Herpetological Research Team (FRESC)
Active
By Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
September 20, 2017
The Herpetological Research Team focuses on issues related to conservation and management of amphibians and other aquatic and semi-aquatic species. Among our current studies are effects of invasive species, disease, and land use change on the dynamics of amphibian communities to inform conservation and management decision making.
Many of our projects are supported by the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). ARMI works with Department of Interior (DOI) and other federal and state agencies to respond to information gaps that are critical to the implementation of effective conservation and management strategies for amphibian communities. ARMI’s work includes research on the status and threats of native species, development and evaluation of quantitative and field methods, and monitoring designs to address conservation and management information needs at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Principal Investigator
Michael Adams - Supervisory Research Ecologist
Federal Staff
Brome McCreary - Wildlife Biologist
Christopher Pearl - Wildlife Biologist
Jennifer Rowe - Wildlife Biologist
Meredith Diskin - Biological Science Technician
Jennifer Fredrickson - Ecologist
Affiliate
Adam Duarte - Research Ecologist at Oregon State University
Science Themes of the FRESC Herpetological Research Team are highlighted below.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 21
No Result Found
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Early action to address an emerging wildlife disease Early action to address an emerging wildlife disease
A deadly fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) that affects amphibian skin was discovered during a die-off of European fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) in 2014. This pathogen has the potential to worsen already severe worldwide amphibian declines. Bsal is a close relative to another fungal disease known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Many scientists...
Authors
M. Adams, M. Harris, Daniel Grear
Filter Total Items: 46
Fitting N-mixture models to count data with unmodeled heterogeneity: Bias, diagnostics, and alternative approaches Fitting N-mixture models to count data with unmodeled heterogeneity: Bias, diagnostics, and alternative approaches
Monitoring animal populations is central to wildlife and fisheries management, and the use of N-mixture models toward these efforts has markedly increased in recent years. Nevertheless, relatively little work has evaluated estimator performance when basic assumptions are violated. Moreover, diagnostics to identify when bias in parameter estimates from N-mixture models is likely is...
Authors
Adam Duarte, M. Adams, James Peterson
Effect of cattle exclosures on Columbia Spotted Frog abundance Effect of cattle exclosures on Columbia Spotted Frog abundance
Livestock grazing is an important land use in the western USA and can have positive or negative effects on amphibians. Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) often use ponds that provide water for cattle. We conducted a long-term manipulative study on US Forest Service land in northeastern Oregon to determine the effects of full and partial exclosures that limited cattle access to...
Authors
M. Adams, Christopher Pearl, Thierry Chambert, Brome McCreary, Stephanie Galvan, Jennifer Rowe
Batrachochytrium salamandriovrans (Bsal) in Appalachia—Using scenario building to proactively prepare for a wildlife disease outbreak caused by an invasive amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandriovrans (Bsal) in Appalachia—Using scenario building to proactively prepare for a wildlife disease outbreak caused by an invasive amphibian chytrid fungus
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), a pathogenic chytrid fungus, is nonnative to the United States and poses a disease threat to vulnerable amphibian hosts. The Bsal fungus may lead to increases in threatened, endangered, and sensitive status listings at State, Tribal, and Federal levels, resulting in financial costs associated with implementing the Endangered Species Act of 1973...
Authors
M. Hopkins, M. Adams, P.E. Super, D.H. Olson, C.R. Hickman, P. English, L. Sprague, I.B. Maska, A.B. Pennaz, K. Ludwig
Inference of timber harvest effects on survival of stream amphibians is complicated by movement Inference of timber harvest effects on survival of stream amphibians is complicated by movement
The effects of contemporary logging practices on headwater stream amphibians have received considerable study but with conflicting or ambiguous results. We posit that focusing inference on demographic rates of aquatic life stages may help refine understanding, as aquatic and terrestrial impacts may differ considerably. We investigated in-stream survival and movement of two stream...
