Amy Yackel Adams, PhD
Amy Yackel Adams is a Research Ecologist focusing on improving management decisions of invasive reptiles worldwide.
Amy leads a diverse research program with other USGS scientists and various collaborators (NPS, USDA-NWRC, USFWS, DoD, universities, and state agencies) pertaining to early detection and rapid response, biology, ecology, genetics, control tool evaluation, eradication, and quantitative model development to improve adaptive management of invasive reptile species. Yackel Adams’ research areas in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem and Pacific Islands include: 1) Population and vital rate estimation of invasive Burmese Pythons, Veiled Chameleons, and Brown Treesnakes; 2) Estimating the impact of Brown Treesnakes on prey populations; 3) Enhancing early detection of invasive reptiles using new tools; and 4) Development and evaluation of removal and abundance models to inform and optimize eradication efforts.
Education and Certifications
PhD, Ecology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, 2005
MS, Ecology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, 1999
BS, Resource Conservation and Environmental Studies, University of Montana, 1986
Science and Products
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Exotic predators may threaten another island ecosystem: A comprehensive assessment of python and boa reports from the Florida Keys Exotic predators may threaten another island ecosystem: A comprehensive assessment of python and boa reports from the Florida Keys
Summarizing historical records of potentially invasive species increases understanding of propagule pressure, spatiotemporal trends, and establishment risk of these species. We compiled records of non-native pythons and boas from the Florida Keys, cross-referenced them to eliminate duplicates, and categorized each record’s credibility. We report on 159 observations of six python and boa...
Authors
Emma B. Hanslowe, James G. Duquesnel, Raymond Snow, Bryan G. Falk, Amy Yackel Adams, Edward Metzger, Michelle Collier, Robert Reed
Inferring the absence of an incipient population during a rapid response for an invasive species Inferring the absence of an incipient population during a rapid response for an invasive species
Successful eradication of invasives is facilitated by early detection and prompt onset of control. However, realizing or verifying that a colonization has occurred is difficult for cryptic species especially at low population densities. Responding to the capture or unconfirmed sighting of a cryptic invasive species, and the associated effort to determine if it indicates an incipient...
Authors
Amy Yackel Adams, Bjorn Lardner, Adam Knox, Robert Reed
Assessment of two external transmitter attachment methods for Boiga irregularis (Brown Treesnakes) Assessment of two external transmitter attachment methods for Boiga irregularis (Brown Treesnakes)
No abstract available.
Authors
Charlotte J. Robinson, Marijoy Viernes, Robert Reed, Amy Yackel, Melia Nafus
Passive restoration following ungulate removal in a highly disturbed tropical wet forest devoid of native seed dispersers Passive restoration following ungulate removal in a highly disturbed tropical wet forest devoid of native seed dispersers
Overabundant ungulate populations can alter forests. Concurrently, global declines of seed dispersers may threaten native forest structure and function. On an island largely devoid of native vertebrate seed dispersers, we monitored forest succession for 7 years following ungulate exclusion from a 5-ha area and adjacent plots with ungulates still present. We observed succession from open...
Authors
Melia Nafus, Julie Savidge, Amy Yackel Adams, Michelle Christy, Robert Reed
Experimental landscape reduction of wild rodents increases movements in the invasive brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) Experimental landscape reduction of wild rodents increases movements in the invasive brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis)
Experimental studies evaluating the effects of food availability on the movement of free-ranging animals generally involve food supplementation rather than suppression. Both approaches can yield similar insights, but we were interested in the potential for using food suppression for the management and control of invasive predators, in particular, the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis)...
Authors
Michelle Christy, Julie Savidge, Amy A. Yackel Adams, James Gragg, Gordon Rodda
Salvator merianae (Argentine Tegu). Attempted Predation. Salvator merianae (Argentine Tegu). Attempted Predation.
No abstract available.
Authors
Emma Hanslowe, Charles Calafiore, Kathryn Sykes, Noah Van Ee, Bryan Falk, Amy Yackel, Robert Reed
Vulnerability of shortgrass prairie bird assemblages to climate change Vulnerability of shortgrass prairie bird assemblages to climate change
The habitats and resources needed to support grassland birds endemic to North American prairie ecosystems are seriously threatened by impending climate change. To assess the vulnerability of grassland birds to climate change, we consider various components of vulnerability, including sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity (Glick et al. 2011). Sensitivity encompasses the innate...
