David S Pilliod
My research focuses on species conservation, habitat management, and effectiveness of restoration in a variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. I also co-lead the Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory.
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team (FRESC)
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team (FRESC)
Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory
Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory
I lead a team of scientists that develop tools and models to improve understanding of ecological systems and solve challenging problems in natural resource management. We primarily address questions related to species conservation, wildlife habitat, and restoration. We combine molecular methods, remote sensing, field studies, and statistical modeling. Our research team also develops data management and decision support systems to facilitate adaptive management, especially in western rangelands. We primarily work on issues affecting the Intermountain West and Great Basin regions of the U.S.
Professional Experience
2006 - Present: USGS. Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Supervisory Research Ecologist, Boise, Idaho
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Ecology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID (2001)
B.A., Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA (1991)
Science and Products
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: 137
Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity
Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and...
Authors
Beth A. Reinke, Hugo Cayuela, Fredric Janzen, Jean-François Lemaitre, Jean-Michel Gaillard, A. Lawing, John Iverson, Ditte Christiansen, Iñigo Martínez-Solano, Gregorio Sánchez-Montes, Jorge Gutiérrez, Francis Rose, Nicola Nelson, Susan Keall, Alain J Crivelli, Theodoros Nazirides, Annegret Grimm-Seyfarth, Klaus Henle, Emiliano Mori, Gaetan Guiller, Rebecca Homan, Anthony Olivier, Erin Muths, Blake R. Hossack, Xavier Bonnet, David S. Pilliod, Marieke Lettink, Tony Whitaker, Benedikt Schmidt, Michael Gardner, Marc Cheylan, Francoise Poitevin, Ana Golubovic, Ljiljana Tomovic, Dragan Arsovski, Richard Griffiths, Jan Arntzen, Jean-Pierre Baron, Jean-Francois Le Galliard, Thomas Tully, Luca Luiselli, Massimo Capula, Lorenzo Rugiero, Rebecca McCaffery, Lisa A Eby, Briggs-Gonzalez; Venetia, Frank Mazzotti, David Pearson, Brad A. Lambert, David Green, Nathalie Jreidini, Claudio Angelini, Graham Pyke, Jean-Marc Thirion, Pierre Joly, Jean-Paul Lena, Tony Tucker, Limpus, Pauline Priol, Aurelien Besnard, Pauline Bernard, Kristin Stanford, Richard King, Justin Garwood, Jaime Bosch, Franco Souza, Jaime Bertoluci, Shirley Famelli, Kurt Grossenbacher, Omar Lenzi, Kathleen Matthews, Sylvain Boitaud, Deanna H. Olson, Tim Jessop, Graeme Gillspie, Jean Clobert, Murielle Richard, Andrés Valenzuela-Sánchez, Gary Fellers, Patrick Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead, Evan Campbell Grant, Phillip Byrne, Thierry Fretey, Gernard Le Garff, Pauline Levionnois, John Maerz, Julian Pichenot, Kurtulus Olgun, Nazan Uzum, Aziz Avci, Claude Miaud, Johan Elmberg, Gregory Brown, Richard Shine, Nathan Bendik, Lisa O’Donnell, Courtney Davis, Michael Lannoo, Rochelle Stiles, Robert Cox, Aaron Reedy, Daniel A. Warner, Eric Bonnaire, Kristine Grayson, Roberto Ramos-Targarona, Eyup Baskale, David Munoz, John Measey, F. Villiers, Will Selman, Victor Ronget, Anne Bronikowski, David Miller
Importance of local weather and environmental gradients on demography of a broadly distributed temperate frog Importance of local weather and environmental gradients on demography of a broadly distributed temperate frog
Amphibian populations are sensitive to environmental temperatures and moisture, which vary with local weather conditions and may reach new norms and extremes as contemporary climate change progresses. Using long-term (11–16 years) mark-recapture data from 10 populations of the Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) from across its U.S. range, we addressed hypotheses about how...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Rebecca McCaffery, Robert Arkle, Rick Scherer, Jacqueline Cupples, Lisa Eby, Blake R. Hossack, Hallie Lingo, Kristin Lohr, Bryce Maxell, Megan McGuire, Chad Mellison, Marisa Meyer, James Munger, Teri Slatauski, Rachel Van Horne
Hydroclimatic conditions, wildfire, and species assemblages influence co-occurrence of bull trout and tailed frogs in northern Rocky Mountain streams Hydroclimatic conditions, wildfire, and species assemblages influence co-occurrence of bull trout and tailed frogs in northern Rocky Mountain streams
Although bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and tailed frogs (Ascaphus montanus) have co-existed in forested Pacific Northwest streams for millennia, these iconic cold-water specialists are experiencing rapid environmental change caused by a warming climate and enhanced wildfire activity. Our goal was to inform future conservation by examining the habitat associations of each species...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Russel Thurow, Dan Isaak
Elevating human dimensions of amphibian and reptile conservation, a USA perspective Elevating human dimensions of amphibian and reptile conservation, a USA perspective
Increasing threats to amphibian and reptile species raise the urgency of their conservation. However, relative to other vertebrate groups at risk, amphibians and reptiles have low and more variable social capital; they are not generally high-priority natural goods and services valued by people. Consequently, relative to other groups such as birds, mammals, and economically important fish...
