Curriculum Vitae & Bio
Ecologist//Naturalist
Started: Athens, GA
Currently: Blacksburg, VA
Education
B.S. Ecology, Philosophy minor
University of Georgia, 2015
M.S. Wildlife Conservation
Virginia Tech, Current
From: Athens, Georgia
Currently: Blacksburg, Virginia
Ecologist, Naturalist
Bio
From a young age I have been passionate about two things: Understanding rare species of herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) and educating those around me on my interests. As I have grown professionally, I have become fascinated by rare species and the ecological underpinnings of their populations. Currently, herpetofauna are among the most imperiled groups of animals, with present extinction rates estimated to be over two hundred times greater than background extinction rates1. These animals are important parts of the ecosystems they inhabit, and understanding their populations is vital to preserving their biodiversity. One factor that I believe contributes to their decline is the public perception of these animals. Growing up in Georgia (and working in the rural south as a biologist), I have heard things along the line of “The only good snake is a dead snake” more times than I can count. However, I always view these interactions as a chance to educate people about the misconceptions and importance of these animals.
I have been lucky enough to work with several state and federally listed species, such as gopher frogs, spotted turtles, and most currently bog turtles. Through these, and other research experiences I have become a thorough and efficient scientist. During my undergraduate career, I spent time working in three different labs, conducting a variety of research. These experiences working with a broad range of taxa gave me the ability to think about the larger questions at hand, and how the underlying implications affect the study systems. Additionally, I volunteered my time to take part in as many educational outreach opportunities as I could, including after school sessions with the Boys and Girls Club of Athens teaching about monarch butterflies and pollinators and dozens of outreach events with the Herpetological Society at UGA. Since graduating, I spent the past three years conducting research on various systems including Lepidopteran diversity for five months in Costa Rica, spotted turtle distribution in the southern extremes of their range, and bog turtle nesting ecology. I also spent a year working with k-12 groups as an environmental educator on the Georgia Coast, as well as six months serving as an AmeriCorps member acting as a research technician and educator at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. These experiences have all contributed to my growth as both scientist and an educator.
Currently, I am pursuing a master's degree at Virginia Tech under the guidance of Drs. Carola Haas and Emannuel Frimpong.
Research Experience
Teaching Experience
AUGUST 2018 – PRESENT
M.S. GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT, VIRGINIA TECH
Drs. Carola Haas & Emmanuel Frimpong
Currently conducting master’s thesis research focused on bog turtle distribution, population dynamics, and predator-prey interactions in southwest Virginia.
MARCH 2018 – JULY 2018
SPOTTED TURTLE TECHNICIAN, THE ORIANNE SOCIETY
Mr. Houston Chandler
Assisted with surveys for spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) across Georgia and Florida as part of a range-wide assessment of species distribution, abundance, and demography. Duties include visual and trap surveys, radio telemetry, data collection and management (morphometric, GPS, habitat/vegetative characterization), building and repairing traps, and creating social media content.
SEPTEMBER 2017 – MARCH 2018
AMERICORPS EASTERN BOX TURTLE MEMBER, GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER
Mrs. Katie Higgins
Conducted field research involving radio telemetry to monitor movement, microhabitat selection, and home ranges of resident box turtles. Managed data collected in the field, and compiled previous and current GPS data into GIS. Lead daily and group programming focused on box turtles, as well as other programs offered by the GSTC.
MAY 2017 – AUGUST 2017
LEAD BOG TURLTE FIELD TECHNICIAN, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
Mr. Mike Knoerr
Assisted with all aspects of research focused on bog turtle nest survivorship and depredation. Duties included data management (morphometric, GPS, habitat characterization), GIS work to delineate wetlands and assess movements, radio telemetry, tracking and locating nests, deployment/upkeep/assessment of camera traps and images, and managing small field crews during data collection
JANUARY 2016 – JUNE 2016
RESEARCH TECHNICIAN, UGA COSTA RICA
Mr. Jose Montero
Conducted photographic field work. This was another field site and a continuation of the previous data collection project on nocturnal Lepidopteran (see below).
FEBRUARY 2015 – MAY 2015
RESEARCH TECHNICIAN, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Dr. John Pickering
Conducted photographic field work in the Athens, GA and Franklin, NC areas. Collected data on nocturnal Lepidopteran for a long-term study addressing differences in seasonally dependent moth diversity.
