Raymond S. Matlack, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Advisor for Wildlife Biology
Department of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences
WTAMU Box 60808, Canyon, TX 79016

Office: ANS Rm. 333;  Phone: (806) 651-2583
E-mail: rmatlack@wtamu.edu

Palo Duro Canyon - located about 13 miles from WTAMU

Ray with a ringtail in Palo Duro Canyon

Wildlife Program General Information

Wildlife Program Photo Gallery

 

Website

Biology 1406

Biology 1407

Wildlife Conservation (Bio2374)

Wildlife Management (Biol3374)

Natural History of Vertebrates (Bio3420)

Wildlife Management Techniques (Bio3424)

Field Biology (Bio3099/5099)

Ornithology (Bio4433/5433)

Mammalogy (Bio4434/5434)

Biol399/Eng399

Animal Behavior (Biol4335/5335)

Zoogeography (Biol6312)

General interests: Mammalian population and community ecology, ecology and conservation of bats, and influence of land management practices on vertebrates 

Specific research interests: Most recently my research has focused on bats in the panhandle of Texas.  Texas contains the highest diversity of bats of any state in the country but most of the research has been conducted in the southern and western parts of the state.  In the Panhandle, we have been conducting long-term, year-round surveys of bats using mistnets and acoustic monitoring and have a manuscript in preparation that should be out in spring or summer of 2010.  Some of our findings include the addition of evening bats to the bats of the panhandle and that free-tailed bats are active here year-round.  We have very high temporal resolution of the timing of occurrence of the species of bats in the panhandle, something that has been lacking.  Additionally, we have been monitoring the colony of free-tailed bats at Clarity Tunnel using video and have reliable emergence size estimates dating back several years.  We have located previously undiscovered roosts of bats using radar and are beginning to study the ecology (species composition, abundance, timing of use) at these roosts.  I am also involved heavily in the Cross Bar Cooperative Management Area (CCMA).  The CCMA is a 12,000 acre prairie site located along the Canadian River in northern Potter County, TX.  The land is owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and co managed by West Texas A&M University.  We have established a long-term, large-scale replicated fire study on the site and study the response of birds, small mammals and other organisms to various fire treatments.  I have always been interested in the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the spatial and temporal dynamics of vertebrate populations. I use geographic information systems (GIS) to examine spatial variation in vertebrate populations and communities. My research has examined the influence of climatic variability and fire, grazing, and other land management practices on small mammals, swift fox, and reptiles.  Additional projects include research on use of playa wetlands by waterfowl, homerange and habitat selection of porcupines, the ecology of ringtail in Palo Duro Canyon, and pre-and post construction monitoring of a future wind farm on the PANTEX Plant.

My general interests are very similar to my research interests.  In addition to spending time with my family, I like to spend time in the field bird watching, observing reptiles and amphibians, and learning more about the natural history of plants and animals.  I am an avid gardener and plant and landscape specifically for wildlife.  I have documented > 60 species of birds in my very urban yard and my yard is a certified backyard habitat by both the National Wildlife Federation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  I especially like traveling to new places and exploring new ecosystems. 

Montgomery, D. K., and R. S. Matlack. 2010. Early winter feeding on elm bark by eastern fox squirrels near the western range terminus. Prairie Naturalist 42 In press.

Lockwood, P., R. S. Matlack, E. Hunt, and J. Kelley.  2010.  From Community College to Four-Year Institution: a Model for Recruitment and Retention. Community College Journal of Research and Practice.  Accepted.

Jackrel, S. L., and R. S. Matlack. 2009. Influence of Surface Area, Water Level, and Adjacent Vegetation on Bat Use of Artificial Water Sources. American Midland Naturalist. Accepted.

  Johnson, W. P., L. Baar, R. S. Matlack, and R. B. Barron.  2010.  Hatching chronology of ducks using playas in the Southern High Plains of Texas.  American Midland Naturalist 163:247–253.

Baar, L., R. S. Matlack, W. P. Johnson, and R. B. Barron.  2008.  Migration chronology of non-breeding waterfowl in the Southern High Plains of Texas.  Waterbirds 31:394-401.

Matlack, R. S., D. W. Kaufman, and G. A. Kaufman.  2008.  Influence of woody vegetation on small mammals in tallgrass prairie.  American Midland Naturalist 160:7-19.

Poole, M. W. and R. S. Matlack. 2007.  Noteworthy records of the prairie vole and other small mammals from the panhandle of Texas.  Southwestern Naturalist 52(3): 442-445.

Matlack, R. S., R. L. Rehmeier, B. R. McMillan, D. W. Kaufman, and G. A. Kaufman.  2006.   Unusual disturbance of small-mammal live traps by American crows.  Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Sciences 109:242-244. 

Rehmeier, R. L., and R. S. Matlack.  2004.  Thamnophis sirtalis Diet.  Journal of Kansas Herpetology 11:15.

Matlack, R. S., and R. L. Rehmeier.  2002.  Status of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) in Kansas.  The Southwestern Naturalist 47(2): 312-314. 

