My Story
My name is Ethan Dittmer, I am working towards my PhD in natural resource science with a specialization in applied ecology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln under the advisement of Dr. Mark Vrtiska and Dr. Jay VonBank.
I am deploying cellular GPS transmitters on mallards at multiple sites within the southeast region of Kansas in cooperation with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. The overall purpose of this work is to examine mallard migration and wintering ecology in southeast Kansas with a focus on factors influencing diel and seasonal habitat use and selection, behavioral patterns and energy expenditure, determining stock origins, and understanding local and regional movements.
I completed my Master of Science at the University of Arkansas at Monticello in December of 2022 where I researched mallard use patterns of sanctuary, public hunt areas, and private lands along with land cover types in the vicinity of White River National Wildlife Refuge through the deployment of cellular GPS transmitters under the advisement of Dr. Doug Osborne.
I enjoy waterfowl hunting and that is the basis of my passion for waterfowl research. My research interests are waterfowl ecology and wetland habitat management that aims to improve waterfowl hunting opportunities and waterfowl habitat management practices on public lands.