Authors
Deanna H. Olson, David S. Pilliod
Leveraging rangeland monitoring data for wildlife: From concept to practice Leveraging rangeland monitoring data for wildlife: From concept to practice
Available rangeland data, from field-measured plots to remotely sensed landscapes, provide much needed information for mapping and modeling wildlife habitats. Better integration of wildlife habitat characteristics into rangeland monitoring schemes is needed for most rangeland wildlife species at varying spatial and temporal scales. Here, we aim to stimulate use of and inspire ideas about...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Jeffrey Beck, Courtney Duchardt, Janet Rachlow, Kari Veblen
Adaptive monitoring in support of adaptive management in rangelands Adaptive monitoring in support of adaptive management in rangelands
Monitoring supports iterative learning about the effectiveness of management actions, information that can help managers plan future actions, facilitate decision-making, and improve outcomes. Adaptive monitoring is the evolution of a monitoring program in response to new management questions; new or changing environmental or socioeconomic conditions, improved monitoring methods, models...
Authors
Sarah McCord, David S. Pilliod
Sex‐related differences in aging rate are associated with sex chromosome system in amphibians Sex‐related differences in aging rate are associated with sex chromosome system in amphibians
Sex‐related differences in mortality are widespread in the animal kingdom. Although studies have shown that sex determination systems might drive lifespan evolution, sex chromosome influence on aging rates have not been investigated so far, likely due to an apparent lack of demographic data from clades including both XY (with heterogametic males) and ZW (heterogametic females) systems...
Authors
Hugo Cayuela, Jean-François Lemaître, Jean-Paul Léna, Victor Ronget, Inigo Martinez-Solano, Erin Muths, David Pilliod, Benedikt Schmidt, Gregorio Sanchez-Montes, Jorge Gutierrez-Rodriguez, Graham Pyke, Kurt Grossenbacher, Omar Lenzi, Jaime Bosch, Karen Beard, Lawrence Woolbright, Brad A. Lambert, David Green, Justin Garwood, Robert N. Fisher, Kathleen Matthews, David Dudgeon, Anthony Lau, Jeroen Speybroeck, Rebecca Homan, Robert Jehle, Eyup Baskale, Emiliano Mori, Jan Arntzen, Pierre Joly, Rochelle Stiles, Michael Lannoo, John Maerz, Winsor H. Lowe, Andres Valenzuela-Sanchez, Ditte Christianson, Claudio Angelini, Jean-Marc Thirion, Juha Merila, Guarino Colli, Mariana Vasconcellos, Taissa Boas, Isis Arantes, Pauline Levionnois, Beth A. Reinke, Cristina Vieira, Gabriel Marais, Jean-Michael Gaillard, David A.W. Miller
Thermal conditions predict intraspecific variation in senescence rate in frogs and toads Thermal conditions predict intraspecific variation in senescence rate in frogs and toads
Variation in temperature is known to influence mortality patterns in ectotherms. Even though a few experimental studies on model organisms have reported a positive relationship between temperature and actuarial senescence (i.e., the increase in mortality risk with age), how variation in climate influences the senescence rate across the range of a species is still poorly understood in...