Authors
Susan K. Skagen, Victoria Dreitz, Reesa Conrey, Amy Yackel, Arvind Panjabi
Extremes of heat, drought and precipitation depress reproductive performance in shortgrass prairie passerines Extremes of heat, drought and precipitation depress reproductive performance in shortgrass prairie passerines
Climate change elevates conservation concerns worldwide because it is likely to exacerbate many identified threats to animal populations. In recent decades, grassland birds have declined faster than other North American bird species, a loss thought to be due to habitat loss and fragmentation and changing agricultural practices. Climate change poses additional threats of unknown magnitude...
Authors
Reesa Conrey, Susan K. Skagen, Amy Yackel, Arvind Panjabi
Phrynosoma hernandesi (Greater Short-Horned Lizard). Commensalism Phrynosoma hernandesi (Greater Short-Horned Lizard). Commensalism
Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms whereby one benefits without negatively affecting the other. Like other horned lizards, Phyrnosoma hernandesi feeds primarily on ants, but will take other insects (Powell and Russell 1983. Can. J. Zool. 62:428–440). Here we describe apparent com-mensalism between P. hernandesi and Lark Buntings (Calamo-spiza melanocorys).
Authors
Amy Yackel, Rod Adams, Susan K. Skagen, Daniel Martin
Detection rates of geckos in visual surveys: Turning confounding variables into useful knowledge Detection rates of geckos in visual surveys: Turning confounding variables into useful knowledge
Transect surveys without some means of estimating detection probabilities generate population size indices prone to bias because survey conditions differ in time and space. Knowing what causes such bias can help guide the collection of relevant survey covariates, correct the survey data, anticipate situations where bias might be unacceptably large, and elucidate the ecology of target...
Authors
Bjorn Lardner, Gordon Rodda, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Julie A. Savidge, Robert N. Reed
Heterodon nasicus (plains hog-nosed snake) diet Heterodon nasicus (plains hog-nosed snake) diet
No abstract available.
Authors
Amy A. Yackel Adams, Daniel Martin, Rod D. Adams
General herpetological collecting is size-biased for five Pacific lizards General herpetological collecting is size-biased for five Pacific lizards
Accurate estimation of a species' size distribution is a key component of characterizing its ecology, evolution, physiology, and demography. We compared the body size distributions of five Pacific lizards (Carlia ailanpalai, Emoia caeruleocauda, Gehyra mutilata, Hemidactylus frenatus, and Lepidodactylus lugubris) from general herpetological collecting (including visual surveys and glue...
Authors
Gordon Rodda, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Earl W. Campbell, Thomas Fritts
Non-USGS Publications**
Graham, L., A.A. Yackel Adams, and E.A. Odell. 1999. Devaluation of non-experiments in the current ecological paradigm. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 26(4): 1002-1006.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 17
Filter Total Items: 37
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 96
Exotic predators may threaten another island ecosystem: A comprehensive assessment of python and boa reports from the Florida Keys Exotic predators may threaten another island ecosystem: A comprehensive assessment of python and boa reports from the Florida Keys
Summarizing historical records of potentially invasive species increases understanding of propagule pressure, spatiotemporal trends, and establishment risk of these species. We compiled records of non-native pythons and boas from the Florida Keys, cross-referenced them to eliminate duplicates, and categorized each record’s credibility. We report on 159 observations of six python and boa...
Authors
Emma B. Hanslowe, James G. Duquesnel, Raymond Snow, Bryan G. Falk, Amy Yackel Adams, Edward Metzger, Michelle Collier, Robert Reed
Inferring the absence of an incipient population during a rapid response for an invasive species Inferring the absence of an incipient population during a rapid response for an invasive species
Successful eradication of invasives is facilitated by early detection and prompt onset of control. However, realizing or verifying that a colonization has occurred is difficult for cryptic species especially at low population densities. Responding to the capture or unconfirmed sighting of a cryptic invasive species, and the associated effort to determine if it indicates an incipient...
Authors
Amy Yackel Adams, Bjorn Lardner, Adam Knox, Robert Reed
Assessment of two external transmitter attachment methods for Boiga irregularis (Brown Treesnakes) Assessment of two external transmitter attachment methods for Boiga irregularis (Brown Treesnakes)
No abstract available.
