Mitchell C. Lettow. 578 Wilson Rd, Room 204, East Lansing, MI (269)

Transcription

1 Mitchell C. Lettow 578 Wilson Rd, Room 204, East Lansing, MI (269) EDUCATION M.S. Michigan State University, Major: Entomology 2011-Current Specialization: Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Advisor: Dr. Douglas Landis GPA: 3.8/4/0 B.S. Michigan State University, Environmental Biology/Zoology Advisor: James Harding GPA: 3.7/4.0 Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Science Transfer GPA: 3.7/4.0 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Oak savanna restoration and pollination: effects on communities 2011-Present and function Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Advisor: Dr. Douglas Landis Studied impact of oak savanna restoration techniques on plant and insect community interactions (Master s Thesis) Developed experimental design, sampling protocols, conducted statistical analyses, processed and identified insect and plant specimens, and presented research results Managed insect sampling and analysis for woody biofuel production research (Research Assistantship) Restoration of prairie fen plants, insects, and abiotic processes Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Supervisor: Anna Fiedler Assisted with sampling of insects, plants, groundwater, and habitat components in prairie fen restoration and remnant sites as research assistant Conducted and presented independent research project on hydrology of restored and invaded prairie fen plots

2 Brood parasitism and predation on forest songbird species Fort Custer Training Center, Augusta, MI Supervisor: John Brenneman Conducted independent nest searching and monitoring on various passerine species Collected habitat data from nest sites including understory, shrub, and canopy plant species PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Stewardship Crew Leader February 2010-March 2011 Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, Portage MI Directed a five-person crew in natural resources management (invasive species treatment and surveying, prescribed burning) Assisted with management plan design, equipment upkeep and coordination Conducted ecological restoration monitoring Stewardship Crew Member May-October 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center (Great Lakes Ecological Management), Kalamazoo, MI Conducted natural resources management (invasive species treatment and surveying, prescribed burning) Wildflower Technician May 2008-August 2008 Michigan Wildflower Farm, Portland, MI Maintained wildflower and grass seed production plots Collected native plant seed on and offsite Maintained offsite restoration projects Banding assistant June 2004-October 2007 Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, MI Assisted with Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) and fall bird banding programs Conducted Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas II Surveys Garden technician August 2007-May 2009 W.J. Beal Botanical Garden, East Lansing, MI Collected and cleaned seed from Michigan native plants as part of international seed exchange Maintained garden grounds and various plantings

3 CERTIFICATIONS & SKILLS S-130, S-190, and L-180 Prescribed Fire Training Commercial Pesticide Applicator First Aid/CPR Computer o Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint. Experienced in SAS, ArcGIS, and BehavePlus wildfire simulation software Biological o Proficient in plant, insect, bird, and herpetofauna identification. Mechanical o Familiarity with maintenance and use of handtools, herbicide applicators, brushcutters, chainsaws, drip torches, etc. AWARDS AND HONORS Presidential Travel Scholarship- Entomological Society of America 2012 Annual Meeting-North Central Branch Bughouse Volunteer of the Year- MSU Entomology Departmental Awards 2012 Hutson Travel Funds- MSU Entomology Department awarded for 2011 Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting Dean s List- Michigan State University Kalamazoo Valley Community College PROFESSIONAL AND DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE Seminar committee. Entomology Department Seminar committee. Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS Oak savanna restoration in Michigan: Effects on habitat and bee communities. Lettow, M. C., L. A. Brudvig, D. A. Landis (Poster), Natural Areas Association Annual Conference, June 2012, 1 st place student poster competition Flowering plant and pollinator community response to oak savanna restoration. Lettow, M. C., L. A. Brudvig, D. A. Landis (Poster)

4 Entomological Society of America-North Central Branch Annual Meeting, October 2012, 1 st place student poster competition Midwest-Great Lakes Society for Ecological Restoration Annual Meeting, May 2012, 1 st place student poster competition MSU Plant Science Graduate Student Research Symposium, April 2012, 3 rd place student poster competition Stewardship Network Annual Meeting, January 2012, 2 nd place student poster competition Oak savanna restoration and the pollinator community response. Lettow, M. C., L. A. Brudvig, D.A. Landis (Talk), Stewardship Network Annual Meeting, January 2012 Glossy buckthorn effects on hydrology of a prairie fen. Lettow, M. C., A. K. Fiedler, D. A. Landis (Poster), Stewardship Network Annual Meeting, January 2010 OUTREACH Purple loosestrife biocontrol beetle collection. Clark Lake, MI Coordinated and ran field day with 20+ participants to collect introduced loosestrife beetles for redistribution around the state to control populations of purple loosestrife. Native Plants and Ecosystem Services Mobile Workshop. Various locations, MI Assisted with coordination and instruction for 30+ participants from various agencies, organizations, farms, and businesses to learn about the use of native plants to provide multiple ecosystem services. Prairie fen stewardship workdays. Various locations, southwest MI. 2011, 2012 Coordinated and ran workdays for volunteers and members of the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Volunteers used multiple methods to remove and control invasive shrubs in prairie fen wetlands. Darwin Discovery Day. MSU Museum, East Lansing, MI. 2007, 2008 Served as an educator on Ornithology as part of a larger event seeking to teach the public about nature, evolution, history, etc. MSU Bughouse. Natural Science Building, MSU, East Lansing, MI. Served as guide and educator for weekly open house hours and tours for school groups. Taught concepts of insect biology, ecology, etc., and facilitated direct interactions with insects for children and adults of various age groups. MSU ECO-Students for sustainability. MSU, East Lansing, MI Helped to create awareness and action around environmental issues through diverse means such as films, lobbying, demonstrations, and discussions

5 VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Various locations Assisted with Massassagua rattlesnake and American burying beetle surveys. MSU Museum. MSU, East Lansing, MI Assisted with bird specimen preparation, labeling, and inventory. MSU Fisheries and Wildlife Club. MSU, East Lansing, MI Removed debris from impacted sections of waterway in annual Red Cedar river cleanups. Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Various locations Participated in stewardship work days conducting invasive species and brush removal from tallgrass prairie and prairie fen habitats, installing preserve signs, conducting botanical surveys, etc. Kekholdi Indigenous Reserve. Talamanca, Costa Rica Helped in conducting habitat comparisons through bird studies. Used observations and mist netting to build bird species inventories of various areas of a coastal reserve. Christmas Bird Counts. Various locations, southwestern Michigan current Worked with other volunteers to conduct annual winter bird censuses as part of the longest running citizen science program in the world. Binder Park Zoo. Battle Creek, Michigan Participated in Junior Zookeeper program, working with zookeepers in different areas of the zoo to provide 100+ hours of animal care. RELEVANT COURSEWORK Plants of Michigan Natural Resources GIS Silviculture Plant Ecology Advanced Statistics for Biologists Wetland Ecosystem Management Restoration Ecology Wildland Fire Population and Community Ecology