Monitoring Vernal Pool Amphibians in the Northeast Active
In 2004, the Northeast Amphibian Research Monitoring Initiative (NE ARMI) in collaboration with National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service initiated a region-wide study on the distribution of vernal pools and estimate the proportion of pools that were occupied by pool-associated amphibians (specifically, wood frogs, Lithobates sylvaticus, and spotted salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum).
At Parks and Refuges where the distribution of vernal pools was known, a random sample of known ponds was chosen for amphibian sampling. At Parks and Refuges where the distribution of vernal pools was unknown, an adaptive cluster sampling (ACS) approach was employed using a random sample from a systematic grid of points overlaid onto each park or refuge.
Partners on individual refuges and parks search for egg masses of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) and spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) by walking the perimeter of the pool multiple times each spring. To confirm that sites where egg masses were detected in spring surveys result in successful recruitment of juvenile amphibians, they revisit sites are late in the breeding season.
Since 2004, there has been a small declining trend for both species; both wood frogs and spotted salamanders occur in roughly 50% of monitored habitats on average across the region. Individual Parks and Refuges showed different dynamics across the survey period, with those in the southern part of the region more likely to show declines than those in more northern latitudes. The next step in this analysis will be to integrate information about each site (i.e., longitude, spatial position and clustering, precipitation, pool size, depth) to determine the relationship of these covariates on occupancy, annual variation, and regional and local trends.
Over the course of this project, additional surveys at individual refuges have been expanded to include exploration of the body burdens of contaminants in larval amphibians and their habitats, techniques for disease monitoring, and analysis of individual refuge variables that may be influencing declines. Currently, we are working with individual refuges using a structured decision making framework to determine the best actions to achieve individual refuge goals for vernal pool species and their habitats.
Site- and individual-level contaminations affect infection prevalence of an emerging infectious disease of amphibians
Identifying climate-resistant vernal pools: Hydrologic refugia for amphibian reproduction under droughts and climate change
Metal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) not detected in an intensive survey of wild North American amphibians
A synthesis of evidence of drivers of amphibian declines
Quantifying climate sensitivity and climate-driven change in North American amphibian communities
Range position and climate sensitivity: The structure of among-population demographic responses to climatic variation
- Overview
In 2004, the Northeast Amphibian Research Monitoring Initiative (NE ARMI) in collaboration with National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service initiated a region-wide study on the distribution of vernal pools and estimate the proportion of pools that were occupied by pool-associated amphibians (specifically, wood frogs, Lithobates sylvaticus, and spotted salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum).
At Parks and Refuges where the distribution of vernal pools was known, a random sample of known ponds was chosen for amphibian sampling. At Parks and Refuges where the distribution of vernal pools was unknown, an adaptive cluster sampling (ACS) approach was employed using a random sample from a systematic grid of points overlaid onto each park or refuge.
Partners on individual refuges and parks search for egg masses of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) and spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) by walking the perimeter of the pool multiple times each spring. To confirm that sites where egg masses were detected in spring surveys result in successful recruitment of juvenile amphibians, they revisit sites are late in the breeding season.
Since 2004, there has been a small declining trend for both species; both wood frogs and spotted salamanders occur in roughly 50% of monitored habitats on average across the region. Individual Parks and Refuges showed different dynamics across the survey period, with those in the southern part of the region more likely to show declines than those in more northern latitudes. The next step in this analysis will be to integrate information about each site (i.e., longitude, spatial position and clustering, precipitation, pool size, depth) to determine the relationship of these covariates on occupancy, annual variation, and regional and local trends.
Over the course of this project, additional surveys at individual refuges have been expanded to include exploration of the body burdens of contaminants in larval amphibians and their habitats, techniques for disease monitoring, and analysis of individual refuge variables that may be influencing declines. Currently, we are working with individual refuges using a structured decision making framework to determine the best actions to achieve individual refuge goals for vernal pool species and their habitats.
