chiropterans Utilizing Felsenthal NWR" (Funded), Sponsored By US Fish and Wildlife Service, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $10,750. (September 2015 - August 2017).

Tolson, K. M. (Principal), "Quantifying the Contribution of Private Lands to Waterfowl Mgmt Objectives in the LMAV" (Funded), Sponsored By Ducks Unlimited, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $5,000. (September 2015 - July 2016).

Tolson, K. M. (Co-Principal), LaCour, J. M. (Co-Principal), Cunningham, F. (Co-Principal), "Feral Hog Damage to American Alligator Nests in Marsh Habitat in Louisiana" (Funded), Sponsored By USDA-APHIS, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $25,850. (June 2014 - June 2016).

Tolson, K. M. (Co-Principal), LaCour, J. M. (Co-Principal), LeBlanc, D. (Co-Principal), "Locating and mapping feral hog damage in Louisiana coastal marshes" (Funded), Sponsored By USDA-APHIS-WS, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $21,900. (March 2014 - September 2015).

Awards & Honors

July 2020 BellSouth Endowed Professorship.

August 2019 Best Publication in Wildlife.

September 2018 Elected Secretary/Treasurer.

August 2018 Best Publication in Wildlife.

November 2016 Feral Hog Management Advisory Task Force.

August 2014 ULM Foundation Award for Excellence in Service.

April 2014 College of Arts, Education, and Sciences Service Award.

April 2013 ASB Meritorious Teaching Award.

August 2011 Lillian L. and Fred A. Marx Endowed Professorship in Biology.

August 2010 Elected President.

August 2009 Best Publication in Wildlife.

March 2006 Elected President.

Courses Taught

BIOL 1010HUMAN BIOLOGY, 1 course(s)

BIOL 1016FUND ANAT & PHYS LAB I, 1 course(s)

BIOL 1017FUND ANAT & PHYS LAB II, 4 course(s)

BIOL 1021PRINCIPLES BIOLOGY I LAB, 7 course(s)

BIOL 1023PRINCIPLES BIOLOGY II LAB, 2 course(s)

BIOL 2001ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, 1 course(s)

BIOL 2026HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY, 26 course(s)

BIOL 2041HUMAN ANATOMY LABORATORY, 5 course(s)

BIOL 3010HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, 1 course(s)

BIOL 3011Human Physiology I, 4 course(s)

BIOL 3012Human Physiology II, 4 course(s)

BIOL 3013HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY, 5 course(s)

BIOL 3032VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY, 2 course(s)

BIOL 4051FIELD BIOLOGY, 6 course(s)

BIOL 4082MAMMALOGY, 8 course(s)

BIOL 4086GAME BIRDS, 8 course(s)

BIOL 4088GAME MAMMALS & FUR BEARERS, 9 course(s)

BIOL 4106ECOLOGY, 1 course(s)

BIOL 5005RESEARCH METHODS, 3 course(s)

BIOL 5006RESEARCH METHODS LABORATORY, 3 course(s)

BIOL 5007SEMINAR, 4 course(s)

BIOL 5086GAME BIRDS, 1 course(s)

BIOL 5088GAME MAMMALS & FUR BEARERS, 2 course(s)

BIOL 5091DIRECTED STUDY, 21 course(s)

BIOL 5094SPECIAL TOPICS: ZOOLOGY, 4 course(s)

BIOL 5099THESIS, 24 course(s)

Kim M Tolson, PhD Professor, Biology