Mike is a wildlife ecologist who takes a full annual cycle approach to understand the interplay between the environment and population demography. To do this, it’s imperative to understand animal movement at multiple spatial scales–from fine-scale habitat selection of individuals to intercontinental migrations of populations. Identifying how different phases of the annual cycle interact to shape individual, population, and community dynamics is essential to understand how wildlife populations respond to global change.
Prior to joining VCE, Mike served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies. He completed his PhD in Environmental Science & Public Policy at George Mason University, and received his BS and MS in Biology at Plymouth State University. Mike’s research has a strong applied conservation component that aims to 1) reveal the mechanisms that drive behavior, life-history and demographics of wildlife populations, 2) identify where migratory individuals and populations are throughout the year to better inform conservation and 3) determine when and where wildlife populations are limited. Through the combined use of field research and sophisticated modeling techniques, Mike’s research has helped inform conservation efforts across geographic and political boundaries.
