Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab

Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab (IECL)

Led by Dr. Joseph W. Hinton, Ph.D., WCC's Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab (WCC-IECL) focuses on the ecology, management, and conservation of mammalian carnivores. Within this context, IECL develops high-quality research at WCC by conducting research on four broad topics: 1) mechanisms that govern the distributions and population dynamics of carnivore species, 2) addressing ecological and evolutionary questions at large spatial and temporal scales, 3) assessing strategies used for population recovery, and 4) the taxonomy and evolution of canids in North America. Scientists at IECL will draw on their experiences in these disciplines and use existing research collaborations with partners to develop innovative ecological research. These topics have both theoretical and applied relevance and are well-suited for influencing conservation policies and engaging the public in advocacy.

IECL Mission

IECL Vision

IECL Values

Knowledge. We uplift and engage with different ways of knowing, including Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), as well as local generational and community knowledge, alongside academic sciences.

Decentralization. We understand the exclusionary legacy of the North American Model of conservation and advocate for the decentralization of wildlife management and conservation in pursuit of interspecies justice contextualized by a broader diversity of cultural awareness.

Collaboration. Human-wildlife relationships are complex, just as the systems in which they exist. We advocate interdisciplinary approaches to investigating ecological and social-ecological dynamics.

WCC-IECL: WHO WE ARE

Dr. Joseph W. Hinton

Senior Research Scientist

Joey is WCC’s senior research scientist and earned his PhD from the University of Georgia. His research focuses on the conservation and management of canids, specifically red wolves and coyotes. Joey often conducts field research involving morphometrics, mark-recapture methods, radio-tracking techniques, and GPS/GIS applications to understand population dynamics and distribution. His ongoing projects include the ecology and conservation of in situ and ex situ red wolf populations, the ecology and management of coyotes, and assessing the ecology and taxonomy of Gulf Coast canids along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana.

Jazmin "Sunny" Murphy

Research Associate

Jazmin “Sunny” Murphy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Policy and Management (concentration: Fish and Wildlife Management) from American Public University. Her research focuses on the intersections of culture, ideology, legislation, economics and land use with canid ecology, with special emphasis on Black and Indigenous communities in the United States. By combining the study of coyote behavior and cognition with these intersections, she aims to further develop nonlethal adaptive management techniques that are equitable across cultures and species.

Colleen O'Donnell

Conservation Scientist

Colleen O'Donnell, MSc is passionate about wildlife and is particularly interested in the science of reintroductions and how it can be used to stop extinctions and restore ecosystem function. Her background is in species conservation, sustainable and wildlife-friendly livelihoods, habitat restoration, community-based climate adaptation, and combating wildlife crime. She is currently working on her PhD in the Environmental Science and Technology Department at the University of Maryland. She earned a bachelors in biology from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters in sustainable development from the University of London SOAS.

RESEARCH TECHNICIANS

Jordana Groveman smiles in front of a body of water backed by mountain slopes.

Jordana Groveman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Behavior from Bucknell University, where she conducted research exploring the intersection of behavior and cognition in nonhuman primates. She is currently supporting coyote research at the WCC by collecting field data, processing trail camera findings, and managing reports from citizen scientists. By cultivating her skills in wildlife conservation, she hopes to contribute projects that address human-carnivore conflict and coexistence.

Jordana Groveman, IECL Intern

Molly Smialkowski holds up a deer skeleton in a grassy field.

Molly Smialkowski joined the Wolf Conservation Center in December 2025, assisting with research and data processing across projects. Molly is a wildlife biologist receiving her degree from Cal Poly Humboldt. Her work includes contributing to the genetic collection of brant with the Humboldt Waterfowl Initivitive. As well as conducting nest and brood surveys for Delta Waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region of South Dakota, helping monitor population and breeding success. Her work is driven by a passion for protecting native habitats with interest in support for endangered native species.