Authors
Nathan Chelgren, M. Adams
A new parameterization for integrated population models to document amphibian reintroductions A new parameterization for integrated population models to document amphibian reintroductions
Managers are increasingly implementing reintroduction programs as part of a global effort to alleviate amphibian declines. Given uncertainty in factors affecting populations and a need to make recurring decisions to achieve objectives, adaptive management is a useful component of these efforts. A major impediment to the estimation of demographic rates often used to parameterize and...
Authors
Adam Duarte, Christopher Pearl, M. Adams, James Peterson
Using decision analysis to support proactive management of emerging infectious wildlife diseases Using decision analysis to support proactive management of emerging infectious wildlife diseases
Despite calls for improved responses to emerging infectious diseases in wildlife, management is seldom considered until a disease has been detected in affected populations. Reactive approaches may limit the potential for control and increase total response costs. An alternative, proactive management framework can identify immediate actions that reduce future impacts even before a disease...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Erin Muths, Rachel Katz, Stefano Canessa, M. Adams, Jennifer Ballard, Lee Berger, Cheryl Briggs, Jeremy T. H. Coleman, Matthew J. Gray, M. Harris, Reid N. Harris, Blake Hossack, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Jonathan Kolby, Karen Lips, Robert E. Lovich, Hamish McCallum, Joseph Mendelson, Priya Nanjappa, Deanna Olson, Jenny Powers, Katherine Richgels, Robin Russell, Benedikt Schmidt, Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Mary Watry, Douglas Woodhams, C. White
Potential concerns with analytical Methods Used for the detection of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans from archived DNA of amphibian swab samples, Oregon, USA Potential concerns with analytical Methods Used for the detection of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans from archived DNA of amphibian swab samples, Oregon, USA
Taxonomic identification of pollen has historically been accomplished via light microscopy but requires specialized knowledge and reference collections, particularly when identification to lower taxonomic levels is necessary. Recently, next-generation sequencing technology has been used as a cost-effective alternative for identifying bee-collected pollen; however, this novel approach has...
Authors
Deborah Iwanowicz, William Schill, Deanna Olson, M. Adams, Christine Densmore, Robert Cornman, Cynthia Adams, Chester Figiel, Chauncey Anderson, Andrew Blaustein, Tara Chestnut
Herpetological monitoring and assessment on the Trinity River, Trinity County, California—Final report Herpetological monitoring and assessment on the Trinity River, Trinity County, California—Final report
The primary goal of the Trinity River Restoration Program is to rehabilitate the fisheries on the dam-controlled Trinity River. However, maintaining and enhancing other wildlife populations through the restoration initiative is also a key objective. Foothill yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylii) and western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) have been identified as important herpetological...
Authors
Melissa L. Snover, M. Adams
Quantitative evidence for the effects of multiple drivers on continental-scale amphibian declines Quantitative evidence for the effects of multiple drivers on continental-scale amphibian declines
Since amphibian declines were first proposed as a global phenomenon over a quarter century ago, the conservation community has made little progress in halting or reversing these trends. The early search for a “smoking gun” was replaced with the expectation that declines are caused by multiple drivers. While field observations and experiments have identified factors leading to increased...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, David Miller, Benedikt Schmidt, M. Adams, Staci Amburgey, Thierry Chambert, Sam Cruickshank, Robert Fisher, David Green, Blake Hossack, Pieter Johnson, Maxwell Joseph, Tracy A. G. Rittenhouse, Maureen E. Ryan, J. Waddle, Susan Walls, Larissa L. Bailey, Gary Fellers, Thomas Gorman, Andrew Ray, David S. Pilliod, Steven Price, Daniel Saenz, Walt Sadinski, Erin Muths
Spatial variation in risk and consequence of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans introduction in the USA Spatial variation in risk and consequence of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans introduction in the USA
A newly identified fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), is responsible for mass mortality events and severe population declines in European salamanders. The eastern USA has the highest diversity of salamanders in the world and the introduction of this pathogen is likely to be devastating. Although data are inevitably limited for new pathogens, disease-risk...
