Dr. Adam Mitchell is an assistant professor of entomology in WSES. His past research has explored the impacts of invasive plants on arthropod food webs, as well as assessing the efficacy of management techniques to restore native plants and arthropods. He is interested in understanding how anthropogenic (human-induced) changes in the environment influence the diversity and community structure of insects and other arthropods. Dr. Mitchell also manages the Tarleton Insect Museum (TIM), which includes collections of living and preserved specimens exploring the diversity and natural history of invertebrates in North-Central Texas.
COURSES OFFERED
Undergraduate
- ENVS/WSES 1100 Transitioning to University Studies in the Natural Resource Sciences (Fall)
- WSES 2301 General Entomology (Spring)
- WSES 3314 Pollinator Ecology and Conservation (Fall)
- WSES 3316 Aquatic Entomology (Spring)
- WSES 3380 Integrated Pest Management (Spring)
- WSES 3403 Natural History of Vertebrates (Summer, Co-Instructor)
- WSES 4302 Habitat Management (Spring)
- WSES 4309 Animal-Plant Interactions (Fall)
- WSES 4402 Insect Taxonomy and Systematics (Fall)
Graduate
- WSES 5314 Pollinator Ecology and Conservation (Fall)
Workshop
- Mitchell AB, and SM Grodsky (2015) Use of arthropods in wildlife and applied ecology: recognition of our common goals. Member’s Symposium. Entomological Society of America 63rd Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. Co-Organizer, Moderator. ()
- Mitchell AB, and SM Grodsky (2015) Bird-invertebrate interactions in a changing world: a synthesis of understanding the importance of our most diverse wildlife group. Discussion Panel. The Wildlife Society National Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Co-Organizer, Moderator. ()
RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
Research Activities
- Biodiversity
- Biological Invasions
- Community Ecology
- Insect Ecology
- Plant-Insect Interactions
- Pollinator Ecology
- Restoration Ecology
Scholarly Activities
- Undergraduate Research Scholarship: Assessing roadside habitat for pollinator insects in North-Central Texas. (October 2019)
- Faculty-Student Research and Creative Activity Internal Grant: Development of the Tarleton insect collection through undergraduate research. (August 2019)
- Faculty-Student Mentorship Grant: Assessing pollinator and nocturnal insect biodiversity in North-Central region of Texas. (May 2019)
- Undergraduate Research Scholarship: Assessing native insect biodiversity in North-Central Texas and implications for long-term monitoring in face of global insect decline. $1,000
- Maryland Native Plant Society Small Grants: Predicting the impact of non-native plants on native plant diversity and insect food webs. (November 2016)
- Fishers Island Conservancy Grant: Restoring native grasslands to promote arthropod and breeding bird habitat following plant invasion. (August 2014-December 2018)
- Helen C. Frick Foundation Grant: Effects of non-native plants on food web dynamics for native plant, insect, and breeding bird communities. (October 2015)
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Wildlife Research Grant: Soil modification to restore areas dominated by Old World bluestems. (May 2013)
- Welder Wildlife Foundation Fellowship: Soil modification as a restoration tool to reduce Old World bluestems. (May 2011-June 2014)
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Publications
- Richard, M, D Tallamy, and A. Mitchell. 2019. Introduced plants reduce species interactions. Biological Invasions 21: 983-992.
- Kennedy, A.C., J.R. Golec. G. Savory-Burke, and A.B. Mitchell. 2018. “Increasing honey bees’ access to varied, high-quality forage”, in Dye-Braumuller, K.C., R.A. Schmidt-Jeffris, T. Reall, R.K. Halfpenny, A.B. Whitener, and J.D. Gantz, ed. 2016 International student debates: solving problems without borders. American Entomologist 64: 165-175.
- Goldarazena, A., A. Mitchell, and T. Hance. 2017. Konothrips polychaeta sp.n. from Delaware, North America, with a key to the three species of this genus. Zootaxa 4341: 445-450 DOI 10.11646/zootaxa.4341.3.13
- Mitchell, A.B., and A.R. Litt. 2016. Nonnative plant shifts functional groups of arthropods following drought. Biological Invasions. DOI 10.1007/s10530-016-1072-y
- Mitchell, A.B., A.R. Litt, A.D. Falk, and F.S. Smith. 2012. Soil Modification as a restoration tool to reduce Old World bluestems in Texas coastal prairies. Intermountain Journal of Sciences 18: 1-4
Presentations
- Mitchell AB, and DW Tallamy (2019) From green to brown: Restructuring of arthropod communities following plant invasion in the Mid-Atlantic. Entomological Society of America Southwestern Branch Annual Meeting, Tulsa OK.