Authors
Charlotte J. Robinson, Marijoy Viernes, Robert Reed, Amy Yackel, Melia Nafus
Passive restoration following ungulate removal in a highly disturbed tropical wet forest devoid of native seed dispersers Passive restoration following ungulate removal in a highly disturbed tropical wet forest devoid of native seed dispersers
Overabundant ungulate populations can alter forests. Concurrently, global declines of seed dispersers may threaten native forest structure and function. On an island largely devoid of native vertebrate seed dispersers, we monitored forest succession for 7 years following ungulate exclusion from a 5-ha area and adjacent plots with ungulates still present. We observed succession from open...
Authors
Melia Nafus, Julie Savidge, Amy Yackel Adams, Michelle Christy, Robert Reed
Experimental landscape reduction of wild rodents increases movements in the invasive brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) Experimental landscape reduction of wild rodents increases movements in the invasive brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis)
Experimental studies evaluating the effects of food availability on the movement of free-ranging animals generally involve food supplementation rather than suppression. Both approaches can yield similar insights, but we were interested in the potential for using food suppression for the management and control of invasive predators, in particular, the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis)...
Authors
Michelle Christy, Julie Savidge, Amy A. Yackel Adams, James Gragg, Gordon Rodda
Salvator merianae (Argentine Tegu). Attempted Predation. Salvator merianae (Argentine Tegu). Attempted Predation.
No abstract available.
Authors
Emma Hanslowe, Charles Calafiore, Kathryn Sykes, Noah Van Ee, Bryan Falk, Amy Yackel, Robert Reed
Vulnerability of shortgrass prairie bird assemblages to climate change Vulnerability of shortgrass prairie bird assemblages to climate change
The habitats and resources needed to support grassland birds endemic to North American prairie ecosystems are seriously threatened by impending climate change. To assess the vulnerability of grassland birds to climate change, we consider various components of vulnerability, including sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity (Glick et al. 2011). Sensitivity encompasses the innate...
Authors
Susan K. Skagen, Victoria Dreitz, Reesa Conrey, Amy Yackel, Arvind Panjabi
Extremes of heat, drought and precipitation depress reproductive performance in shortgrass prairie passerines Extremes of heat, drought and precipitation depress reproductive performance in shortgrass prairie passerines
Climate change elevates conservation concerns worldwide because it is likely to exacerbate many identified threats to animal populations. In recent decades, grassland birds have declined faster than other North American bird species, a loss thought to be due to habitat loss and fragmentation and changing agricultural practices. Climate change poses additional threats of unknown magnitude...
Authors
Reesa Conrey, Susan K. Skagen, Amy Yackel, Arvind Panjabi
Phrynosoma hernandesi (Greater Short-Horned Lizard). Commensalism Phrynosoma hernandesi (Greater Short-Horned Lizard). Commensalism
Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms whereby one benefits without negatively affecting the other. Like other horned lizards, Phyrnosoma hernandesi feeds primarily on ants, but will take other insects (Powell and Russell 1983. Can. J. Zool. 62:428–440). Here we describe apparent com-mensalism between P. hernandesi and Lark Buntings (Calamo-spiza melanocorys).
Authors
Amy Yackel, Rod Adams, Susan K. Skagen, Daniel Martin
Detection rates of geckos in visual surveys: Turning confounding variables into useful knowledge Detection rates of geckos in visual surveys: Turning confounding variables into useful knowledge
Transect surveys without some means of estimating detection probabilities generate population size indices prone to bias because survey conditions differ in time and space. Knowing what causes such bias can help guide the collection of relevant survey covariates, correct the survey data, anticipate situations where bias might be unacceptably large, and elucidate the ecology of target...
Authors
Bjorn Lardner, Gordon Rodda, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Julie A. Savidge, Robert N. Reed
Heterodon nasicus (plains hog-nosed snake) diet Heterodon nasicus (plains hog-nosed snake) diet
No abstract available.
Authors
Amy A. Yackel Adams, Daniel Martin, Rod D. Adams
General herpetological collecting is size-biased for five Pacific lizards General herpetological collecting is size-biased for five Pacific lizards
Accurate estimation of a species' size distribution is a key component of characterizing its ecology, evolution, physiology, and demography. We compared the body size distributions of five Pacific lizards (Carlia ailanpalai, Emoia caeruleocauda, Gehyra mutilata, Hemidactylus frenatus, and Lepidodactylus lugubris) from general herpetological collecting (including visual surveys and glue...
Authors
Gordon Rodda, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Earl W. Campbell, Thomas Fritts
Non-USGS Publications**
Graham, L., A.A. Yackel Adams, and E.A. Odell. 1999. Devaluation of non-experiments in the current ecological paradigm. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 26(4): 1002-1006.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.