Molly Smialkowski, IECL Technician

OUR PARTNERS

Tanner Broussard is a graduate student at McNeese State University pursuing an M.S. in Environmental and Chemical Sciences with a concentration in Integrative Biology. His research focuses on the ecology of Gulf Coast canids in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. His thesis examines how landscape composition influences space use, morphology, and survival across coastal prairie and marsh ecosystems. His future research will continue investigating the ecology and conservation of Gulf Coast canids and other native carnivores.

Tanner Broussard

Lovin is a master’s student under Dr. Julie Young at Utah State University and Dr. Joseph Hinton at the Wolf Conservation Center. Their current research focuses on breeding behavior and mate compatibility of red wolves in captivity. They have a background in animal behavior, endangered species conservation, field research, and animal husbandry, gained during their time working for the United States Geological Survey and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. They are passionate about bridging the gap between art and science, using creative storytelling and visual communication to make conservation research more accessible.

S. Lovin

Patrick Cunningham is a Biology PhD candidate at Baylor University with a background in state wildlife work and urban wildlife management. His research focuses on how phenotypes persist or shift across changing landscapes, and how those patterns can inform practical conservation decisions. He uses museum collections and 3D morphometrics to quantify morphological variation across space and time in eastern North American wolves. He is currently expanding his work by integrating phenotypic and genomic data to improve how collections-based evidence is used in conservation.

Patrick Cunningham

WCC-IECL: WHAT WE DO

UPDATES FROM THE FIELD

GET INVOLVED!

WCC-IECL is supporting people-powered wildlife programs in the US. We focus on coyotes and the animals with which they have significant overlap, such as deer.

To do this, we need to know how many coyotes are in our study area. We also need to know where they live, their activity patterns, and what they eat. At the same time, we will get to know how people feel about their local coyotes to support coexistence.

Want to get involved? Learn about the coyotes in this study by helping out with our wildlife camera photos! Use the form below to submit your sighting.

Publications

2026

Hinton, J., A. Shutt, J. Murphy, C. O’Donnell. Gulf Coast canids: A wetland coyote ecotype shaped by red wolf introgression. Ecosphere 17: e70529.

Ghasemi, B., R. S. Wilson, L. M. Elbroch, J. A. Vucetich, N. H. Carter, A. Moehrenschlager, S. Perry, J. W. Hinton, J. T. Bruskotter. Restoring the wild east: Predicting public support for cougar and red wolf reintroduction in the eastern United States. Biological Conservation 313: 111532.

2025

Murphy, J. J., A. C. Shutt, A. Sène-Harper, J. W. Hinton. 2025. Reconstructing the history and demise of the red wolf in Alabama: Insights from examining historical records and cultural perspectives. Stacks Journal: 25008.

Bruskotter, J. T., N. H. Carter, R. Berl, J. Hinton, J. Murphy, L. M. Elbroch, J. A. Vucetich. 2025. Bridging social and ecological science to create spatially explicit models of human-caused mortality of carnivores. Ambio 54: 1479–1490.

Elbroch, L. M., J. J. Murphy, S. C. Carlson, J. A. Vucetich, R. E. W. Berl, L. Galiardi, S. Perry, T. Butler, N. Carter, J. W. Hinton, A. Moehrenschlager, E. Carrollo, R. Bayrakcismith, J. T. Bruskotter. 2025. Public support for puma reintroduction in the eastern United States. Conservation Science and Practice 7: e70105.

Benson, J. F. et al. (96 co-authors including J. W. Hinton). 2025. Intrinsic and environmental drivers of pairwise cohesion in wild Canis social groups. Ecology 106: e4492.

2024

Hinton, J. W., K. San Martin, K. E. Brzeski, J. J. Murphy, A. C. Shutt. 2024. Space use and fate of a three-legged coyote – a case study. The Stacks: 24002.

Webster, S. C., J. W. Hinton, M. J. Chamberlain, J. J. Murphy, J. C. Beasley. 2024. Land cover and space use influence coyote carnivory: evidence from stable-isotope analysis. PeerJ 12: e17457.

