Research & publications
New places.
Different possibilities.
How do populations respond to new environments, and what do those responses mean for conservation?
Breann’s research uses Italian wall lizards, Podarcis siculus, to connect biogeography, behavior, and ecological interactions. Comparisons among mainland and island populations in Italy and introduced populations in the United States help distinguish broadly repeated responses from patterns tied to local environments and population histories.
Connected lines of evidence
Four ways to ask the bigger question.
Biogeography
Comparisons among island and mainland populations examine how geographic setting and introduction history relate to variation in traits. Native-range comparisons provide the context needed to interpret differences in introduced populations.
Behavior
Repeated behavioral assays examine aggression, boldness, neophilia, exploration, climbing, and sheltering. This work evaluates both individual consistency and the variation that population averages can conceal.
Morphology & habitat use
Geometric morphometrics, standardized field measurements, and habitat surveys quantify variation in head shape and space use. Comparisons across locations examine how traits and habitat use vary with ecological conditions.
Distribution & conservation
Community observations, field verification, and spatial analyses document introduced occurrences and guide additional surveys. Research examines potential interactions with native species while distinguishing occurrence from evidence of ecological impact.
Publications
Submitted manuscripts
Richey, B. M. S., Zuffi, M. A. L., Di Vozzo, L.†, Guasconi, M.†, Hicks, A. E.††, Storniolo, F., Mangiacotti, M., Sacchi, R., Scali, S., Rosenthal, G. G., & Lawing, A. M. Behavioral variability and repeatability across native and introduced populations of the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus). Submitted to NeoBiota.
García-Saldaña, J. G.†, Hicks, A. E.†, Richey, B. M. S., & Fitzgerald, L. First report of American Robin (Turdus migratorius) predation on an introduced Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus). Submitted to Herpetological Review.
Peer-reviewed publications
2022
1. Beckman, A. K.*, Richey, B. M. S.*, & Rosenthal, G. G. Behavioral responses of wild animals to anthropogenic change: insights from domestication. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 76, 105. (2022). web ↗
Other publications
2025
Stevens, N., Nicholson, E. G., Peterson, S., Richey, B. M. S., Davis, I., & Rojas-Carranza, A. H. Public Outreach and Perceptions of Endangered Species Conservation. ABS Perspectives, 9, pp. 16–24. (2025). web ↗
Media publications
2024
Texas A&M Division of Student Affairs, Miles, Morgan, & Richey, B. M. S. On Air with Global Aggies (Season 1, Episode 11). On Air with Student Affairs Podcast. (2024). listen / watch ↗
2022
Richey, B. M. S., Dindi, S., Othili, M., & Kamau, D. (Eds.). The Napa River Restoration: A Case Study in Successful Riparian Restoration. Mazingira Yetu, Issue 21, pp. 50–51. (2022). PDF ↗
Manuscripts in preparation
Richey, B. M. S., Hicks, A. E., Di Vozzo, L., Guasconi, M., Zuffi, M. A. L., Sacchi, R., Scali, S., Mangiacotti, M., & Lawing, A. M. Habitat selection reflects introduction status in native and introduced populations of a globally introduced lizard. In preparation. Target journal Ecology.
Richey, B. M. S., Zuffi, M. A. L., Di Vozzo, L., Guasconi, M., Sacchi, R., Scali, S., Mangiacotti, M., Rosenthal, G. G., & Lawing, A. M. Mating preferences through olfactory cues are not impacted by invasion status in a globally invasive lacertid. In preparation. Target journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
Hicks, A. E., Richey, B. M. S., Zuffi, M. A. L., Di Vozzo, L., Guasconi, M., & Lawing, A. M. Habitat selection coefficients decrease in a transient population of Podarcis siculus. In preparation. Target journal Biological Invasions.
Richey, B. M. S., de Berg, N., Christensen, J. M., Ferreira da Fonseca, S., Foster, A. D., Iddris, S., Pratama, A. M. A., Prieler, M., Stevenson, E. A., & Stokes, G. Priorities, challenges, and opportunities for early career conservation professionals. In preparation. Target journal Conservation Letters.
