Emily Card
Sul Ross State University
Graduate Research Assistant/Master of Science in Range and Wildlife Management
My name is Emily Card and I am from St. Clair, Michigan. I grew up in a household where I was encouraged to explore the natural world, and I quickly cultivated a love for birds and conservation biology during my outdoor experiences. After graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology, I worked as a wildlife technician for a variety of state and federal agencies across the country.
Desert grasslands within the Chihuhuan Desert are important wintering grounds for grassland birds, one of the most threatened avian groups in North America. The encroachment of woody plants into these places degrade grassland habitat and contribute to the decline of these bird species. I have been conducting grassland bird and vegetation surveys on ranches in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas that contain plots treated with herbicide to remove woody plants and untreated plots. The primary objective of my project is to assess how these treatments influence the structure of wintering bird communities and habitat characteristics in West Texas. This information will help researchers and landowners determine if woody plant removal via herbicide treatment is an effective way to restore grassland ecosystems and grassland bird assemblages.