Authors
Hugo Cayuela, Jean-Francois Lemaitre, Erin L. Muths, Rebecca McCaffery, Thierry Fretey, Bernard Le Garff, Benedikt Schmidt, Kurt Grossenbacher, Omar Lenzi, Blake R. Hossack, Lisa A Eby, Brad A. Lambert, Johan Elmberg, Juha Merila, Jerome Gippet, Jean-Michel Gaillard, David S. Pilliod
Protecting restoration investments from the cheatgrass-fire cycle in sagebrush steppe Protecting restoration investments from the cheatgrass-fire cycle in sagebrush steppe
The US federal government has recently committed to the difficult task of slowing and managing the invasive grass-fire cycle in sagebrush steppe, where property, livelihoods, and entire ecosystems are at risk. To safely manage this crisis, the government recently proposed to construct about 17,700 km of fuel breaks and millions of hectares of fuel reduction treatments in six western...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Michelle Jeffries, Justin Welty, Robert Arkle
Spatiotemporal dynamics of insect pollinator communities in sagebrush steppe associated with weather and vegetation Spatiotemporal dynamics of insect pollinator communities in sagebrush steppe associated with weather and vegetation
The conservation of native insect pollinators is hampered by a lack of information about environmental factors influencing pollinator communities. We investigated how insect pollinator communities, composed of bees (Hymenoptera), butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), and flies (Diptera), are influenced by spatial and temporal aspects of the environment in sagebrush steppe shrublands. We...
Authors
Ashley Rohde, David Pilliod
Genomic signatures of thermal adaptation are associated with clinal shifts of life history in a broadly distributed frog Genomic signatures of thermal adaptation are associated with clinal shifts of life history in a broadly distributed frog
Temperature is a critical driver of ectotherm life-history strategies, whereby a warmer environment is associated with increased growth, reduced longevity and accelerated senescence. Increasing evidence indicates that thermal adaptation may underlie such life-history shifts in wild populations. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variants (CNVs) can help uncover the...
Authors
Hugo Cayuela, Yann Dorant, Brenna Forester, Dan Jeffries, Rebecca McCaffery, Lisa A Eby, Blake R. Hossack, Jérôme M W Gippet, David S. Pilliod, W Chris Funk
Stream restoration is influenced by details of engineered habitats at a headwater mine site Stream restoration is influenced by details of engineered habitats at a headwater mine site
A lack of information regarding which ecological factors influence restoration success or failure has hindered scientifically based restoration decision-making. We focus on one headwater site to examine factors influencing divergent ecological outcomes of two post-mining stream restoration projects designed to improve instream conditions following 70 years of mining impacts. One project...
Authors
Robert Arkle, David S. Pilliod
Non-USGS Publications**
Arkle, R.S., Pilliod, D.S., Strickler, K.M., 2010, Fire, flow and dynamic equilibrium in stream macroinvertebrate communities: Freshwater Biology, v. 55, p. 299-314.
Jain, T.B., Graham, R.T., Pilliod, D.S., 2006, The relation between forest structure and soil burn severity In Andrews, P.L., Butler, B.W., eds., Fuels management: How to measure success, Proceedings: RMRS-P-41, Fort Collins, CO, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, p. 615-631.
Pilliod, D.S., Bull, E.L., Hayes, J.L., Wales, B.C., 2006, Wildlife and Invertebrate Response to Fuel Reduction Treatments in Dry Coniferous Forests of the Western United States - A Synthesis: USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-GTR-173, p. 34.
Hossack, B.R., Corn, P.S., Pilliod, D.S., 2005, Lack of significant changes in the herpetofauna of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, since the 1920s: American Midland Naturalist, v. 154, p. 423-432.
Funk, W., Blouin, M.S., Corn, P.S., Maxell, B.A., Pilliod, D.S., Amish, S., Allendorf, F.W., 2005, Population structure of Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris)is strongly affected by the landscape: Molecular Ecology, v. 14, p. 483-496.
