Research

---

Much of the research conducted on the Welder Wildlife Refuge is carried out by graduate students whose projects typically span two to four years. In addition to these student‑driven studies, Foundation staff conduct ongoing, long‑term research that examines habitat management techniques and the ecology of individual wildlife species and communities. These long‑term datasets form the backbone of our understanding of ecological change on the refuge.

Graduate Research Fellowship Program

The Welder Wildlife Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports outstanding M.S. and Ph.D. students working in collaboration with universities across the United States. The Foundation provides funding to exemplary graduate students whose research addresses critical ecological and land‑management questions. In keeping with the directives outlined in Rob Welder’s will, the program maintains a strong emphasis on wildlife research conducted within working, land‑use environments.

While the Foundation has supported research nationwide, most current projects occur on the Welder Wildlife Refuge or within South Texas. Many of these studies examine the relationships among wildlife, cattle grazing, and the effects of invasive brush and grass species, issues of direct relevance to landowners, wildlife professionals, and land managers. The program’s overarching goal is to prioritize research that tackles contemporary conservation challenges and delivers practical, science‑based solutions that can be applied on the ground.

Research Partnerships

The Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation maintains strong partnerships with universities, agencies, and conservation organizations to support and advance ecological research. As a biological field station, the Welder Wildlife Refuge provides researchers with access to 7,800 acres of native habitats, long‑term datasets, and a working landscape where applied science can be tested, refined, and translated into real‑world management solutions. Each year, numerous institutions request permission to conduct studies on the refuge, reflecting its value as a living laboratory for wildlife and habitat research.

Current and past research partners include the Smithsonian Institution, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and many others. These collaborations strengthen our ability to address complex ecological questions, support graduate education, and contribute to regional and national conservation efforts.

For inquiries about conducting research on the refuge, please contact Dr. Dale James at djames@welderwildlife.org.

Staff and Long-Term Research

In addition to supporting graduate student projects, Foundation staff conduct research that strengthens the scientific foundation of the refuge and complements the work of our university and agency partners. Staff‑led studies have examined individual species such as bobcats (Lynx rufus), Rio Grande turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), and black‑bellied whistling ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis), as well as broader ecological topics including breeding bird demographics, the effects of rotational grazing on wildlife, and predator–prey interactions across the landscape.

Long‑term monitoring has always been one of the defining strengths of the Welder Wildlife Refuge, and these efforts will be renewed in the near term to ensure continuity of our ecological datasets. Decades of systematic field observations have created a rare, multi‑generational record of ecological change across the refuge. These monitoring programs track trends in vegetation, wildlife populations, and habitat conditions, restoring the frequency of surveys needed to accurately detect ecological change. Together, these efforts ensure the Foundation maintains robust, long‑term datasets that document ecological patterns and guide future management decisions.

Because the refuge functions as a biological field station, these monitoring efforts directly support our research partnerships. Long‑term datasets generated by staff provide essential baselines that strengthen collaborative research and enhance the scientific value of the refuge. Graduate student research conducted over the decades has further enriched this collective knowledge base, contributing valuable information on nearly every wildlife species found on the refuge. Together, staff‑led studies, long‑term monitoring, and external research partnerships form a comprehensive scientific framework that strengthens the Foundation’s ability to steward the land effectively and advance conservation across the region.