Adrianne Brand
Biography
Adrianne Brand is a wildlife biologist with the Northeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (NEARMI). With a focus on threats and declines in amphibians populations, NEARMI seeks to better understand the factors contributing to changes in amphibian populations and provide information to resource managers on the status of amphibians on DOI lands in the region. The scope of work includes conducting annual monitoring surveys, carrying out research projects, and working with land managers to better inform natural resource decision making for both rare and common species.
Education:
- 2008 M.S. – Biology, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252.
- 2006 B.S. - Wildlife and Fisheries Resources & B.S. - Environmental Protection, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Experience:
- 05/2009 – present Wildlife Biologist, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Turners Falls, MA
- 08/2006 - 12/2008 Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant, Towson University, Towson, MD
- 05/2005 – 08/2006 Field/Research Technician – West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
- 05/2004 – 08/2004 Biology Intern, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Lewisburg, WV
Science and Products
Assessing Amphibian Disease Risk in the Northeast
The Challenge: 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.
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,...
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...
Amburgey, Staci M.; Miller, David A. W.; Grant, Evan H. Campbell; Rittenhouse, Tracy A. G.; Benard, Michael F.; Richardson, Jonathan L.; Urban, Mark C.; Hughson, Ward; Brand, Adrianne B,; Davis, Christopher J.; Hardin, Carmen R.; Paton, Peter W. C.; Raithel, Christopher J.; Relyea, Rick A.; Scott, A. Floyd; Skelly, David K.; Skidds, Dennis E.; Smith, Charles K.; Werner, Earl E. 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...
Brand, Adrianne B,; Grant, Evan H. Campbell Climate-mediated competition in a high-elevation salamander community
The distribution of the federally endangered Shenandoah Salamander (Plethodon shenandoah) is presumed to be limited by competition with the Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus). In particular, the current distribution of P. shenandoah is understood to be restricted to warmer and drier habitats because of interspecific interactions. These...
Dallalio, Eric A.; Brand, Adrianne B,; Grant, Evan H. Campbell Plethodon cinerius (eastern red-backed salamander) movement
Lungless salamanders (family Plethodontidae) are relatively sedentary and are presumed to have limited dispersal ability (Marsh et al. 2004. Ecology 85:3396–3405). Site fidelity in Plethodontidae is high, and individuals displaced 90 m return to home territories (Kleeberger and Werner 1982. Copeia 1982:409–415). Individuals defend...
Sterrett, Sean; Brand, Adrianne B,; Fields, William R.; Katz, Rachel A.; Grant, Evan H. Campbell Potential reduction in terrestrial salamander ranges associated with Marcellus shale development
Natural gas production from the Marcellus shale is rapidly increasing in the northeastern United States. Most of the endemic terrestrial salamander species in the region are classified as ‘globally secure’ by the IUCN, primarily because much of their ranges include state- and federally protected lands, which have been presumed to be...
Brand, Adrianne B,; Wiewel, Amber N. M.; Grant, Evan H. Campbell