Pilliod, D.S., 2005, The Wildlife Habitat Response Model- Environmental Consequences Fact Sheet - 15: USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-RN-23-15-WWW, p. 2.
Dunham, J.B., Pilliod, D.S., Young, M., 2004, Assessing the Consequences of Nonnative Trout in Headwater Ecosystems in Western North America: Fisheries, v. 29, no. 6, p. 18-26, https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/1548-8446(2004)29[18:ATCONT]2.0.CO;2.
Pilliod, D.S., 2004, Wildlife Responses to Fuels Treatments- Key Considerations - Fuels planning- science synthesis and integration; environmental consequences fact sheet 20024: USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-RN-23-4WWW, p. 2.
Pilliod, D.S., Peterson, C.R., Ritson, P.I., 2002, Seasonal migration of Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) among complementary resources in a high mountain basin: Canadian Journal of Zoology, v. 80, p. 1849-1862.
Peterson, C.R., Burton, S.R., Pilliod, D.S., Lee, J.R., Cossell Jr., J.O., Llewellyn, R.L., 2001, Assessing the accuracy of GAP analysis predicted distributions of Idaho amphibians and reptiles: GAP Analysis Bulletin, v. 10, p. 25-28.
Pilliod, D.S., Peterson, C.R., 2001, Local and landscape effects of introduced trout on amphibians in historically fishless watersheds: Ecosystems, v. 4, p. 322-333.
Pilliod, D.S., Peterson, C.R., 2000, Evaluating effects of fish stocking on amphibian populations in wilderness lakes In Cole, D.N., McCool, S.F., Borrie, W.T., O'Loughlin, J., eds., Wilderness science in a time of change conference—Volume 5: Wilderness ecosystems, threats, and management; 2000 May 23–27; Missoula, MT, Proceedings: RMRS-P-15_VOL-5, Ogden, UT, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, p. 328-335.
**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.
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team (FRESC)
Wildlife respond to changes in their environment, some of which are dramatic and others subtle. To fully understand the factors that drive changes in populations and communities, we need better information on wildlife ecology in natural and human-altered landscapes. We conduct research and provide technical assistance to address applied questions about the ecology and conservation of wildlife...
Filter Total Items: 25
An Interagency Collaboration to Develop and Evaluate New Science-Based Strategies for Great Basin Watershed Restoration in the Future
This project was designed to use the combined strengths of the cooperators to address their concerns stemming from the degradation of arid environments in the Great Basin. The project aimed to identify the regional ecological and social costs and benefits of both immediate hydrologic modifications (low-profile constructed dams) and longer-term restoration of beavers (Castor canadensis)...
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: 28
Exotic and perennial grass cover for pastures in the Soda Fire (2016) Exotic and perennial grass cover for pastures in the Soda Fire (2016)
The point data file ("Soda Fire Point and Pasture Data (2016).Point Data.csv") includes 2016 vegetative cover values of exotic annual grass and perennial grass measured within three different types of plots for 75 pastures in the Soda Fire, which burned in 2015: 6m2 plot using a grid-point intercept photo software, SamplePoint (Booth et al. 2006), 1m2 quadrat using an unguided rapid...
Beaver-related Stream Restoration Projects in Western Rangelands Beaver-related Stream Restoration Projects in Western Rangelands
We systematically surveyed federal and state wildlife biologists, hydrological specialists, non-profit organizations, and working groups focused on beaver or wetland restoration in the western U.S. We focused primarily on contacting land managers from states containing some portion of the Great Basin, although many of the projects described in surveys fell outside of this watershed. Some...
Demography and habitat use of boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas) and other amphibians in northern Wyoming (Blackrock). Demography and habitat use of boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas) and other amphibians in northern Wyoming (Blackrock).
Amphibian decline is a problem of global importance, with over 40% of species considered at risk. This phenomenon is not limited to the tropics or to other countries. Amphibian species in the U.S. are also declining, contributing to the larger, global phenomenon. For example, in the State of Wyoming, the Wyoming toad has been extirpated in the wild and the boreal toad is a species of...
