Professor
Ph.D., 1975, University of Oklahoma
Phone (901) 678-2597

Email: mlkenndy@memphis.edu  

Edward J. Meeman Field Station

Mammalogy, mammalian ecology, mammalian systematics, wildlife ecology, ecological genetics, conservation biology

Research interests are broad and center on questions relating to mammalogy, systematics, wildlife ecology, genetics, biogeography, and conservation biology. Past studies have mixed field and laboratory work very successfully and have focused on questions relating to whole organisms (game and non-game species); a variety of techniques (e.g., morphologic, electrophoretic, molecular, and wildlife) have been employed to address selected questions. Research efforts have resulted in long-term data bases relating to the biology of raccoons, coyotes, and white-tailed deer; additionally, a long-term study of the mammals of Tennessee with focus on rare and endangered species have provided critical data for the management of non-game species in Tennessee. Systematic assessments have contributed to the understanding of size variation in mammals and in clarifying the taxonomic relationships of selected taxa. Current research includes investigations relating to: how morphologic and genetic variation are distributed over space (macrogeographic and microgeographic scales) and causation of such variation; (2) habitat utilization of selected species and constructing models to predict the occurrence of selected species in different habitats; (3) interspecific interactions of mesopredators (e.g., interactions between raccoons and opossums); (4) impact of mammalian predators on ground-nesting birds; (5) systematics of black bears; (6) genetic investigations of the southern short-tailed shrew; (7) genetic structure within populations of mesopredators; (8) the rare and endangered mammals of Tennessee. Future research will continue to couple experimental procedures to ecological questions and to mix basic and applied science to address significant questions relating to mammals. Emphasis is directed toward students, and providing them with skills that will allow them to be successful researchers.

Selected Publications:

Reed, A. W., and M. L. Kennedy. 2000. Conservation status of the eastern spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius, in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. American Midland Naturalist, 144:133-138.

Lance, R. F., M. L. Kennedy, and P. L. Leberg. 2000. Classification bias in discriminant function analyses used to evaluate putatively different taxa. Journal of Mammalogy, 81:245-249.

Stevens, R. T., and M. L. Kennedy. 1999. An assessment of population density of red squirrels in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Canadian Field- Naturalist, 113:664-667.

Qumsiyeh, M. B., S. Baker, S. Dover, P. K. Kennedy, and M. L. Kennedy. 1999. A Robertsonian fan in the southern short-tailed shrew (Blarina carolinensis): chromosomal evolution at an early stage. Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics, 87:27-31.

Kennedy, M. L., A. E. Houston, G. W. Cook, and J. R. Ouellette. 1998. Use of satellite telemetry for monitoring movements of coyotes: a pilot study. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 26:557-560.

Peppers, J. A., P. K. Kennedy, and M. L. Kennedy. 1996. Spatial genetic variability in the coyote (Canis latrans). The Southwestern Naturalist, 41:388-394.