William (Bill) Sutton
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Dr. Sutton is a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He received a B.S. in Biology (2002) from Wheeling Jesuit University (Wheeling, WV), a M.S. in Biological Sciences (2004) from Marshall University (Huntington, WV), and a Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences (2010) from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at Alabama A&M University (Huntsville, AL). Dr. Sutton is currently serving as bioassessment specialist on the NRCS National Easement Assessment Project team.
Research Interests
Organismal Response to Disturbance
Disturbances play important roles in species occurrence, species richness patterns, and predator/prey relationships and can have direct implications for species conservation. Dr. Sutton’s primary research interests focus on evaluating the mechanisms (e.g., habitat, climate, and food availability) responsible for changes in organismal abundance patterns within disturbance-prone ecosystems. A majority of Dr. Sutton’s research has examined organismal responses to anthropogenic disturbances, and he is particularly interested in herpetofaunal and avian responses to disturbance as these vertebrate groups can be sensitive to drastic environmental changes. Dr. Sutton’s doctoral research used a variety of techniques, including drift-fence and coverboard surveys, artificial breeding ponds, and radiotelemetry to evaluate amphibian and reptile responses to forest management. Results from this study will help direct management objectives for amphibian and reptile populations in disturbed southeastern forests.
Habitat Use Patterns
The collective influence of biotic and abiotic variables under which an organism exists is termed the fundamental niche. Although it is impossible to identify all variables that influence an organism’s daily life patterns, Dr. Sutton’s research seeks to identify the major features (e.g., habitat use patterns, season, and foraging patterns) that determine an organism’s overall niche. Radiotelemetry is essential for this type of study, because it is nearly impossible otherwise to record an organism’s daily activities. A majority of Dr. Sutton’s research has focused on habitat use patterns of amphibians and reptiles. To identify habitat selection patterns, it is essential to compare the “used” habitat features against “unused” or random habitat features. Dr. Sutton’s past research has examined habitat use patterns of a variety of amphibians and reptiles including copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) and Japanese giant salamanders (Andrias japonicus). By identifying important habitat features, this research will provide data that is important to the longterm conservation of these organisms.
Additional Research Interests
Natural history research, understanding the role of biogeography in species evolution, and currently learning occupancy modeling techniques.
Hobbies
Dr. Sutton enjoys whitewater kayaking, playing frisbee with his dog Porter, and trying to win the Sam Adams Longshot homebrewing contest.
Publications
Sutton, W.B., Y. Wang, and C.J. Schwetizer. 2010. Herpetofaunal response to thinning and prescribed burning in mixed pine-hardwood forests of northwestern Alabama. (In Preparation). Forest Ecology and Management.
Sutton, W.B., Y. Wang, and C.J. Schweitzer. 2010. Lizard habitat relationships in managed southeastern pine-hardwood forests. (In Preparation). Forest Science.
Sutton, W.B., Y. Wang, and C.J. Schweitzer. 2010. Habitat relationships in pine beetle disturbed forests of Alabama, U.S.A. with guidelines for a modified drift-fence sampling method. Current Zoology 56(4):411–418.
Sutton, W.B., M.G. Bolus, and Y. Wang. 2009. Lampropeltis getula nigra (Eastern Black Kingsnake). Ophiophagy. Herpetological Review 40: 231.
Sutton, W.B., K.E. Rastall, and T.K. Pauley. 2006. Diet analysis and feeding strategies of Rana pipiens in a West Virginia wetland. Herpetological Review 37: 152-153.
Wooten, J.A., W.B. Sutton, and T.K. Pauley. 2010. Characterization of ecological requirements for three sympatric plethodontid salamander species (Caudata: Plethodontidae). (In Review). Diversity and Distributions.
Graham, S.P., E.K. Timpe, A.M. Durso, D.A. Steen, W.B. Sutton, K.T. Nelson, G.J. Brown III, M.A. Connell, K.M. Gray, J.C. Godwin. 2009. The second known contact zone between Plethodon websteri and P. ventralis, and additional county records for Bibb County, Alabama. Herpetological Review (In Review).
Technical Reports
Sutton, W.B., Y. Wang, and C.J. Schweitzer. 2007. Amphibian and reptile response to thinning and prescribed burning in pine-hardwood forests: pre-treatment results. pp. 495-499. In Proceedings of the 14th Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference. Edited by John A. Stanturf. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-121. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station.
Sutton, W.B., M.B. Watson, and T.K. Pauley. 2005. Chapter 7: Salamander Studies. pp. 67-75. In Long Term Evaluation of the Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki, Gypsy Moth Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus Product Gypcheck, Entomophaga maimaiga (Humber, Shimazu, and Soper), and their Interaction on Nontarget Organisms in Mixed Broadleaf-Pine Forests in the Central Appalachians. Edited by John S. Strazanac and Linda Butler. FHTET-2004-14.
Research Grants
2010 National Science Foundation (NSF) East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) Fellowship recipient – $5,000
2008 15th annual Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference. Research travel grant– $210
2005 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship recipient– $93,000 over a three year period.
2003 West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Diversity Program Grant– $6415 for two years.
2003 Marshall University Research Foundation Summer Research Grant– $500
