Nicholas (Nick) Masto

Assistant Professor, Waterfowl Ecology and Management
Assistant Director, James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center
Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science

Office: Room 124, Belle W. Baruch Institute for Coastal Ec
Phone: 864-580-8003

Email: nmasto@clemson.edu
Personal Website: https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/kennedy-center/

Educational Background

PhD Environmental Science
Tennessee Technological University 2023

MSc Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Clemson University 2019

BSc Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Clemson University 2015

Courses Taught

BIOL 6970/EVSB 7170: Biometrics
FNR/WFB 4700: Applied Research in Waterfowl and Wetlands Ecology
BIOL 4720/6720: Ornithology

Profile

Our group's research applies behavioral and landscape ecological approaches to advance the conservation of waterfowl, migratory birds, and the wetland and grassland ecosystems they depend on. We use a diverse set of field biology, novel datasets, and quantitative methods to understand how environmental and anthropogenic pressures shape individual behaviors and scale to population-level movements, distributions, and demographic trends. By linking fine-scale behavioral ecology to broad-scale population processes, we aim to inform conservation strategies that are actionable, ecologically sound, and spatially relevant at state, federal, and NGO levels.

Research Interests

Animal behavior; Anthropogenic disturbance; Avian ecology; Co-benefits; Consumptive and non-consumptive users; Demography; Full annual cycle; Habitat management; Hunter satisfaction; Migration; Landscape-scale conservation; Land use and global change; Remote sensing; Species-habitat relationships; Waterfowl biology; Wetlands and grasslands

Publications

Teitelbaum, C. S.,…N.M. Masto… et al. (68 co-authors). 2026. Landscape heterogeneity and human populations drive movement distances of waterfowl associated with avian influenza outbreaks. Ecology Letters link

Bakner, N., N. M. Masto, C. J. Highway, A. C. Keever, L. P. Holmes, N. J. Steelman, H. M. Hagy, J. C. Feddersen, and B. S. Cohen. 2025. Balancing opposing cues: seasonal shifts in push–pull drivers of migration in a temperate waterfowl species. Movement Ecology link

Cullen, J. A., N. M. Masto, J. D. Sullivan, C. J. Highway, K. A. Patyk, M. McCool, M. K. Torchetti, K. Lantz, R. L. Poulson, D. L. Carter, B. S. Cohen, and D. J. Prosser. Spatiotemporal overlap of mallards with poultry farms is associated with greater risk of avian influenza outbreaks. Ecology and Evolution link

Blake-Bradshaw, A. G., N. M. Masto, C. J. Highway, A. C. Keever, J. C. Feddersen, H. M. Hagy, and B. S. Cohen. 2025. Wintering mallard survival is unaffected by brief anthropogenic disturbance on waterfowl sanctuaries. Ecosphere link

Masto, N. M., K. Dunham, M. G. Brasher, K. M. Ringelman, J. M. Osborne, B. Avers, T. Bidrowski, M. Ervin, O. E. Jones, B. W. Loges, D. McClain, W. Adam Phelps, R. Vanausdall, J. D. Lancaster, and O. J. Robinson. 2025. Citizen science generates reliable migration chronologies to supplement professional surveys for waterfowl habitat management. Ornithological Applications link

Highway, C. J., N. M. Masto, A. G. Blake-Bradshaw, A. C. Keever, J. C. Feddersen, H. M. Hagy, D. L. Combs, and B. S. Cohen. 2025. Risk minimization influences use and depletion of unharvested flooded corn for ducks. The Journal of Wildlife Management link

Blake-Bradshaw, A. G., N. M. Masto, C. J. Highway, A. C. Keever, J. C. Feddersen, H. M. Hagy, and B. S. Cohen. 2024. Mallard response to experimental human disturbance on sanctuary areas is mediated by hunting. Wildlife Biology link

Masto, N. M., A. G. Blake-Bradshaw, C. J. Highway, A. C. Keever, J. C. Feddersen, P. T. Link, H. M. Hagy, D. C. Osborne, and B. S. Cohen. 2024. Mallard spring migration strategies necessitate individual time-energy tradeoffs despite wintering origins or migratory destinations. Ornithology link

Masto, N. M., H. M. Hagy, A. G. Blake-Bradshaw, C. J. Highway, J. C. Feddersen, A. C. Keever, and B. S. Cohen. 2024. Comparing winter distribution and harvest rates of transmitter-marked and banded-only mallards in western Tennessee. The Wildlife Society Bulletin link

Masto, N. M., A. C. Keever, A. G. Blake-Bradshaw, C. J. Highway, J. C. Feddersen, H. M. Hagy, and B. S. Cohen. 2024. Proximity among protected area networks promotes functional connectivity for wintering waterfowl. Scientific Reports 14:17527 link

Masto, N. M., A. G. Blake-Bradshaw, C. J. Highway, A. C. Keever, J. C. Feddersen, H. M. Hagy, and B. S. Cohen. 2024. Human access constrains optimal foraging and habitat availability in an avian generalist. Ecological Applications 34:e2952. link

Links