Images

2017 winter photo of USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center, Administration and Aquatic Ecology Laboratory Building in Kearneysville, West Virginia

Morning snowfall at the Leetown Science Center's Administration building.

Beautiful prehistoric endangered species fish the Shortnose Sturgeon floating in the ABIKIS Burst Flume during research runs at the EESC-USGS-Conte Fish Research Lab in Turners Falls, MA

Beautiful prehistoric endangered species fish the Shortnose Sturgeon floating in the ABIKIS Burst Flume during research runs at the EESC-USGS-Conte Fish Research Lab in Turners Falls, MA

This a juvenile lead-backed color morph of the Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon shenandoah). The Shenandoah salamander is a federally endangered species. Its entire range encompasses only on three mountaintops within Shenandoah National Park.

Ducks involved in underwater hearing studies at the Eastern Ecological Science Center (formerly PWRC) at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, MD dive in our tank facility at our Sea Duck colony. 

This is an adult three-lined salamander (Eurycea guttolineata). The three-lined salamander is a stream-adapted salamander, meaning that the larvae are fully aquatic and live in streams. This species is found throughout the southeastern US

Northern dusky salamanders (Desmognathus fuscus) are a species of stream-adapted salamander found throughout the northeastern US. The larvae are aquatic and live in streams, while the adults live on streambanks. This individual is an adult.

This is a red salamander (Pseudotriton ruber), a large stream-adapted salamander species found throughout the eastern US. The larvae of this species are fully aquatic and live in streams, while the adults are more terrestrial and can be found near stream banks.

Common Five-lined Skinks with ticks attached                                     

Common Five-lined Skinks with ticks attached                                         

Common Five-lined Skinks with ticks attached.  Photo by Michael Lutmerding of the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center at Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, MD.

The green frog (Lithobates clamitans) is a large species of frog found throughout the eastern US.

Northern Cricket frog calling at the edge of a pond in Owings, MD USA          

This is a Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus). This salamander species is fully terrestrial and can be found throughout the mid-Atlantic and Appalachians. 

To adapt to rising sea levels, coastal wetlands can migrate landward at the expense of adjacent freshwater wetlands and upland ecosystems, but migration can be hindered by natural and anthropogenic barriers. This photo shows marsh migration into an upland forest in Maryland. 

This is a red eft, the juvenile stage of the red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens). The juvenile stage of this newt is fully terrestrial, while the larval and adult stages are fully aquatic.

A long-tailed duck, two days old, standing. 

A researcher fills out a datasheet while swabbing salamanders for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). Bsal is a fungal disease affecting salamander species in Europe and Asia.

This is a macro photo of unhatched spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) larvae. Spotted salamanders lay their eggs in vernal pools and wetlands in late winter and early spring.

A toad (Anaxyrus sp.) inflates an air sac on its neck to make a trilling call. Toads and frogs call during the breeding season to attract potential mates, and each species has a unique call that can be used to identify them.