Kramer, D. W., K. F. Kellner, J. W. Hinton, M. S. Muthersbaugh, J. L. Belant, J. L. Frair. 2024. Habitat selection by moose in an emergent low-density edge population. Alces 60: 1–17.

2023

2022

Hinton, J. W., M. J. Chamberlain. 2022. Evidence of reduced abundance, density, and survival of coyotes under federal management for red wolf recovery. Ecosphere 13: e4216.

Hinton, J. W., K. M. West, D. J. Sullivan, J. L. Frair, M. J. Chamberlain. 2022. The natural history and ecology of melanism in red wolf and coyote populations of the southeastern United States – evidence for Gloger’s rule. BMC Zoology 7: 33.

Hinton, J. W., R. E. Wheat, P. Schuette, J. E. Hurst, D. W. Kramer, J. H. Stickles, J. L. Frair. 2022. Challenges and opportunities for estimating abundance of a low-density moose population. Journal of Wildlife Management 86: e22213.

Hinton, J. W., J. E. Hurst, D. W. Kramer, J. H. Stickles, J. L. Frair. 2022. A mode-based estimate of winter distribution and abundance of white-tailed deer in the Adirondack Park. PLoS ONE 17: e0273707.

vonHoldt, B. M., J. W. Hinton, A. C. Shutt, S. M. Murphy, M. L. Karlin, J. R. Adams, L. P. Waits, K. E. Brzeski. 2022. Reviving ghost alleles: Genetically admixed coyotes along the American Gulf Coast are critical for saving the endangered red wolf. Science Advances 8: eabn7731.

Youngmann, J. L., J. W. Hinton, N. W. Bakner, M. J. Chamberlain, G. J. D’Angelo. 2022. Recursive use of home ranges and seasonal shifts in foraging behavior by a generalist carnivore. Ecology and Evolution 12: e9540.

Webster, S. C., J. C. Beasley, J. W. Hinton, M. J. Chamberlain. 2022. Resident and transient coyotes exhibit differential patterns of movement behavior across heterogenous landscapes in the southeastern United States. Ecology and Evolution 12: e8725.

Santiago- Ávila, F. J., S. Agan, J. W. Hinton, A. Treves. 2022. Evaluating how management policies affect red wolf mortality and disappearance. Royal Society Open Science 9: 210400.

Barnes, T. M., M. Karlin, B. M. vonHoldt, J. R. Adams, L. P. Waits, J. W. Hinton, J. Henderson, K. E. Brzeski. 2022. Genetic diversity and family groups detected in a coyote population with red wolf ancestry on Galveston Island, Texas. BMC Ecology and Evolution 22: 134.

2021

Hinton, J. W., K. Rountree, M. J. Chamberlain. 2021. Diet of coyotes on the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge during the white-tailed deer pre-fawning and fawning seasons. Southeastern Naturalist 20: 245–258.

Webster, S. C., M. J. Chamberlain, J. W. Hinton, J. C. Beasley. 2021. Isotope analysis reveals dietary overlap among sympatric canids. Journal of Mammalogy 102: 1222–1234.

Teitelbaum, C. S., E. Coffel, J. Foster, J. L. Frair, J. W. Hinton, R. M. Horton, D. W. Kramer, C. Lesk, C. Raymond, A. P. K. Sirén, D. W. Wattles, K. A. Zeller, T. L. Morelli. 2021. Can behavioral adaptations to climate maintain a species’ range? Diversity and Distributions 27: 655–667.

Chamberlain, M. C., B. S. Cohen, P. H. Wightman, E. Rushton, J. W. Hinton. 2021. Fine-scale movements and behaviors of coyotes (Canis latrans) during their reproductive period. Ecology and Evolution 11: 9575–9588.

2020

Hinton, J. W., A. Freeman, V. St-Louis, L. Cornicelli, G. J. D’Angelo. 2020. Habitat selection by female elk (Cervus canadensis) in northwestern Minnesota. Journal of Wildlife Management 84: 957–967.

