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Northeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative Active

By Eastern Ecological Science Center March 1, 2018

Shenandoah Salamander

Plethodon shenandoah

Overlook at Shenandoah National Park

The USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) is designed to determine where populations of amphibians are present, to monitor specific apex populations, and to investigate potential causes of amphibian declines, diseases, and malformations. The Northeast Region of ARMI encompasses thirteen states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia) and the District of Columbia.

Dr. Evan H. Campbell Grant coordinates ARMI activities in the Northeast by conducting and developing amphibian research and monitoring projects.

The ARMI program is based on a three-tiered approach, with extensive broad scale sampling, mid-level sampling, and intensive sampling and research at Apex Sites. Information from surveys in the Northeast will be used to determine the proportion of surveyed areas that are occupied by various species of amphibians and to estimate amphibian population sizes and trends over space and time.

 

Research and Monitoring

Conservation Concerns

Amphibians located in the Northeast United States

Current and past members of the Northeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

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Field work sampling for disease

Assessing Amphibian Disease Risk in the Northeast

Disease in amphibian populations can have a range of effects, from devastating declines following introduction of a novel pathogen to recurring breakout events on a landscape. Elucidating mechanisms underlying the effects of diseases on amphibian populations is crucial to help managers make appropriate decisions to achieve management goals for amphibians.
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Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
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Assessing Amphibian Disease Risk in the Northeast

Disease in amphibian populations can have a range of effects, from devastating declines following introduction of a novel pathogen to recurring breakout events on a landscape. Elucidating mechanisms underlying the effects of diseases on amphibian populations is crucial to help managers make appropriate decisions to achieve management goals for amphibians.
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Spotted salamanders, Ambystoma maculatum

Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): Understanding Amphibian Populations in the Northeastern United States

Currently, 90 amphibian species are recognized in the Northeast, including 59 species in the Order Caudata (salamanders) and 31 species in the Order Anura (frogs and toads). Almost half of the amphibians in the Northeast are salamanders within the family Plethodontidae. Amphibians are found in all physiographic regions of the Northeast, from sea level to the heights of the Appalachian, Adirondack...
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Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
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Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): Understanding Amphibian Populations in the Northeastern United States

Currently, 90 amphibian species are recognized in the Northeast, including 59 species in the Order Caudata (salamanders) and 31 species in the Order Anura (frogs and toads). Almost half of the amphibians in the Northeast are salamanders within the family Plethodontidae. Amphibians are found in all physiographic regions of the Northeast, from sea level to the heights of the Appalachian, Adirondack...
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Shenandoah Salamander (Plethodon shenandoah)

Managing the Extinction Risk of the Shenandoah Salamander

The Shenandoah salamander is an endangered salamander that is at risk of extinction due to its small, high-elevation range, competition with the co-occurring red-backed salamander, and the predicted future climate in the Appalachian mountain range. We are working with multiple partners to understand the current status of the species, predict future extinction risk, and engage stakeholders in a...
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Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
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Managing the Extinction Risk of the Shenandoah Salamander

The Shenandoah salamander is an endangered salamander that is at risk of extinction due to its small, high-elevation range, competition with the co-occurring red-backed salamander, and the predicted future climate in the Appalachian mountain range. We are working with multiple partners to understand the current status of the species, predict future extinction risk, and engage stakeholders in a...
Learn More
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North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP)

North American Amphibian Monitoring Program

The North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) was a collaborative citizen science effort between the US Geological Survey (USGS) and 26 partners (state agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations) for monitoring calling amphibian populations over much of the eastern and central United States. Initiated in 1997, in response to needs set forth by the Declining Amphibian Populations...
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Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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North American Amphibian Monitoring Program

The North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) was a collaborative citizen science effort between the US Geological Survey (USGS) and 26 partners (state agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations) for monitoring calling amphibian populations over much of the eastern and central United States. Initiated in 1997, in response to needs set forth by the Declining Amphibian Populations...
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Below are publications associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 77