- Carey C, JE Montoya, AB Mitchell, and D Kattes (2019) Native bees and associated forage plants of Parker County, Texas. Contributed Poster. Entomological Society of America Southwestern Branch Annual Meeting, Tulsa OK.
- Garcia J, JE Montoya, AB Mitchell, and D Kattes (2019) Masonry insect preference in diameter for nesting sites at Tarleton State University, Stephenville. Entomological Society of America Southwestern Branch Annual Meeting, Tulsa OK.
- Vincze H, D Kattes, and AB Mitchell (2019) Host plant and native pollinator relationships in an urban ecosystem. Entomological Society of America Southwestern Branch Annual Meeting, Tulsa OK.
- Mitchell AB, and DW Tallamy (2018) Determining the impacts of plant invasion on native arthropods using an eco-evolutionary framework. Contributed Poster. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, New Orleans LA.
- Mitchell, AB (2018) “The little things that run the world”: research and education to understand the role of insects in a changing landscape. Invited speaker. Tarleton State University Seminar Series. Stephenville TX.
- Mitchell AB, AR Litt, and DW Tallamy (2017) Shifts in arthropod trophic structure following plant invasion: lessons from restored grasslands. Symposium Paper “Reestablishing consumer communities and consumer-driven function in restored ecosystems.” Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland OR.
- Mitchell AB, and DW Tallamy (2017) A restructuring of arthropod communities following plant invasion in the Mid-Atlantic: Evidence for “Green-to-Brown” shift in food webs. Society for Ecological Restoration Mid-Atlantic Chapter/ Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council joint meeting, Huntington PA.
- Mitchell AB (2017) Importance of arthropods in restoration studies. Contributed Talk. Graduate Student Symposium, University of Delaware, Newark DE.
- Mitchell AB, and DW Tallamy (2016) Predicting change in trophic relationships for arthropods following plant invasion using the evolutionary experience hypothesis. The Wildlife Society National Conference, Raleigh, NC
- Mitchell AB, and DW Tallamy (2016) “Green to Brown”: Quantifying shifts in arthropod trophic structure following plant invasion. International Congress of Entomology 25th Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
- Mitchell AB, and AR Litt (2015) Arthropods as indicators of restoration success: lessons from an invaded grassland. Entomological Society of America 63rd Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
- Mitchell AB, and AR Litt (2015) Modifying soil properties promote diversity in native plant and arthropod communities following plant invasion and drought. Ecological Society of America 100th Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
- Mitchell AB, and AR Litt (2015) Invasive herbivores dominate arthropod community following plant invasion and drought. Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch Annual Meeting, Rehoboth Beach, DE.
- Mitchell AB, AR Litt, AD Falk, and FS Smith (2014) Soil modification to restore native plants and arthropods following plant invasion. Student Symposium, Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, TX
- Mitchell AB, AR Litt, AD Falk, and F S Smith (2013) Shifts in plant and arthropod communities following plant invasion and drought. The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI
- Mitchell AB, AR Litt, AD Falk, and FS Smith (2013) Decreased plant and arthropod richness with Old World bluestems: implications for wildlife. The Wildlife Society Montana Chapter, Whitefish, MT
- Mitchell AB, AR Litt, AD Falk, and FS Smith (2012) A sea of grass: decreased plant and arthropod richness with Old World bluestems. Society for Conservation Biology Montana Chapter, Bozeman, MT
- Mitchell AB, AR Litt, AD Falk, and FS Smith (2012) Effects of nonnative plants on vegetation and arthropod communities. Poster presentation, The Wildlife Society Northwest Chapter/ Montana Chapter, Great Falls, MT
- Mitchell AB, AR Litt, AD Falk, and FS Smith (2011) Soil modification as a restoration tool to reduce Old World bluestems. Student Symposium, Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, TX
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACCREDITATIONS
- Member, Ecological Society of America
- Board member (Treasurer), Restoration Ecology Section, Ecological Society of America
- Member, Entomological Society of America
- Member, Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America
- Member, Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society
- Member, The Wildlife Society
- Associate Wildlife Biologist®, The Wildlife Society
DEGREES
- PhD Entomology & Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware
- MS Fish & Wildlife Management, Montana State University-Bozeman
- BS Agriculture & Natural Resources, Entomology, Plant Protection, Wildlife Conservation, University of Delaware
GRADUATE GROUP MEMBERSHIPS
- Texas A&M University System Graduate Faculty Status