Combined wildfire dataset for the United States and certain territories, 1870-2015 Combined wildfire dataset for the United States and certain territories, 1870-2015
The increase in wildfires, particularly in the western U.S., represents one of the greatest threats to multiple native ecosystems. Despite this threat, there is currently no central repository to store both past and current wildfire perimeter data. Currently, wildfire boundaries can only be found in disparate local or national datasets. These datasets are generally restricted to specific...
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.
To request an interview, contact fresc_outreach@usgs.gov or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 46
Science and Products
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: 137
Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity
Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and...
Authors
Beth A. Reinke, Hugo Cayuela, Fredric Janzen, Jean-François Lemaitre, Jean-Michel Gaillard, A. Lawing, John Iverson, Ditte Christiansen, Iñigo Martínez-Solano, Gregorio Sánchez-Montes, Jorge Gutiérrez, Francis Rose, Nicola Nelson, Susan Keall, Alain J Crivelli, Theodoros Nazirides, Annegret Grimm-Seyfarth, Klaus Henle, Emiliano Mori, Gaetan Guiller, Rebecca Homan, Anthony Olivier, Erin Muths, Blake R. Hossack, Xavier Bonnet, David S. Pilliod, Marieke Lettink, Tony Whitaker, Benedikt Schmidt, Michael Gardner, Marc Cheylan, Francoise Poitevin, Ana Golubovic, Ljiljana Tomovic, Dragan Arsovski, Richard Griffiths, Jan Arntzen, Jean-Pierre Baron, Jean-Francois Le Galliard, Thomas Tully, Luca Luiselli, Massimo Capula, Lorenzo Rugiero, Rebecca McCaffery, Lisa A Eby, Briggs-Gonzalez; Venetia, Frank Mazzotti, David Pearson, Brad A. Lambert, David Green, Nathalie Jreidini, Claudio Angelini, Graham Pyke, Jean-Marc Thirion, Pierre Joly, Jean-Paul Lena, Tony Tucker, Limpus, Pauline Priol, Aurelien Besnard, Pauline Bernard, Kristin Stanford, Richard King, Justin Garwood, Jaime Bosch, Franco Souza, Jaime Bertoluci, Shirley Famelli, Kurt Grossenbacher, Omar Lenzi, Kathleen Matthews, Sylvain Boitaud, Deanna H. Olson, Tim Jessop, Graeme Gillspie, Jean Clobert, Murielle Richard, Andrés Valenzuela-Sánchez, Gary Fellers, Patrick Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead, Evan Campbell Grant, Phillip Byrne, Thierry Fretey, Gernard Le Garff, Pauline Levionnois, John Maerz, Julian Pichenot, Kurtulus Olgun, Nazan Uzum, Aziz Avci, Claude Miaud, Johan Elmberg, Gregory Brown, Richard Shine, Nathan Bendik, Lisa O’Donnell, Courtney Davis, Michael Lannoo, Rochelle Stiles, Robert Cox, Aaron Reedy, Daniel A. Warner, Eric Bonnaire, Kristine Grayson, Roberto Ramos-Targarona, Eyup Baskale, David Munoz, John Measey, F. Villiers, Will Selman, Victor Ronget, Anne Bronikowski, David Miller
Importance of local weather and environmental gradients on demography of a broadly distributed temperate frog Importance of local weather and environmental gradients on demography of a broadly distributed temperate frog
Amphibian populations are sensitive to environmental temperatures and moisture, which vary with local weather conditions and may reach new norms and extremes as contemporary climate change progresses. Using long-term (11–16 years) mark-recapture data from 10 populations of the Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) from across its U.S. range, we addressed hypotheses about how...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Rebecca McCaffery, Robert Arkle, Rick Scherer, Jacqueline Cupples, Lisa Eby, Blake R. Hossack, Hallie Lingo, Kristin Lohr, Bryce Maxell, Megan McGuire, Chad Mellison, Marisa Meyer, James Munger, Teri Slatauski, Rachel Van Horne
Hydroclimatic conditions, wildfire, and species assemblages influence co-occurrence of bull trout and tailed frogs in northern Rocky Mountain streams Hydroclimatic conditions, wildfire, and species assemblages influence co-occurrence of bull trout and tailed frogs in northern Rocky Mountain streams
Although bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and tailed frogs (Ascaphus montanus) have co-existed in forested Pacific Northwest streams for millennia, these iconic cold-water specialists are experiencing rapid environmental change caused by a warming climate and enhanced wildfire activity. Our goal was to inform future conservation by examining the habitat associations of each species...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Russel Thurow, Dan Isaak
Elevating human dimensions of amphibian and reptile conservation, a USA perspective Elevating human dimensions of amphibian and reptile conservation, a USA perspective
Increasing threats to amphibian and reptile species raise the urgency of their conservation. However, relative to other vertebrate groups at risk, amphibians and reptiles have low and more variable social capital; they are not generally high-priority natural goods and services valued by people. Consequently, relative to other groups such as birds, mammals, and economically important fish...