Authors
Katherine Richgels, Robin Russell, M. Adams, C. White, Evan H. Campbell Grant
Salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans) in the United States—Developing research, monitoring, and management strategies Salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans) in the United States—Developing research, monitoring, and management strategies
The recently (2013) identified pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), poses a severe threat to the distribution and abundance of salamanders within the United States and Europe. Development of a response strategy for the potential, and likely, invasion of Bsal into the United States is crucial to protect global salamander biodiversity. A formal working group...
Authors
Evan Campbell Grant, Erin Muths, Rachel Katz, Stefano Canessa, M. Adams, Jennifer Ballard, Lee Berger, Cheryl Briggs, Jeremy T. H. Coleman, Matthew J. Gray, M. Camille Harris, Reid N. Harris, Blake Hossack, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Jonathan Kolby, Karen Lips, Robert E. Lovich, Hamish McCallum, Joseph Mendelson, Priya Nanjappa, Deanna Olson, Jenny Powers, Katherine Richgels, Robin Russell, Benedikt Schmidt, Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Mary Watry, Douglas Woodhams, C. White
Evidence of counter-gradient growth in western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) across thermal gradients Evidence of counter-gradient growth in western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) across thermal gradients
Counter-gradient growth, where growth per unit temperature increases as temperature decreases, can reduce the variation in ectothermic growth rates across environmental gradients. Understanding how ectothermic species respond to changing temperatures is essential to their conservation and management due to human-altered habitats and changing climates. Here, we use two contrasting...
Authors
Melissa Snover, M. Adams, Donald Ashton, Jamie Bettaso, Hartwell Welsh
Below are news stories associated with this project.
ARMI Scientist Michael Adams Receives 2020 PARC Honor ARMI Scientist Michael Adams Receives 2020 PARC Honor
Dr. Michael Adams, Lead for the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) and Supervisory Research Ecologist at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, has been selected to receive the 2020 Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation.
The Herpetological Research Team focuses on issues related to conservation and management of amphibians and other aquatic and semi-aquatic species. Among our current studies are effects of invasive species, disease, and land use change on the dynamics of amphibian communities to inform conservation and management decision making.
Many of our projects are supported by the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). ARMI works with Department of Interior (DOI) and other federal and state agencies to respond to information gaps that are critical to the implementation of effective conservation and management strategies for amphibian communities. ARMI’s work includes research on the status and threats of native species, development and evaluation of quantitative and field methods, and monitoring designs to address conservation and management information needs at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Principal Investigator
Michael Adams - Supervisory Research Ecologist
Federal Staff
Brome McCreary - Wildlife Biologist
Christopher Pearl - Wildlife Biologist
Jennifer Rowe - Wildlife Biologist
Meredith Diskin - Biological Science Technician
Jennifer Fredrickson - Ecologist
Affiliate
Adam Duarte - Research Ecologist at Oregon State University
Science Themes of the FRESC Herpetological Research Team are highlighted below.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 21
No Result Found
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Early action to address an emerging wildlife disease Early action to address an emerging wildlife disease
A deadly fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) that affects amphibian skin was discovered during a die-off of European fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) in 2014. This pathogen has the potential to worsen already severe worldwide amphibian declines. Bsal is a close relative to another fungal disease known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Many scientists...
Authors
M. Adams, M. Harris, Daniel Grear
Filter Total Items: 46
Fitting N-mixture models to count data with unmodeled heterogeneity: Bias, diagnostics, and alternative approaches Fitting N-mixture models to count data with unmodeled heterogeneity: Bias, diagnostics, and alternative approaches
Monitoring animal populations is central to wildlife and fisheries management, and the use of N-mixture models toward these efforts has markedly increased in recent years. Nevertheless, relatively little work has evaluated estimator performance when basic assumptions are violated. Moreover, diagnostics to identify when bias in parameter estimates from N-mixture models is likely is...