Matlack, R. S., G. A. Kaufman, D. W. Kaufman, and B. R. McMillan.  2002.  Long-term dynamics of Elliot’s short-tailed shrew (Blarina hylophaga) in tallgrass prairie.  Journal of Mammalogy, 83(1): 280-289. 

Matlack, R. S., D. W. Kaufman, and R. E. Charlton.  2001.  First record of the cinereus shrew for Riley County, Kansas.  The Prairie Naturalist 33(2):107-108.

Matlack, R. S., D. W. Kaufman, and G. A. Kaufman.  2001.  Influence of grazing by bison and cattle on small mammals in burned tallgrass prairie.  The American Midland Naturalist 146:361-368. 

Matlack, R. S., P. S. Gipson, and D. W.  Kaufman.  2000.  The swift fox in cropland and rangeland: effects on abundance, mortality, and body size.  The Southwestern Naturalist 45:221-225.

Gipson, P. S., J. K. Veatch, R. S. Matlack, and D. P. Jones.  1999. Health status of a recently discovered population of feral swine in Kansas.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 35:624-627.

McMillan, B. R., D. W. Kaufman, G. A. Kaufman, and R. S. Matlack.  1997.  Mammals of Konza Prairie: new observations and an updated species list.  The Prairie Naturalist 29:263-271.

Gipson, P. S., R. S. Matlack, D. P. Jones, H. J. Abel, and A. E. Hynek.  1995.  Feral pigs, Sus scrofa, in Kansas.  Pp. 93-95 in Proceedings of the Fourteenth North American Prairie Conference: Prairie Biodiversity (D. C. Hartnett, ed.).  Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.

Grants and Contracts

2009               Impacts of wind generator turbines – wildlife and habitat.  Raymond S. Matlack.  $536,425 by BWXT Pantex, LLC.

2009               S-STEM: Connecting Community College Transfers for STEM Success. Pam Lockwood (PI), Raymond S. Matlack (Co-PI), Emily Hunt (Co-PI), Clay Robinson (Co-PI), and Dan Garcia (Co-PI). $572,670 awarded by National Science Foundation. 

2009-2010     Baseline inventory of mammals at Palo Duro Canyon State Park and population survey of bats at Clarity Tunnel.  Raymond S. Matlack.  $9,600 awarded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

2008-2009     Baseline inventory of mammals at Palo Duro Canyon State Park and population survey of bats at Clarity Tunnel.  Raymond S. Matlack.  $9,600 awarded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

2008               Wildlife characterization and nuisance management re: population of bobcats.  Raymond S. Matlack.  $54,869 total awarded ($28,363 in FY 2008) by BWXT Pantex, LLC.

2008               Baseline inventory of mammals at Palo Duro Canyon State Park and population survey of bats at Clarity Tunnel.  Raymond S. Matlack.  $8,587.50 awarded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

2007               REU Site: Ecology and Environment of the Southern High Plains.  R. S. Matlack, PI.  $235,404 awarded by National Science Foundation. 

2006               Population survey of the bats of Clarity Tunnel, Caprock Canyons State Park.  Raymond S. Matlack.  $9,940 awarded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

2006               STEP Phase 1:  Increasing Numbers, Connections, and Retention in Science and Engineering (INCRSE).  R. S. Matlack, CoPI.  $980,204 awarded by National Science Foundation.  

2006                Baseline survey of the mammals of Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Raymond S. Matlack.   $4005 awarded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

2005               West Texas Export Seed Grant. Raymond S. Matlack. $8,000 awarded by Texas Tech Health Science Center.

2005               Use of playas by waterfowl and other wetland birds: chronology, abundance, and the influence of landscape features. Raymond S. Matlack.  $30,000 awarded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

2005               Ecological assessment of the Canadian River Breaks Ecoregion of Texas. R. S. Matlack and R. T. Kazmaier.  $95,000 awarded by Bureau of Land Management.

2005               Use of playas by waterfowl and shorebirds: chronology, abundance, and the influence of landscape features. Raymond S. Matlack. $7,400 awarded by Playa Lakes Joint Venture/Conoco Phillips.

2004               Baseline survey of the mammals of Palo Duro Canyon State Park including Cañoncita Ranch.  Raymond S. Matlack. $4,998 awarded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

2004               Use of playas by waterfowl and shorebirds: chronology, abundance, and the influence of landscape features. Raymond S. Matlack.  $3,289. awarded by  Killgore Research Center.

2004               Population Survey of the Bats of Clarity Tunnel. Raymond S. Matlack.  $4,800 awarded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

2004               Field identification, status, and habitat associations of the Palo Duro mouse (Peromyscus truei comanche) in Palo Duro Canyon.  Raymond S. Matlack.  $2,900 award from Killgore Research Center. 

2003               Temperature and relative humidity related to topography in Palo Duro Canyon.  $991 award from Killgore Research Center.

2002               Small mammal community ecology in Palo Duro Canyon: spatial variation in occurrence and abundance.  Raymond S. Matlack.  $4,810 award from Killgore Research Center, WTAMU.