Mike Larson

Mike Larson serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota with a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. He maintains a key external affiliation as manager of the Forest Wildlife Research Group for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, overseeing game species research in forested regions of the state.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Missouri

Dr. Larson specializes in avian ecology and management, quantitative ecology, and structured decision analysis for natural resource applications. His research integrates survey design, population parameter estimation, and habitat modeling for species including grouse, shorebirds, songbirds, and Florida manatees, with emphasis on resolving decision-relevant uncertainties for conservation investments.

Publication trends reveal consistent focus on landscape-scale wildlife conservation, particularly Midwest forest ecosystems. His work bridges population viability analysis, habitat suitability modeling, and forest management impacts, demonstrating methodological innovation in ecological simulation and evidence-based decision frameworks for wildlife management.

As manager of the Minnesota DNR's Forest Wildlife Research Group, he directs field surveys and applied research programs for game species across the state's forested landscapes.