Tami S. Ransom

Tami S. Ransom is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Environmental Studies Department at Salisbury University on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Her research integrates community ecology, conservation biology, and invasive species management with field-based investigations across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Her primary research domains include:

• Population dynamics of IUCN Red Listed spotted turtles on the Delmarva Peninsula
• Impacts of invasive earthworms on native ecosystems and ground-nesting warblers (Ovenbirds and Worm-eating Warblers)
• Herpetofauna colonization patterns during ecological restoration projects like Poplar Island
• Conservation strategies for endangered species including Maryland's frosted elfins

Dr. Ransom's methodology emphasizes hands-on fieldwork, collaborating with agencies like the US Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland DNR, and Salisbury Zoo. She examines how invasive ecosystem engineers alter habitat structures for species like red-backed salamanders while mentoring students in population modeling and habitat assessment techniques.

Her teaching portfolio features experiential courses including Wildlife Management and Field Techniques, Conservation and Biodiversity, and Trinidad & Tobago study abroad programs where students engage in sea turtle research. Courses consistently incorporate field components at locations ranging from Assateague National Seashore to chicken processing plants, connecting theoretical concepts to real-world sustainability challenges.

Dr. Ransom actively mentors graduate students in thesis research while directing undergraduate field projects. Her collaborative approach extends to international contexts, evidenced by field studies in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater and partnerships with local conservation organizations across Maryland's Eastern Shore.