David S Pilliod
My research focuses on evaluating effects of disturbances, such as wildfire and invasive species, and effectiveness of restoration in a variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
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 wildlife habitat, species conservation, and restoration. 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
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team (FRESC)
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Quantifying and predicting fuels and the effects of reduction treatments along successional and invasion gradients in sagebrush habitats
Moving environmental DNA methods from concept to practice for monitoring aquatic macroorganisms
Long-term effects of seeding after wildfire on vegetation in Great Basin shrubland ecosystems
Quantifying restoration effectiveness using multi-scale habitat models: implications for sage-grouse in the Great Basin
Semi-automated identification of leopard frogs
A reference system for animal biometrics: application to the northern leopard frog
Roles of patch characteristics, drought frequency, and restoration in long-term trends of a widespread amphibian
Performance of quantitative vegetation sampling methods across gradients of cover in Great Basin plant communities
Factors influencing detection of eDNA from a stream-dwelling amphibian
Estimating occupancy and abundance of stream amphibians using environmental DNA from filtered water samples
Terrestrial movement patterns of western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) in central California
Application of environmental DNA for inventory and monitoring of aquatic species
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.
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.
Science and Products
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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: 23 - Data
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- Publications
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: 120Quantifying and predicting fuels and the effects of reduction treatments along successional and invasion gradients in sagebrush habitats
Sagebrush shrubland ecosystems in the Great Basin are prime examples of how altered successional trajectories can create dynamic fuel conditions and, thus, increase uncertainty about fire risk and behavior. Although fire is a natural disturbance in sagebrush, post-fire environments are highly susceptible to conversion to an invasive grass-fire regime (often referred to as a “grass-fire cycle”). AfAuthorsDouglas J. Shinneman, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Nancy F. GlennMoving environmental DNA methods from concept to practice for monitoring aquatic macroorganisms
The discovery that macroorganisms can be detected from their environmental DNA (eDNA) in aquatic systems has immense potential for the conservation of biological diversity. This special issue contains 11 papers that review and advance the field of eDNA detection of vertebrates and other macroorganisms, including studies of eDNA production, transport, and degradation; sample collection and processiAuthorsCaren S. Goldberg, Katherine M. Strickler, David S. PilliodLong-term effects of seeding after wildfire on vegetation in Great Basin shrubland ecosystems
1. Invasive annual grasses alter fire regimes in shrubland ecosystems of the western USA, threatening ecosystem function and fragmenting habitats necessary for shrub-obligate species such as greater sage-grouse. Post-fire stabilization and rehabilitation treatments have been administered to stabilize soils, reduce invasive species spread and restore or establish sustainable ecosystems in which naAuthorsKevin C. Knutson, David A. Pyke, Troy A. Wirth, Robert S. Arkle, David S. Pilliod, Matthew L. Brooks, Jeanne C. Chambers, James B. GraceQuantifying restoration effectiveness using multi-scale habitat models: implications for sage-grouse in the Great Basin
A recurrent challenge in the conservation of wide-ranging, imperiled species is understanding which habitats to protect and whether we are capable of restoring degraded landscapes. For Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a species of conservation concern in the western United States, we approached this problem by developing multi-scale empirical models of occupancy in 211 randomly locAuthorsRobert S. Arkle, David S. Pilliod, Steven E. Hanser, Matthew L. Brooks, Jeanne C. Chambers, James B. Grace, Kevin C. Knutson, David A. Pyke, Justin L. WeltySemi-automated identification of leopard frogs
Principal component analysis is used to implement a semi-automatic recognition system to identify recaptured northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens). Results of both open set and closed set experiments are given. The presented algorithm is shown to provide accurate identification of 209 individual leopard frogs from a total set of 1386 images.AuthorsDijana Petrovska-Delacrétaz, Aaron Edwards, John Chiasson, Gérard Chollet, David S. PilliodA reference system for animal biometrics: application to the northern leopard frog
Reference systems and public databases are available for human biometrics, but to our knowledge nothing is available for animal biometrics. This is surprising because animals are not required to give their agreement to be in a database. This paper proposes a reference system and database for the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens). Both are available for reproducible experiments. Results ofAuthorsD. Petrovska-Delacretaz, A. Edwards, J. Chiasson, G. Chollet, D. S. PilliodRoles of patch characteristics, drought frequency, and restoration in long-term trends of a widespread amphibian
Despite the high profile of amphibian declines and the increasing threat of drought and fragmentation to aquatic ecosystems, few studies have examined long-term rates of change for a single species across a large geographic area. We analyzed growth in annual egg-mass counts of the Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) across the northwestern United States, an area encompassing 3 genetic cladesAuthorsBlake R. Hossack, M. J. Adams, Christopher A. Pearl, Kristine W. Wilson, Evelyn L. Bull, Kristin Lohr, Debra Patla, David S. Pilliod, Jason Jones, Kevin Wheeler, Samuel McKay, P. Stephen CornPerformance of quantitative vegetation sampling methods across gradients of cover in Great Basin plant communities
Resource managers and scientists need efficient, reliable methods for quantifying vegetation to conduct basic research, evaluate land management actions, and monitor trends in habitat conditions. We examined three methods for quantifying vegetation in 1-ha plots among different plant communities in the northern Great Basin: photography-based grid-point intercept (GPI), line-point intercept (LPI),AuthorsDavid S. Pilliod, Robert S. ArkleFactors influencing detection of eDNA from a stream-dwelling amphibian
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for detecting and estimating abundance of aquatic species are emerging rapidly, but little is known about how processes such as secretion rate, environmental degradation, and time since colonization or extirpation from a given site affect eDNA measurements. Using stream-dwelling salamanders and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis, we conducted three experiments to assAuthorsDavid S. Pilliod, Caren S. Goldberg, Robert S. Arkle, Lisette P. WaitsEstimating occupancy and abundance of stream amphibians using environmental DNA from filtered water samples
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for detecting aquatic species are advancing rapidly, but with little evaluation of field protocols or precision of resulting estimates. We compared sampling results from traditional field methods with eDNA methods for two amphibians in 13 streams in central Idaho, USA. We also evaluated three water collection protocols and the influence of sampling location, time oAuthorsDavid S. Pilliod, Caren S. Goldberg, Robert S. Arkle, Lisette P. WaitsTerrestrial movement patterns of western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) in central California
We used radio telemetry to track the terrestrial movements and seasonal habitat use patterns of Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata) near two ponds in the Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve, California, USA. We captured 93 turtles in September 2005 and, of these, we tagged three males and six females(weighing > 300 g) with external transmitters. Tagged turtles traveled from 255–1,096 m over thAuthorsDavid S. Pilliod, Justin L. Welty, Robert StaffordApplication of environmental DNA for inventory and monitoring of aquatic species
This fact sheet was created to help biologists and resource managers understand emerging methods for detecting environmental DNA and their potential application for inventorying and monitoring aquatic species. It is a synthesis of published information.AuthorsDavid S. Pilliod, Caren S. Goldberg, Matthew B. Laramie, Lisette P. WaitsNon-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.
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