- Publications
Site- and individual-level contaminations affect infection prevalence of an emerging infectious disease of amphibians
Emerging infectious disease outbreaks are one of multiple stressors responsible for amphibian declines globally. In the northeastern United States, ranaviral diseases are prevalent in amphibians and other ectothermic species, but there is still uncertainty as to whether their presence is leading to population level effects. Further, there is also uncertainty surrounding the potential interactionsAuthorsKelly L. Smalling, Brittany A. Mosher, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Keith Loftin, Adam Boehlke, Michelle Hladik, Carly R. Muletz-Wolz, Nandadevi Córtes-Rodríguez, Robin Femmer, Evan H. Campbell GrantByEcosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Eastern Ecological Science Center, California Water Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science CenterIdentifying climate-resistant vernal pools: Hydrologic refugia for amphibian reproduction under droughts and climate change
Vernal pools of the northeastern United States provide important breeding habitat for amphibians but may be sensitive to droughts and climate change. These seasonal wetlands typically fill by early spring and dry by mid-to-late summer. Because climate change may produce earlier and stronger growing-season evapotranspiration combined with increasing droughts and shifts in precipitation timing, manaAuthorsJennifer M. Cartwright, Toni Lyn Morelli, Evan H. Campbell GrantMetal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians
Amphibian larvae are commonly used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health because they are susceptible to contaminants. However, there is limited information on how species characteristics and trophic position influence contaminant loads in larval amphibians. Importantly, there remains a need to understand whether grazers (frogs and toads [anurans]) and predators (salamanders) provide comparablAuthorsKelly L. Smalling, Emily Bea Oja, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jon D Davenport, Collin Eagles-Smith, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Patrick M. Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead, Kenzi M Stemp, Brian J. Tornabene, Zachary J Bunnell, Blake R. HossackBatrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) not detected in an intensive survey of wild North American amphibians
The salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans [Bsal]) is causing massive mortality of salamanders in Europe. The potential for spread via international trade into North America and the high diversity of salamanders has catalyzed concern about Bsal in the U.S. Surveillance programs for invading pathogens must initially meet challenges that include low rates of occurrence on the lAuthorsHardin Waddle, Daniel A. Grear, Brittany Mosher, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Michael J. Adams, Adam R. Backlin, William Barichivich, Adrianne B. Brand, Gary M. Bucciarelli, Daniel L. Calhoun, Tara Chestnut, Jon M. Davenport, Andrew E. Dietrich, Robert N. Fisher, Brad Glorioso, Brian J. Halstead, Marc P Hayes, R. Ken Honeycutt, Blake R. Hossack, Patrick M. Kleeman, Julio A. Lemos-Espinal, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Robert W. Atkinson, Erin L. Muths, Christopher Pearl, Katherine Richgels, Charles W Robinson, Mark F. Roth, Jennifer Rowe, Walter Sadinski, Brent H. Sigafus, Iga Stasiak, Samuel Sweet, Susan C. Walls, Gregory J Watkins-Colwell, C. LeAnn White, Lori A Williams, Megan E. WinzelerA synthesis of evidence of drivers of amphibian declines
Early calls for robust long-term time series of amphibian population data, stemming from discussion following the first World Congress of Herpetology, are now being realized after 25 yr of focused research. Inference from individual studies and locations have contributed to a basic consensus on drivers of amphibian declines. Until recently there were no large-scale syntheses of long-term time seriAuthorsEvan H. Grant, D. A. W. Miller, Erin L. MuthsQuantifying climate sensitivity and climate-driven change in North American amphibian communities
Changing climate will impact species’ ranges only when environmental variability directly impacts the demography of local populations. However, measurement of demographic responses to climate change has largely been limited to single species and locations. Here we show that amphibian communities are responsive to climatic variability, using >500,000 time-series observations for 81 species across 8AuthorsDavid A.W. Miller, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Erin L. Muths, Staci M. Amburgey, M. J. Adams, Maxwell B. Joseph, J. Hardin Waddle, Pieter T.J. Johnson, Maureen E. Ryan, Benedikt R. Schmidt, Daniel L. Calhoun, Courtney L. Davis, Robert N. Fisher, David M. Green, Blake R. Hossack, Tracy A.G. Rittenhouse, Susan C. Walls, Larissa L. Bailey, Sam S. Cruickshank, Gary M. Fellers, Thomas A. Gorman, Carola A. Haas, Ward Hughson, David S. Pilliod, Steven J. Price, Andrew M. Ray, Walter Sadinski, Daniel Saenz, William J. Barichivich, Adrianne B. Brand, Cheryl S. Brehme, Rosi Dagit, Katy S. Delaney, Brad M. Glorioso, Lee B. Kats, Patrick M. Kleeman, Christopher Pearl, Carlton J. Rochester, Seth P. D. Riley, Mark F. Roth, Brent SigafusByEcosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterRange position and climate sensitivity: The structure of among-population demographic responses to climatic variation
Species’ distributions will respond to climate change based on the relationship between local demographic processes and climate and how this relationship varies based on range position. A rarely tested demographic prediction is that populations at the extremes of a species’ climate envelope (e.g., populations in areas with the highest mean annual temperature) will be most sensitive to local shiftsAuthorsStaci M. Amburgey, David A. W. Miller, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Tracy A. G. Rittenhouse, Michael F. Benard, Jonathan L. Richardson, Mark C. Urban, Ward Hughson, Adrianne B. Brand, Christopher J. Davis, Carmen R. Hardin, Peter W. C. Paton, Christopher J. Raithel, Rick A. Relyea, A. Floyd Scott, David K. Skelly, Dennis E. Skidds, Charles K. Smith, Earl E. Werner - Partners