Authors
Deanna H. Olson, David S. Pilliod
Leveraging rangeland monitoring data for wildlife: From concept to practice Leveraging rangeland monitoring data for wildlife: From concept to practice
Available rangeland data, from field-measured plots to remotely sensed landscapes, provide much needed information for mapping and modeling wildlife habitats. Better integration of wildlife habitat characteristics into rangeland monitoring schemes is needed for most rangeland wildlife species at varying spatial and temporal scales. Here, we aim to stimulate use of and inspire ideas about...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Jeffrey Beck, Courtney Duchardt, Janet Rachlow, Kari Veblen
Adaptive monitoring in support of adaptive management in rangelands Adaptive monitoring in support of adaptive management in rangelands
Monitoring supports iterative learning about the effectiveness of management actions, information that can help managers plan future actions, facilitate decision-making, and improve outcomes. Adaptive monitoring is the evolution of a monitoring program in response to new management questions; new or changing environmental or socioeconomic conditions, improved monitoring methods, models...
Authors
Sarah McCord, David S. Pilliod
Sex‐related differences in aging rate are associated with sex chromosome system in amphibians Sex‐related differences in aging rate are associated with sex chromosome system in amphibians
Sex‐related differences in mortality are widespread in the animal kingdom. Although studies have shown that sex determination systems might drive lifespan evolution, sex chromosome influence on aging rates have not been investigated so far, likely due to an apparent lack of demographic data from clades including both XY (with heterogametic males) and ZW (heterogametic females) systems...
Authors
Hugo Cayuela, Jean-François Lemaître, Jean-Paul Léna, Victor Ronget, Inigo Martinez-Solano, Erin Muths, David Pilliod, Benedikt Schmidt, Gregorio Sanchez-Montes, Jorge Gutierrez-Rodriguez, Graham Pyke, Kurt Grossenbacher, Omar Lenzi, Jaime Bosch, Karen Beard, Lawrence Woolbright, Brad A. Lambert, David Green, Justin Garwood, Robert N. Fisher, Kathleen Matthews, David Dudgeon, Anthony Lau, Jeroen Speybroeck, Rebecca Homan, Robert Jehle, Eyup Baskale, Emiliano Mori, Jan Arntzen, Pierre Joly, Rochelle Stiles, Michael Lannoo, John Maerz, Winsor H. Lowe, Andres Valenzuela-Sanchez, Ditte Christianson, Claudio Angelini, Jean-Marc Thirion, Juha Merila, Guarino Colli, Mariana Vasconcellos, Taissa Boas, Isis Arantes, Pauline Levionnois, Beth A. Reinke, Cristina Vieira, Gabriel Marais, Jean-Michael Gaillard, David A.W. Miller
Thermal conditions predict intraspecific variation in senescence rate in frogs and toads Thermal conditions predict intraspecific variation in senescence rate in frogs and toads
Variation in temperature is known to influence mortality patterns in ectotherms. Even though a few experimental studies on model organisms have reported a positive relationship between temperature and actuarial senescence (i.e., the increase in mortality risk with age), how variation in climate influences the senescence rate across the range of a species is still poorly understood in...