Effects of host species and environment on the skin microbiome of Plethodontid salamanders

The amphibian skin microbiome is recognized for its role in defence against pathogens, including the deadly fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Yet, we have little understanding of evolutionary and ecological processes that structure these communities, especially for salamanders and closely related species. We investigated patterns in the distribution of bacterial communities on P
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Imperfect pathogen detection from non-invasive skin swabs biases disease inference

1. Conservation managers rely on accurate estimates of disease parameters, such as pathogen prevalence and infection intensity, to assess disease status of a host population. However, these disease metrics may be biased if low-level infection intensities are missed by sampling methods or laboratory diagnostic tests. These false negatives underestimate pathogen prevalence and overestimate mean infe
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Range 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 shifts
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis

Heterogeneous responses of temperate-zone amphibian populations to climate change complicates conservation planning

The pervasive and unabated nature of global amphibian declines suggests common demographic responses to a given driver, and quantification of major drivers and responses could inform broad-scale conservation actions. We explored the influence of climate on demographic parameters (i.e., changes in the probabilities of survival and recruitment) using 31 datasets from temperate zone amphibian populat
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Ecosystems, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Design tradeoffs in long-term research for stream salamanders

Long-term research programs can benefit from early and periodic evaluation of their ability to meet stated objectives. In particular, consideration of the spatial allocation of effort is key. We sampled 4 species of stream salamanders intensively for 2 years (2010–2011) in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland, USA to evaluate alternative distributions of sampling locati
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Design tradeoffs in long-term research for stream salamanders

Long-term research programs can benefit from early and periodic evaluation of their ability to meet stated objectives. In particular, consideration of the spatial allocation of effort is key. We sampled 4 species of stream salamanders intensively for 2 years (2010–2011) in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland, USA to evaluate alternative distributions of sampling locati
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Evolutionary dynamics of an expressed MHC class IIβ locus in the Ranidae (Anura) uncovered by genome walking and high-throughput amplicon sequencing

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a genomic region encoding immune loci that are important and frequently used markers in studies of adaptive genetic variation and disease resistance. Given the primary role of infectious diseases in contributing to global amphibian declines, we characterized the hypervariable exon 2 and flanking introns of the MHC Class IIβ chain for 17 species of frog
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Evolutionary dynamics of an expressed MHC class IIβ locus in the Ranidae (Anura) uncovered by genome walking and high-throughput amplicon sequencing

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a genomic region encoding immune loci that are important and frequently used markers in studies of adaptive genetic variation and disease resistance. Given the primary role of infectious diseases in contributing to global amphibian declines, we characterized the hypervariable exon 2 and flanking introns of the MHC Class IIβ chain for 17 species of frog
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Integrating count and detection–nondetection data to model population dynamics

There is increasing need for methods that integrate multiple data types into a single analytical framework as the spatial and temporal scale of ecological research expands. Current work on this topic primarily focuses on combining capture–recapture data from marked individuals with other data types into integrated population models. Yet, studies of species distributions and trends often rely on da
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Integrating count and detection–nondetection data to model population dynamics

There is increasing need for methods that integrate multiple data types into a single analytical framework as the spatial and temporal scale of ecological research expands. Current work on this topic primarily focuses on combining capture–recapture data from marked individuals with other data types into integrated population models. Yet, studies of species distributions and trends often rely on da
By
Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Antifungal bacteria on woodland salamander skin exhibit high taxonomic diversity and geographic variability

Diverse bacteria inhabit amphibian skin; some of those bacteria inhibit growth of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Yet there has been no systematic survey of anti-B. dendrobatidis bacteria across localities, species, and elevations. This is important given geographic and taxonomic variations in amphibian susceptibility to B. dendrobatidis. Our collection sites were at locations
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Antifungal bacteria on woodland salamander skin exhibit high taxonomic diversity and geographic variability

