About Michael E. Dorcas, Ph.D.

Michael E. Dorcas, Ph.D. (also published as Michael Dorcas and Mike Dorcas) is a biologist, ecologist, and scientific consultant whose career spans more than 30 years of academic research, university teaching, scholarly publishing, and applied scientific work.

He is a former Endowed Professor of Biology at Davidson College and the author or coauthor of 118 peer-reviewed scientific papers, 25 book chapters, and 8 scholarly books in ecology, conservation biology, and herpetology. His research has been supported by more than $2.2 million in competitive research funding from major agencies, including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Defense.

His experience includes research mentorship, extensive editorial and peer-review service for scientific journals, and participation on national review panels. Through Tantilla Consulting, he helps researchers, institutions, and organizations develop clear, well-supported scientific work—from research design and manuscript development to publication and funding strategy.

His wildlife art draws on the same close observation that guides his scientific work through Tantilla Consulting. Through Tantilla Art, he works primarily in graphite and colored pencil, emphasizing anatomical accuracy, realism, and detail informed by decades of biological study and field experience.

Together, his consulting and art reflect scientific rigor, precision, and a sustained engagement with the natural world.