Heppenheimer, E., K. E. Brzeski, J.W. Hinton, M. J. Chamberlain, J. Robinson, R. K. Wayne, B. M. vonHoldt. 2020. A genome-wide perspective on the persistence of red wolf ancestry analysis in southeastern canids. Journal of Heredity 11: 277–286.

2019

Hinton, J. W., E. Heppenheimer, K. West, D. Caudill, M. Earthman, J. C. Kilgo, J. Mayer, B. vonHoldt, M. J. Chamberlain. 2019. Geographic patterns in morphometric and genetic variation for coyote populations with emphasis on southeastern coyotes. Ecology and Evolution 9: 3389–3404.

Hinton, J. W. 2019. Canids of the world: wolves, wild dogs, foxes, jackals, coyotes and their relatives. [Book Review]. Journal of Wildlife Management 83:1271–1272.

Pollander, K. M., A. R. Little, J. W. Hinton, M. E. Byrne, G. D. Balkcom, M. J. Chamberlain. 2019. Seasonal movements and habitat selection of mottled ducks in Georgia and South Carolina. Journal of Wildlife Management 83:478–486.

2018

Hinton, J. W., J. L. Gittleman, F. T. van Manen, M. J. Chamberlain. 2018. Size-assortative choice and mate availability influences hybridization between red wolves (Canis rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Ecology and Evolution 8:3927–3940.

Ward, J. N., J. W. Hinton, K. L. Johannsen, M. L. Karlin, K. V. Miller, M. J. Chamberlain. 2018. Home range size, vegetation density, and season influences prey use by coyotes (Canis latrans). PLoS ONE 13:e0203703.

Heppenheimer, E., K. E. Brzeski, J. W. Hinton, B. R. Patterson, L. Y. Rutledge, A. DeCandia, T. Wheeldon, S. R. Fain, P. A. Hohenlohe, R. Kays, B. N. White, M. J. Chamberlain, B. M. vonHoldt. 2018. High genomic diversity and candidate genes under selection associated with range expansion in eastern coyote (Canis latrans) populations. Ecology and Evolution 8:12641–12655.

Heppenheimer, E., D. S. Cosio, K. E. Brzeski, D. Caudill, K. Van Why, M. J. Chamberlain, J. W. Hinton, B. vonHoldt. 2018. Demographic history influences spatial patterns of genetic diversity in recently expanded coyote (Canis latrans) populations. Heredity 120:183–195.

Heppenheimer, E., K. E. Brzeski, R. Wooten, W. Waddell, L. Y. Rutledge, M. J. Chamberlain, D. R. Stahler, J. W. Hinton, B. M. vonHoldt. 2018. Rediscovery of red wolf ghost alleles in a canid population along the American Gulf Coast. Genes 9:618.

2017

Hinton, J. W., G. C. White, D. R. Rabon, Jr., M. J. Chamberlain. 2017. Survival and population estimates of the red wolf. Journal of Wildlife Management 81:417–428.

Hinton, J. W., K. E. Brzeski, D. R. Rabon, Jr., M. J. Chamberlain. 2017. Effects of anthropogenic mortality on critically endangered red wolf Canis rufus breeding pairs: implications for red wolf recovery. Oryx 51:174–181.

Hinton, J. W., A. K. Ashley, J. A. Dellinger, J. L. Gittleman, F. T. van Manen, M. J. Chamberlain. 2017. Using diets of Canis breeding pairs to assess resource partitioning between sympatric red wolves and coyotes. Journal of Mammalogy 98:475–488.

Hohenlohe, P. A., L. Y. Rutledge, L. P. Waits, K. R. Andrews, J. R. Adams, J. W. Hinton, R. M. Nowak, B. R. Patterson, A. P. Wydeven, B. N. White, P. A. Wilson. 2017. Whole-genome data do not support recent hybrid origins of red wolves and eastern wolves. Science Advances 3:e1602250.

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2010

Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab