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
Brown Treesnake counts during visual encounter surveys at three walking paces, Guam 2016
Brown Treesnake visual survey and radiotelemetry data, Guam 2015
Removal count data of Veiled Chameleons on Maui, 2002-2012
Habitat characterization around standard brown treesnake traps on Guam, 2004 - 2017
Dataset: Passive restoration following ungulate removal in a highly disturbed tropical wet forest devoid of native seed dispersers
Thermal stability of an adaptable, invasive ectotherm: Argentine giant tegus in the Greater Everglades ecosystem, USA
Brown treesnake mortality after aerial application of toxic baits
Trait heritability and its implications for the management of an invasive vertebrate
Surface material and snout-vent length predict vertical scaling ability in brown treesnakes:an evaluation of multispecies barriers for invasive species control on Guam
Using enclosed Y-mazes to assess chemosensory behavior in reptiles
Locally abundant, endangered Mariana swiftlets impact the abundance, behavior, and body condition of an invasive predator
Evidence for an established population of tegu lizards Salvator merianae in southeastern Georgia, USA
Validating deployment of aerially delivered toxic bait cartridges for control of invasive brown treesnakes
Behavior, size, and body condition predict susceptibility to management and reflect post-treatment frequency shifts in an invasive snake
Landscape dominance of introduced herpetofauna on an oceanic island
Use of visual surveys and radiotelemetry reveals sources of detection bias for a cryptic snake at low densities
Genomic pedigree reconstruction identifies predictors of mating and reproductive success in an invasive vertebrate
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
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Brown Treesnake counts during visual encounter surveys at three walking paces, Guam 2016
We evaluated three walking paces to estimate (1) how snake detection rate per unit distance changes with increasing pace, and (2) how total number of snakes found by the end of a night of surveying varies with pace when the amount of surveying time per night is held constant. For a ?fast? pace we searched the 220 meter-long transect in 10 minutes, corresponding to a walking pace of 1.32 km/h, wherBrown Treesnake visual survey and radiotelemetry data, Guam 2015
The dataset consists of two spreadsheets that contain brown treesnake data (location, perch taxa, perch height, time of detection, whether visible or not, and size of snake) collected during both visual surveys and radio telemetry within a 55-ha enclosure on Guam.Removal count data of Veiled Chameleons on Maui, 2002-2012
The data set consists of 3 spreadsheets: counts, efforts, and location that detail the 10-year removal effort of invasive Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) on the island of Maui. Recorded are the number of lizards removed from each site, the level of search effort at each site, and the centroid location of each sampled site.Habitat characterization around standard brown treesnake traps on Guam, 2004 - 2017
Data were collected in association with locations of standard brown treesnake traps on Guam at location prior to suppression or control efforts and after control had occurred. In all cases study sites were closed or semi-closed populations of brown treesnakes. Habitat data focused on type and structure of the habitat within 10-m of the trap.Dataset: Passive restoration following ungulate removal in a highly disturbed tropical wet forest devoid of native seed dispersers
On an island largely devoid of native vertebrate seed dispersers, we monitored forest succession for seven years following ungulate exclusion from a 5-hectare area and adjacent plots with ungulates still present. The study site was in northern Guam on Andersen Air Force Base (1337N, 14451E) and situated on a coralline limestone plateau. We established 22 plots and six 0.25-m2 subplots to measure t - Multimedia
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Thermal stability of an adaptable, invasive ectotherm: Argentine giant tegus in the Greater Everglades ecosystem, USA
Invasive species globally threaten biodiversity and economies, but the ecophysiological mechanisms underlying their success are often understudied. For those alien species that also exhibit high phenotypic plasticity, such as habitat generalists, adaptations in response to environmental pressures can take place relatively quickly. The Argentine giant tegu (Salvator merianae; tegu) is a large omnivAuthorsAndrea Faye Currylow, Michelle Collier, Emma B. Hanslowe, Bryan G. Falk, Brian S. Cade, Sarah E. Moy, Alejandro Grajal-Puche, Frank N. Ridgley, Robert Reed, Amy A. Yackel AdamsBrown treesnake mortality after aerial application of toxic baits
Quantitative evaluation of control tools for managing invasive species is necessary to assess overall effectiveness and individual variation in treatment susceptibility. Invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam have caused severe ecological and economic effects, pose a risk of accidental introduction to other islands, and are the greatest impediment to the reestablishment of extirpateAuthorsScott Michael Goetz, Eric T. Hileman, Melia G. Nafus, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Amanda R Bryant, Robert Reed, Shane R. SiersTrait heritability and its implications for the management of an invasive vertebrate
Control methods that target specific traits of an invasive species can produce results contrary to the aims of management. If targeted phenotypes exhibit heritability, then it follows that the invasive species could evolve greater resistance to the applied control measures over time. Additional complications emerge if those traits targeted by control are also inversely related to reproductive succAuthorsBrenna A Levine, Marlis R Douglas, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Bjorn Lardner, Robert Reed, Julie A. Savidge, Michael E DouglasSurface material and snout-vent length predict vertical scaling ability in brown treesnakes:an evaluation of multispecies barriers for invasive species control on Guam
The combination of snake-proof barriers and an aerial toxicant delivery system for snake suppression may allow large-scale control of invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam. However, suppression or local eradication of several other species (e.g., introduced ungulates, cats, rodents) may be required for successful restoration and recovery of forest habitat and reintroduction of natiAuthorsEric T. Hileman, DR Bradke, Melia G. Nafus, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Robert ReedUsing enclosed Y-mazes to assess chemosensory behavior in reptiles
Reptiles utilize a variety of environmental cues to inform and drive animal behavior such as chemical scent trails produced by food or conspecifics. Decrypting the scent-trailing behavior of vertebrates, particularly invasive species, enables the discovery of cues that induce exploratory behavior and can aid in the development of valuable basic and applied biological tools. However, pinpointing beAuthorsM. Rockwell Parker, Andrea Faye Currylow, Eric A. Tillman, Charlotte J. Robinson, Jillian Maureen Josimovich, Isabella M.G. Bukovich, Lauren A. Nazarian, Melia G. Nafus, Bryan M. Kluever, Amy A. Yackel AdamsLocally abundant, endangered Mariana swiftlets impact the abundance, behavior, and body condition of an invasive predator
Invasive predators are known to have negative consumptive and non-consumptive effects on native species, but few examples show how the abundance of native prey may influence an established invasive predator. We compared invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis; BTS) found in caves occupied by endangered Mariana swiftlets (Aerodramus bartschi) to snakes found in nearby forests and caves withoutAuthorsPage E. Klug, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Shane R. Siers, Kevin M Brindock, Stephen M. Mosher, MJ Mazurek, William C. Pitt, Robert ReedEvidence for an established population of tegu lizards Salvator merianae in southeastern Georgia, USA
Documenting emergence of invasive species in new areas is vital to understanding spatiotemporal patterns of invasions, propagule pressure, and the risk of establishment. Salvator merianae (Argentine Giant Tegu) has established multiple unconnected populations in southern and Central Florida, and additional sightings have been reported elsewhere in the state. In 2018, land managers in Georgia receiAuthorsDaniel Haro, Lance McBrayer, John B Jenson, James Gillis, Lea R. Bonewell, Melia Gail Nafus, Stephen E. Greiman, Robert Reed, Amy A. Yackel AdamsValidating deployment of aerially delivered toxic bait cartridges for control of invasive brown treesnakes
Aerial application of management tools can provide a cost‐effective means to conserve or control wildlife populations at the landscape scale. Large spatial scales, however, present difficulties when assessing in situ reliability and integrity of the devices themselves. We demonstrate application of a distance‐sampling density estimation approach to assess the performance of a newly developed toxicAuthorsScott Michael Goetz, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Shane S SiersBehavior, size, and body condition predict susceptibility to management and reflect post-treatment frequency shifts in an invasive snake
Foraging behavior can have population-level effects that are of interest for wildlife management. For invasive species, foraging behavior has been tied to establishment ability and rate of spread and is generally of import in understanding invasion biology. A major method for controlling invasive vertebrates is using food-based baits as attractants. Tool efficacy is therefore partially driven by iAuthorsMelia G. Nafus, Amy A. Yackel Adams, S. M. Boback, SR Siers, Robert ReedLandscape dominance of introduced herpetofauna on an oceanic island
Habitat loss and fragmentation can negatively impact native wildlife and facilitate establishment of introduced species. On islands, introduced species are a primary cause of extinction and can alter community membership through predation or competition for resources. Consequently, elucidating the distribution of introduced and native species can improve understanding of the potential synergisticAuthorsEric Thomas Hileman, Bradley A. Eichelberger, Jill Liske-Clark, Patrick D Barnhart, Robert Reed, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Melia G. NafusUse of visual surveys and radiotelemetry reveals sources of detection bias for a cryptic snake at low densities
Transect surveys are frequently used to estimate distribution and abundance of species across a landscape, yet a proportion of individuals present will be missed because either they were out of view and unavailable for detection or they were available but not detected because the surveyors missed them. These situations lead to availability and perception bias, respectively, and can result in misleAuthorsSM Boback, Melia G. Nafus, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Robert ReedGenomic pedigree reconstruction identifies predictors of mating and reproductive success in an invasive vertebrate
The persistence of an invasive species is influenced by its reproductive ecology, and a successful control program must operate on this premise. However, the reproductive ecology of invasive species may be enigmatic due to factors that also limit their management, such as cryptic coloration and behavior. We explored the mating and reproductive ecology of the invasive Brown Treesnake (BTS: Boiga irAuthorsBrenna A Levine, Marlis R Douglas, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Bjorn Lardner, Robert Reed, Julie A. Savidge, Michael E DouglasNon-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.
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