JANUARY 2014 – AUGUST 2016
LAB TECHNICIAN, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Dr. Sonia Altizer and Dr. Dara Satterfield
Assisted with research on population dynamics of Danaus plexippus in response to Ophryocystis elektroscirrha. Conducted microscopy work, greenhouse maintenance, volunteer communication, and other general lab duties and upkeep. Ran citizen science project titled “Monarch Health.” Assisted with lab-related outreach efforts at various local events and schools.
JUNE 2014 – AUGUST 2014
FIELD TECHNICIAN, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Dr. James Byers and Mr. Daniel Harris
Worked on design, construction, and maintenance of spatial interaction experiment exploring the relationship between eastern oysters and spartina. Duties included: ArcGIS work digitizing study sites, construction of robo-data loggers, and completion of appropriate permits (NWP, PCN permits), design and set-up of experimental plots, Arduino work, drone flight and photography, and fabrication. Operated a variety of power tools, including rotary saw, soldering iron, drill press, and dremels.
Presentations
Holden, M. T.*, Nicholas M. Caruso, E. A. Frimpong, C. A. Haas. Are the Turtles Gone? Investigating Changes in Populaton Size of Virginia Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii). Oral presentation. 2020 Virginia Tech Graduate Student Assembly Research Symposium. 18 April 2020. Blacksburg, Virginia
Holden, M. T.*, Joseph C. Barron II, Nicholas M. Caruso, E. A. Frimpong, C. A. Haas. Investigating Changes in Population Size of Virginia Bog Turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii). Oral presentation. 2020 Southeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. 29 February 2020. Nauvoo, Alabama
Holden, M. T.*, Nicholas M. Caruso, E. A. Frimpong, C. A. Haas. More Predators, More Problems? Investigating the relationship between landuse and nest predation via anthropogenically subsidized mesopredators. Oral presentation. 2020 Annual Meeting of the Virginia Chapter of The Wildlife Society. 7 February 2020. Ashland, Virginia
Joseph C. Barron II*, Michael T. Holden* , Nicholas M. Caruso, Emmanuel A. Frimpong, Carola A. Haas. Virginia Tech Bog Turtle Research Update: Potential nest predators and rare plants in wetlands of southwest Virginia. Oral Presentation. 2020 Project Bog Turtle Meeting. 6 January 2020. Asheboro, North Carolina
Holden, M. T.*, J. C. Barron II, J. B. Feaga, E. A. Frimpong, C. A. Haas. Understanding the Interactions between Development and Nest Depredation. Poster presentation. Virginia Tech 35th Annual Graduate Student Assembly Research Symposium. 27 March 2019. Blacksburg, Virginia
Holden, M. T.*, J. C. Barron II, J. B. Feaga, E. A. Frimpong, C. A. Haas. Understanding the Interactions between Development and Nest Depredation. Poster presentation. 2019 Southeastern Partners in Reptile and Amphibian Conservation. 14 February 2019, Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Haas, C. A., J. C. Barron II*, M. T. Holden*, J. B. Feaga, E. A. Frimpong, N. M. Caruso, E. Poor, A. Leipold, R. Cherry, A. A. Roberts, and J. D. Kleopfer. 2018. Conservation planning and status assessment for bog turtles in Virginia. Poster presentation. 2018 Bog Turtle Symposium. 4 December 2018, Richmond, Virginia.
Holden, M. T.*, J. C. Barron II, E. A. Frimpong, C. A. Haas. 2018. Status assessment for bog turtle in Virginia. Oral presentation. 2018 Virginia Herpetological Society Meeting.
27 October 2018, Richmond, Virginia.
Holden, M. T.*, Ecology, Natural History, and Research of Jekyll Island Box Turtles. Oral Presentation. 2017 Georgia Association of Marine Educators Meeting. 3 November 2017, St. Simon’s Island, Georgia.
Holden M. T.*, A. K. Davis. Intraspecific variation in flight-related morphology of monarch butterflies. 2014 Odum School of Ecology Graduate Student Symposium.