Authors
Hugo Cayuela, Jean-Francois Lemaitre, Erin L. Muths, Rebecca McCaffery, Thierry Fretey, Bernard Le Garff, Benedikt Schmidt, Kurt Grossenbacher, Omar Lenzi, Blake R. Hossack, Lisa A Eby, Brad A. Lambert, Johan Elmberg, Juha Merila, Jerome Gippet, Jean-Michel Gaillard, David S. Pilliod
Protecting restoration investments from the cheatgrass-fire cycle in sagebrush steppe Protecting restoration investments from the cheatgrass-fire cycle in sagebrush steppe
The US federal government has recently committed to the difficult task of slowing and managing the invasive grass-fire cycle in sagebrush steppe, where property, livelihoods, and entire ecosystems are at risk. To safely manage this crisis, the government recently proposed to construct about 17,700 km of fuel breaks and millions of hectares of fuel reduction treatments in six western...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Michelle Jeffries, Justin Welty, Robert Arkle
Spatiotemporal dynamics of insect pollinator communities in sagebrush steppe associated with weather and vegetation Spatiotemporal dynamics of insect pollinator communities in sagebrush steppe associated with weather and vegetation
The conservation of native insect pollinators is hampered by a lack of information about environmental factors influencing pollinator communities. We investigated how insect pollinator communities, composed of bees (Hymenoptera), butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), and flies (Diptera), are influenced by spatial and temporal aspects of the environment in sagebrush steppe shrublands. We...
Authors
Ashley Rohde, David Pilliod
Genomic signatures of thermal adaptation are associated with clinal shifts of life history in a broadly distributed frog Genomic signatures of thermal adaptation are associated with clinal shifts of life history in a broadly distributed frog
Temperature is a critical driver of ectotherm life-history strategies, whereby a warmer environment is associated with increased growth, reduced longevity and accelerated senescence. Increasing evidence indicates that thermal adaptation may underlie such life-history shifts in wild populations. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variants (CNVs) can help uncover the...
Authors
Hugo Cayuela, Yann Dorant, Brenna Forester, Dan Jeffries, Rebecca McCaffery, Lisa A Eby, Blake R. Hossack, Jérôme M W Gippet, David S. Pilliod, W Chris Funk
Stream restoration is influenced by details of engineered habitats at a headwater mine site Stream restoration is influenced by details of engineered habitats at a headwater mine site
A lack of information regarding which ecological factors influence restoration success or failure has hindered scientifically based restoration decision-making. We focus on one headwater site to examine factors influencing divergent ecological outcomes of two post-mining stream restoration projects designed to improve instream conditions following 70 years of mining impacts. One project...
Authors
Robert Arkle, David S. Pilliod
Non-USGS Publications**
Arkle, R.S., Pilliod, D.S., Strickler, K.M., 2010, Fire, flow and dynamic equilibrium in stream macroinvertebrate communities: Freshwater Biology, v. 55, p. 299-314.
Jain, T.B., Graham, R.T., Pilliod, D.S., 2006, The relation between forest structure and soil burn severity In Andrews, P.L., Butler, B.W., eds., Fuels management: How to measure success, Proceedings: RMRS-P-41, Fort Collins, CO, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, p. 615-631.
Pilliod, D.S., Bull, E.L., Hayes, J.L., Wales, B.C., 2006, Wildlife and Invertebrate Response to Fuel Reduction Treatments in Dry Coniferous Forests of the Western United States - A Synthesis: USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-GTR-173, p. 34.
Hossack, B.R., Corn, P.S., Pilliod, D.S., 2005, Lack of significant changes in the herpetofauna of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, since the 1920s: American Midland Naturalist, v. 154, p. 423-432.
Funk, W., Blouin, M.S., Corn, P.S., Maxell, B.A., Pilliod, D.S., Amish, S., Allendorf, F.W., 2005, Population structure of Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris)is strongly affected by the landscape: Molecular Ecology, v. 14, p. 483-496.
Pilliod, D.S., 2005, The Wildlife Habitat Response Model- Environmental Consequences Fact Sheet - 15: USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-RN-23-15-WWW, p. 2.
Dunham, J.B., Pilliod, D.S., Young, M., 2004, Assessing the Consequences of Nonnative Trout in Headwater Ecosystems in Western North America: Fisheries, v. 29, no. 6, p. 18-26, https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/1548-8446(2004)29[18:ATCONT]2.0.CO;2.