Authors
Adam Duarte, M. Adams, James Peterson
Effect of cattle exclosures on Columbia Spotted Frog abundance Effect of cattle exclosures on Columbia Spotted Frog abundance
Livestock grazing is an important land use in the western USA and can have positive or negative effects on amphibians. Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) often use ponds that provide water for cattle. We conducted a long-term manipulative study on US Forest Service land in northeastern Oregon to determine the effects of full and partial exclosures that limited cattle access to...
Authors
M. Adams, Christopher Pearl, Thierry Chambert, Brome McCreary, Stephanie Galvan, Jennifer Rowe
Batrachochytrium salamandriovrans (Bsal) in Appalachia—Using scenario building to proactively prepare for a wildlife disease outbreak caused by an invasive amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandriovrans (Bsal) in Appalachia—Using scenario building to proactively prepare for a wildlife disease outbreak caused by an invasive amphibian chytrid fungus
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), a pathogenic chytrid fungus, is nonnative to the United States and poses a disease threat to vulnerable amphibian hosts. The Bsal fungus may lead to increases in threatened, endangered, and sensitive status listings at State, Tribal, and Federal levels, resulting in financial costs associated with implementing the Endangered Species Act of 1973...
Authors
M. Hopkins, M. Adams, P.E. Super, D.H. Olson, C.R. Hickman, P. English, L. Sprague, I.B. Maska, A.B. Pennaz, K. Ludwig
Inference of timber harvest effects on survival of stream amphibians is complicated by movement Inference of timber harvest effects on survival of stream amphibians is complicated by movement
The effects of contemporary logging practices on headwater stream amphibians have received considerable study but with conflicting or ambiguous results. We posit that focusing inference on demographic rates of aquatic life stages may help refine understanding, as aquatic and terrestrial impacts may differ considerably. We investigated in-stream survival and movement of two stream...
Authors
Nathan Chelgren, M. Adams
A new parameterization for integrated population models to document amphibian reintroductions A new parameterization for integrated population models to document amphibian reintroductions
Managers are increasingly implementing reintroduction programs as part of a global effort to alleviate amphibian declines. Given uncertainty in factors affecting populations and a need to make recurring decisions to achieve objectives, adaptive management is a useful component of these efforts. A major impediment to the estimation of demographic rates often used to parameterize and...
Authors
Adam Duarte, Christopher Pearl, M. Adams, James Peterson
Using decision analysis to support proactive management of emerging infectious wildlife diseases Using decision analysis to support proactive management of emerging infectious wildlife diseases
Despite calls for improved responses to emerging infectious diseases in wildlife, management is seldom considered until a disease has been detected in affected populations. Reactive approaches may limit the potential for control and increase total response costs. An alternative, proactive management framework can identify immediate actions that reduce future impacts even before a disease...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Erin Muths, Rachel Katz, Stefano Canessa, M. Adams, Jennifer Ballard, Lee Berger, Cheryl Briggs, Jeremy T. H. Coleman, Matthew J. Gray, M. Harris, Reid N. Harris, Blake Hossack, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Jonathan Kolby, Karen Lips, Robert E. Lovich, Hamish McCallum, Joseph Mendelson, Priya Nanjappa, Deanna Olson, Jenny Powers, Katherine Richgels, Robin Russell, Benedikt Schmidt, Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Mary Watry, Douglas Woodhams, C. White
Potential concerns with analytical Methods Used for the detection of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans from archived DNA of amphibian swab samples, Oregon, USA Potential concerns with analytical Methods Used for the detection of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans from archived DNA of amphibian swab samples, Oregon, USA
Taxonomic identification of pollen has historically been accomplished via light microscopy but requires specialized knowledge and reference collections, particularly when identification to lower taxonomic levels is necessary. Recently, next-generation sequencing technology has been used as a cost-effective alternative for identifying bee-collected pollen; however, this novel approach has...
