Lecturer
MAJOR AREA: Behavioral Ecology
OFFICE:135 Life Science
PHONE: (817)272-5732
FAX: 817-272-2588
kmnelson@uta.edu

Ph.D. University of Texas at Arlington

My research interests are broad, encompassing various aspects of ecology, life history, and behavioral ecology. My research, however, currently centers around two areas: predator-prey interactions and geographic variation.

I am currently investigating intraspecific variation within a species of wolf spider, Hogna carolinensis. I am interested in the evolutionary relationships between wolf spiders. Wolf spiders are morphologically conserved, and have often been delineated in terms of qualitative characters that can be difficult (or impossible) to accurately distinguish. I am developing new quantitative techniques to describe morphological characteristics that may distinguish closely related species.