Michael is a Research Ecologist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Wetland and Aquatic Research Center based in Louisiana, USA. In broad terms, his research examines the response of ecosystems to changing conditions and the implications for conservation and restoration. Much of his research focuses on wetland ecosystems at the dynamic interface between land and ocean: mangrove forests, salt marshes, and salt flats. His interest in tropical freshwater wetlands developed while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador and a Fulbright Fellow in Costa Rica’s Palo Verde National Park.