Pilliod, D.S., 2004, Wildlife Responses to Fuels Treatments- Key Considerations - Fuels planning- science synthesis and integration; environmental consequences fact sheet 20024: USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-RN-23-4WWW, p. 2.
Pilliod, D.S., Peterson, C.R., Ritson, P.I., 2002, Seasonal migration of Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) among complementary resources in a high mountain basin: Canadian Journal of Zoology, v. 80, p. 1849-1862.
Peterson, C.R., Burton, S.R., Pilliod, D.S., Lee, J.R., Cossell Jr., J.O., Llewellyn, R.L., 2001, Assessing the accuracy of GAP analysis predicted distributions of Idaho amphibians and reptiles: GAP Analysis Bulletin, v. 10, p. 25-28.
Pilliod, D.S., Peterson, C.R., 2001, Local and landscape effects of introduced trout on amphibians in historically fishless watersheds: Ecosystems, v. 4, p. 322-333.
Pilliod, D.S., Peterson, C.R., 2000, Evaluating effects of fish stocking on amphibian populations in wilderness lakes In Cole, D.N., McCool, S.F., Borrie, W.T., O'Loughlin, J., eds., Wilderness science in a time of change conference—Volume 5: Wilderness ecosystems, threats, and management; 2000 May 23–27; Missoula, MT, Proceedings: RMRS-P-15_VOL-5, Ogden, UT, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, p. 328-335.
**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.
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team (FRESC)
Wildlife respond to changes in their environment, some of which are dramatic and others subtle. To fully understand the factors that drive changes in populations and communities, we need better information on wildlife ecology in natural and human-altered landscapes. We conduct research and provide technical assistance to address applied questions about the ecology and conservation of wildlife...
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An Interagency Collaboration to Develop and Evaluate New Science-Based Strategies for Great Basin Watershed Restoration in the Future
This project was designed to use the combined strengths of the cooperators to address their concerns stemming from the degradation of arid environments in the Great Basin. The project aimed to identify the regional ecological and social costs and benefits of both immediate hydrologic modifications (low-profile constructed dams) and longer-term restoration of beavers (Castor canadensis)...
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.
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Exotic and perennial grass cover for pastures in the Soda Fire (2016) Exotic and perennial grass cover for pastures in the Soda Fire (2016)
The point data file ("Soda Fire Point and Pasture Data (2016).Point Data.csv") includes 2016 vegetative cover values of exotic annual grass and perennial grass measured within three different types of plots for 75 pastures in the Soda Fire, which burned in 2015: 6m2 plot using a grid-point intercept photo software, SamplePoint (Booth et al. 2006), 1m2 quadrat using an unguided rapid...
Beaver-related Stream Restoration Projects in Western Rangelands Beaver-related Stream Restoration Projects in Western Rangelands
We systematically surveyed federal and state wildlife biologists, hydrological specialists, non-profit organizations, and working groups focused on beaver or wetland restoration in the western U.S. We focused primarily on contacting land managers from states containing some portion of the Great Basin, although many of the projects described in surveys fell outside of this watershed. Some...
Demography and habitat use of boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas) and other amphibians in northern Wyoming (Blackrock). Demography and habitat use of boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas) and other amphibians in northern Wyoming (Blackrock).
Amphibian decline is a problem of global importance, with over 40% of species considered at risk. This phenomenon is not limited to the tropics or to other countries. Amphibian species in the U.S. are also declining, contributing to the larger, global phenomenon. For example, in the State of Wyoming, the Wyoming toad has been extirpated in the wild and the boreal toad is a species of...
Combined wildfire dataset for the United States and certain territories, 1870-2015 Combined wildfire dataset for the United States and certain territories, 1870-2015
The increase in wildfires, particularly in the western U.S., represents one of the greatest threats to multiple native ecosystems. Despite this threat, there is currently no central repository to store both past and current wildfire perimeter data. Currently, wildfire boundaries can only be found in disparate local or national datasets. These datasets are generally restricted to specific...
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.
To request an interview, contact fresc_outreach@usgs.gov or call (541) 750-1030.
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