Authors
Deborah Iwanowicz, William Schill, Deanna Olson, M. Adams, Christine Densmore, Robert Cornman, Cynthia Adams, Chester Figiel, Chauncey Anderson, Andrew Blaustein, Tara Chestnut
Herpetological monitoring and assessment on the Trinity River, Trinity County, California—Final report Herpetological monitoring and assessment on the Trinity River, Trinity County, California—Final report
The primary goal of the Trinity River Restoration Program is to rehabilitate the fisheries on the dam-controlled Trinity River. However, maintaining and enhancing other wildlife populations through the restoration initiative is also a key objective. Foothill yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylii) and western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) have been identified as important herpetological...
Authors
Melissa L. Snover, M. Adams
Quantitative evidence for the effects of multiple drivers on continental-scale amphibian declines Quantitative evidence for the effects of multiple drivers on continental-scale amphibian declines
Since amphibian declines were first proposed as a global phenomenon over a quarter century ago, the conservation community has made little progress in halting or reversing these trends. The early search for a “smoking gun” was replaced with the expectation that declines are caused by multiple drivers. While field observations and experiments have identified factors leading to increased...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, David Miller, Benedikt Schmidt, M. Adams, Staci Amburgey, Thierry Chambert, Sam Cruickshank, Robert Fisher, David Green, Blake Hossack, Pieter Johnson, Maxwell Joseph, Tracy A. G. Rittenhouse, Maureen E. Ryan, J. Waddle, Susan Walls, Larissa L. Bailey, Gary Fellers, Thomas Gorman, Andrew Ray, David S. Pilliod, Steven Price, Daniel Saenz, Walt Sadinski, Erin Muths
Spatial variation in risk and consequence of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans introduction in the USA Spatial variation in risk and consequence of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans introduction in the USA
A newly identified fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), is responsible for mass mortality events and severe population declines in European salamanders. The eastern USA has the highest diversity of salamanders in the world and the introduction of this pathogen is likely to be devastating. Although data are inevitably limited for new pathogens, disease-risk...
Authors
Katherine Richgels, Robin Russell, M. Adams, C. White, Evan H. Campbell Grant
Salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans) in the United States—Developing research, monitoring, and management strategies Salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans) in the United States—Developing research, monitoring, and management strategies
The recently (2013) identified pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), poses a severe threat to the distribution and abundance of salamanders within the United States and Europe. Development of a response strategy for the potential, and likely, invasion of Bsal into the United States is crucial to protect global salamander biodiversity. A formal working group...
Authors
Evan Campbell Grant, Erin Muths, Rachel Katz, Stefano Canessa, M. Adams, Jennifer Ballard, Lee Berger, Cheryl Briggs, Jeremy T. H. Coleman, Matthew J. Gray, M. Camille Harris, Reid N. Harris, Blake Hossack, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Jonathan Kolby, Karen Lips, Robert E. Lovich, Hamish McCallum, Joseph Mendelson, Priya Nanjappa, Deanna Olson, Jenny Powers, Katherine Richgels, Robin Russell, Benedikt Schmidt, Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Mary Watry, Douglas Woodhams, C. White
Evidence of counter-gradient growth in western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) across thermal gradients Evidence of counter-gradient growth in western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) across thermal gradients
Counter-gradient growth, where growth per unit temperature increases as temperature decreases, can reduce the variation in ectothermic growth rates across environmental gradients. Understanding how ectothermic species respond to changing temperatures is essential to their conservation and management due to human-altered habitats and changing climates. Here, we use two contrasting...
Authors
Melissa Snover, M. Adams, Donald Ashton, Jamie Bettaso, Hartwell Welsh
Below are news stories associated with this project.
ARMI Scientist Michael Adams Receives 2020 PARC Honor ARMI Scientist Michael Adams Receives 2020 PARC Honor
Dr. Michael Adams, Lead for the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) and Supervisory Research Ecologist at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, has been selected to receive the 2020 Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation.