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Dean Williams

Dean Williams, Ph.D.

Professor

817-257-6172 WIN 433

Program Affiliations

Davis CollegeBiology
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Education

PhD, Ecology, Purdue University, 2000

MS, Biology, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 1991

BA, Biology, Coe College, 1988

AA, Kirkwood Community College, 1985

Areas of Focus

  • Conservation Genetics
  • Invasive Species
  • Horned Lizard Conservation
  • Mating and Breeding Systems

Courses

  • Ecology and the Environment (BIOL 30403)
  • Conservation Genetics (BIOL 40153/60153)
  • Avian Biology (BIOL 40163/60163)
My past training was primarily in population biology and behavioral ecology (M.S. University of Alabama Huntsville, Ph.D. Purdue University), and my research involved a long-term (1988-2002) study of cooperatively breeding brown jays in Monteverde, Costa Rica. During a stint of postdocs at the University of Miami (2001-2007) my research interests were diverted into the fields of conservation and invasion genetics. I now use molecular tools to inform the management of pests and species of conservation concern. Some current conservation projects include understanding the population structure and dispersal of Texas horned lizards for reintroduction efforts, monitoring endangered marine otters through non-invasive genetic sampling, and genetic monitoring of bats killed by wind turbines. Current invasive species research includes studying the phylogeography of Brazilian peppertree and hydrilla to determine their origins and gain insight into their success as invaders. These studies are also being conducted to improve the search for biological control insects. The discovery of cryptic species in these candidate control agents has led to further systematic studies of these insect groups. Students interested in pursuing research with my team can learn more at: https://deanwilliamslab.com/
 
  • Harms, N. E., Knight, I. A., DeRossette, A. B., and Williams, D. A. (2023). Intraspecific trait plasticity to N and P of the wetland invader, Alternanthera philoxeroides under flooded conditions. Ecology and Evolution, 13:e9966.
  • Stevens, T. K., Hale, A. M., and Williams, D. A. (2023). Occupancy models disentangle the drivers of avian urban avoidance in North America's largest urban forest. Biological Conservation, 280:109992.
  • Rhoads, D. D., and Williams, D. A. (2023). Background color-matching in the Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum). Journal of Herpetology, 57:27-35.
  • Canavan, K., Magengelele, N. L., Paterson, I. D., Williams, D. A., and Martin, G. D. (2021). Uncovering the phylogeography of Schinus terebinthifolia in South Africa to guide biological control. AoB PLANTS, plab078.
  • Finger, N., Farleigh, K., Bracken, J. T., Leaché, A. D., François, O., Yang, Z., Flouri, T., Charran, T., Jezkova, T., Williams, D. A., et al. (2021). Genome-scale data reveal deep lineage divergence and a complex demographic history in the Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) throughout the southwestern and central United States. Genome Biology and Evolution, 14:evab260.
  • Mirkin, S., Tucker, M. R., and Williams, D. A. (2021). Predation release of Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) living in small towns. Ecology and Evolution, 11:5355-5363.
  • Williams, D. A., Harms, N. E., Knight, I. A., Grewell, B. J., Futrell, C. J., and Pratt, P. D. (2020). High genetic diversity in the clonal aquatic weed Alternanthera philoxeroides in the United States. Invasive Plant Science and Management, 13:217-225.
  • Biffi, D., López-Mobilia, A., Kelez, S., Williams, D. A., Chumchal, M. M., and Weinburgh, M. (2020). Mislabelling and high mercury content hampers the efforts of market-based seafood initiatives in Peru. Scientific Reports, 10:1-12.
  • Harms, N. E., Williams, D. A., and Purcell, M. F. (2020). The role of overseas genetic surveys to potentially accelerate biological control development for a new Hydrilla verticillata introduction in the USA. BioControl, 1-10.
  • Chipps, A. S., Hale, A. M., Weaver, S. P., and Williams, D. A. (2020). Genetic diversity, population structure, and effective population size in two yellow bat species in South Texas. PeerJ, 8:e10348.
  • Chipps, A. S., Hale, A. M., Weaver, S. P., and Williams, D. A. (2020). Genetic approaches are necessary to accurately understand bat-wind turbine impacts. Diversity, 12:236.
  • Frankel, A. M., and Williams, D. A. (2020). Multiple paternity in a reintroduced rookery of Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles on South Padre Island, Texas. Journal of Herpetology, 54:50-56.
  • Williams, D. A., Rains, N. R., and Hale, A. M. (2019). Population genetic structure of Texas horned lizards: Implications for reintroduction and captive breeding. PeerJ, 7:e7746.
  • Heuring, C., Barber, D., Rains, N. R., Erxleben, D., Martin, C., Williams, D. A., and and E.J., M. c. E. l. r. o. y. (2019). Genetics, morphology and diet of introduced populations of the ant-eating Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum). Scientific Reports, 9:11470.
  • Metz, M. A., Wheeler, G. S., Landry, L. F., Williams, D. A., and McKay, F. (2019). A new genus and species of Gelechiini (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) feeding on Brazilian peppertree. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 121:63‐80.
  • Malonza, P. K., Bauer, A. M., Granthon, C., Williams, D. A., and and D., W. o. j. n. o. w. s. k. i. (2019). A new species of gecko of the genus Lygodactylus (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from southeastern Kenya. Zootaxa 4609:308‐320.
  • Jones, E., Williams, D. A., and Wheeler, G. S. (2019). Life history and host range determination of Paectes n. sp. – a potential classical biological control agent of Brazilian peppertree in the United States. Biocontrol Science and Technology 30:1‐18.
  • Williams, D. A., NE Harms, N. E., Grodowitz, M. J., and Purcell, M. (2018). Genetic structure of Hydrilla verticillata L.f. Royle in eastern China and the Republic of Korea: implications for surveys of biological control agents for the invasive monoecious biotype. Aquatic Botany 149:17‐27.

Last Updated: August 10, 2026

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