Education
PhD, The Ohio State University
MS, The University of Nebraska
BS, The Ohio State University
Dr. Graziano earned his PhD from The Ohio State University studying how shifts in dominant plant communities resulting from climate change, altered disturbance regimes, and invasive species can translate into shifts of the herpetological community. His research incorporated the importance of prescribed fire to maintain oak-hickory forests and wetland creation in the form of small vernal pools to help guide best management practices in forests. His MS was earned from the University of Nebraska where his research focused on Nebraskan populations of the small-mouthed salamander (Ambystoma texanum), which represents the northwest extreme of this otherwise common species' range. Much of his research has an applied focus, with the objective of aiding in conservation of both rare and common species through increasing knowledge of natural history and distribution. Before accepting his position at the University of Hartford, he served as a visiting assistant professor at Vassar College in New York and Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts where he coauthored peer-reviewed publications with undergraduate student researchers and mentored numerous undergraduate research students. He is currently involved in collaborations with the Ecological Research as Education Network (EREN) and encourages any students who have a desire to learn more about and engage in ecological research to reach out at migrazian@hartford.edu.
Areas of Expertise
- Ecology (Community, Landscape)
- Wetlands
- Forests
- Ecosystem Restoration
- Herpetology
- Botany
Selected Publications
Padgett, D.J., Kurosawa, E., and M.P. Graziano. 2022. The globally rare Aldrovandra vesiculosa (Droseraceae) new to New Hampshire, U.S.A. Rhodora 124(997): 103-105.
Graziano, M.P., A.K. Deguire, and T.D. Surasinghe. 2022. Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy Renovations. Diversity 14(3): 172.
Graziano, M.P. and S.N. Matthews. 2022. Plant Communities and Associated Litter: An Overview of the Impacts on Amphibian Development, Survival, and Behavior. Herpetological Review 53(1): 25-33.
Graziano, M.P. 2019. Clemmys guttata (spotted turtle): Intraspecific Aggression: Male Combat. Herpetological Review 50(2): 349-350.
Graziano, M.P. 2018. Glyptemys insculpta (wood turtle): Subterranean Refugia. Herpetological Review 49(4): 732.