Diverse bacteria inhabit amphibian skin; some of those bacteria inhibit growth of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Yet there has been no systematic survey of anti-B. dendrobatidis bacteria across localities, species, and elevations. This is important given geographic and taxonomic variations in amphibian susceptibility to B. dendrobatidis. Our collection sites were at locations
By
Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

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New Research Confirms Continued, Unabated and Large-Scale Amphibian Declines: Local Action Key to Reversing Losses

New U.S. Geological Survey-led research suggests that even though amphibians are severely declining worldwide, there is no smoking gun – and thus no...

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Deadly Amphibian Fungus Abroad Threatens Certain U.S. Regions

The areas of the United States that are most at risk of a potentially invasive salamander fungus are the Pacific coast, the southern Appalachian...
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Invasive Amphibian Fungus Could Threaten US Salamander Populations

A deadly fungus causing population crashes in wild European salamanders could emerge in the United States and threaten already declining amphibians...

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Below are FAQ associated with this project.

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Image: Black-Bellied Salamander

What is the United States doing about amphibian deformity and decline issues?

In response to indications of worldwide declines in amphibian populations, Interior Department agencies were directed to initiate a national program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation. There is an urgent need to determine the scope and severity of the problem and to investigate causes. As a result, the USGS formed the National Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI)...

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What is the United States doing about amphibian deformity and decline issues?

In response to indications of worldwide declines in amphibian populations, Interior Department agencies were directed to initiate a national program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation. There is an urgent need to determine the scope and severity of the problem and to investigate causes. As a result, the USGS formed the National Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI)...

Learn More
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An American bullfrog.

What causes deformities in frogs, toads, and other amphibians?

Malformed frogs first came to national attention in 1995. Since that time, reports of malformed frogs and other amphibians have increased dramatically. Malformations have been reported in at least 44 states and in more than 50 species of frogs and toads. Multiple limbs, missing limbs, and facial abnormalities are the main malformations seen.Frog malformations are the result of environmental...

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What causes deformities in frogs, toads, and other amphibians?

Malformed frogs first came to national attention in 1995. Since that time, reports of malformed frogs and other amphibians have increased dramatically. Malformations have been reported in at least 44 states and in more than 50 species of frogs and toads. Multiple limbs, missing limbs, and facial abnormalities are the main malformations seen.Frog malformations are the result of environmental...

Learn More
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Eft Stage of a Red-Spotted Newt

How many amphibian species are there in the United States?

More than 6,000 amphibian species exist worldwide, with approximately 300 of them found in the United States. The USGS is the lead agency for the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), a program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation that was established in response to the worldwide decline of amphibian species.

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How many amphibian species are there in the United States?

More than 6,000 amphibian species exist worldwide, with approximately 300 of them found in the United States. The USGS is the lead agency for the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), a program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation that was established in response to the worldwide decline of amphibian species.

Learn More
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Image: Pacific Chorus Frog

Why are frog and toad populations declining? 

Research suggests that even though amphibians are severely declining worldwide, there is no smoking gun—and thus no simple solution—to halting or reversing these declines.Though every region in the United States has suffered amphibian declines, threats differ among regions. They include:Human influence from the Mississippi River east, including the metropolitan areas of the Northeast and the...

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Why are frog and toad populations declining? 

Research suggests that even though amphibians are severely declining worldwide, there is no smoking gun—and thus no simple solution—to halting or reversing these declines.Though every region in the United States has suffered amphibian declines, threats differ among regions. They include:Human influence from the Mississippi River east, including the metropolitan areas of the Northeast and the...

Learn More

Below are partners associated with this project.  For a complete list for Partners and Collaborators click here.

Colorado State University (CSU)

National Park Service (NPS)

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)

Smithsonian Institution (SI), National Zoo - Conservation Biology Institute

State Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Towson University

U.S. Forest Service (USFS)