25 January 2014, Athens, Georgia.
FALL 2019-SPRING 2020
GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT
Served at the GTA for Wildlife Field Biology during the fall 2019 semester, and for Widlife Field Techniques during the spring 2020 semester.
AUGUST 2019
VT FIELD TECHNIQUES VOLUNTEER TEACHING ASSISTANT
Assisted with instruction on herpetofauna sampling and survey methods during 10-day field course.
FEBRUARY 2019
VT FIELD TECHNIQUES GUEST LECTURE
Guest lectured on an overview of trapping and capture methodologies used for aquatic and semi-terrestrial herpetofauna.
JANUARY 2017 – MAY 2017
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR, DRIFTWOOD NATURE CENTER
Ms. Ann Marie Wilson
Taught K-12 coastal themed environmental classes with overnight school groups from Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. Lead school group day trips to Cumberland and Jekyll Islands, emphasizing coastal and marine life sciences. Classes taught included: Herpetology Beach Ecology, Marsh Ecology, Ornithology, Team Building, Native American History, and Astronomy.
AUGUST 2016 – DECEMBER 2016
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR, BURTON 4H CENTER
Mr. David Weber
Taught K-12 coastal themed environmental classes with overnight school groups from Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. Classes taught included: Herpetology, Beach Ecology, Marsh Ecology, Ornithology, Team Building, Native American History, and Astronomy.
Professional Memberships
The Wildlife Society – National Chapter
The Wildlife Society – Viginia Chapter
Herpetologists’ Leauge
Society for Conservation Biology
Partners in Reptile and Amphibian Conservation
Southeastern Partners in Reptile and Amphibian Conservation
Service & Outreach
Service Positions
FiWGSA Speaker Chair - 2019-2020
Virginia Tech, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
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Coordinated and organized the visit of invited speakers to give research presentations to the graduate students at VT.
FiWGSA Officer Elections Committee Member - 2020
Virginia Tech, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
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Organized and fascilitated the electoral process for the Department of Fish and Widlife Conservation’s Graduate Student Association’s 2020-2021 officers.
New Graduate Student Mentor - 2019-2020
Virginia Tech, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
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Served as a mentor for incoming graduate students assisting with daily activities and duties.
President, University of Georgia Herpetological Society - 2015
University of Georgia
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Oversaw the organization, meetings, and activities of the club, including philanthropy events, societal group outings, and education events.
Herpetology Outreach Collection Manager - 2014
University of Georgia
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Oversaw all aspects of husbandry for the live herpetofauna collection, consisting of ~15 animals.
Herpetology Outreach Coordinator - 2014
University of Georgia
-
Scheduled and coordinated all educational outreach events that the society participated in.
Outreach Service
Science Fair Judge, 22 February 2020
William Byrd Middle School Science Fair
The Wildlife Society Booth Volunteer, 16 November 2020
Virginia Tech Science Day
Tazwell County 4H Visit Volunteer, March 2019
Virginia Tech Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Professional Development
Analysis of Spatially Structured Camera Trap Data
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2 hours hours, December 2019
Occupancy and Abundance Modelling in R
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2 hours, November 2019
Responding to Students in Crisis Workshop
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1.5 hours, October 2019
Data Visualization in R
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2 hours, March 2019
Occupancy Modelling Workshop
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5 days, September 2018
Grants & Awards
Burd Sheldon McGuinnes Graduate Fellowship 2020-2021
Second place - Oral Presentation, VT GSA Research Symposium 2020
VT Dept. Fish & Wildlife Conservation GSA Travel Grant 2020
VT Graduate Student Association Travel Grant 2020
First Place - SEPARC Photo Competition 2020
Second Place - SEPARC Photo Competition 2019
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award 2018
Thelma Richardson & Frank Golley Undergraduate Award 2014
Publications
Davis, Andrew K. and Michael T. Holden, “Measuring Intraspecific Variation in Flight-Related Morphology of Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus): Which Sex Has the Best Flying Gear?” Journal of Insects, vol. 2015
Holden, M. T., and N. K. Fields, 2016. Geographic Distribution. Storeria dekayi (Dekay’s Brownsnake): USA, Georgia, Emanuel County. Herpetological Review 47(2):266.
Contact
Email: Michaelholden@vt.edu
Phone: 706-202-4282
