Muths, E. 2015. Dust jacket blurb for book Salamandria by S. Trauth and J. Trauth. Mockingbird Lane Press.
Erin Muths, Ph.D.
Biography
Erin Muths is a Zoologist at the Fort Collins Science Center. Dr. Muths received a PhD in Zoology from the University of Queensland, Australia. Since joining the USGS in 1995 she has studied amphibians in Colorado and around the world. Dr. Muths specializes in amphibian demography, disease ecology and conservation. Current research projects include reintroductions of boreal toads in Rocky Mountain National Park, salamander disease and occurrence in the desert southwest and Mexico, and demography of chorus frog and boreal toad populations in Colorado and Wyoming.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy, Zoology, University of Queensland, Department of Zoology, Brisbane, Australia, January 1997.Dissertation title: Reproductive Physiology and Ecology of Female Red Kangaroos (Macropus rufus).
- Master of Science, Biology - Systematics and Ecology, Kansas State University, Division of Biology, Manhattan, KS, October 1990.
- Bachelor of Science, Wildlife Ecology - Natural Sciences, University of Wisconsin, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Madison, WI, May 1986.
Professional Experience
- U.S. Geological Survey - Biological Resources Division Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO. April 1995 - present.
- University of Queensland Brisbane, Australia; Southwest Queensland, Australia, Ph.D. research. June 1991 - January 1994.
- Archbold Biological Station Lake Placid, FL, Research Intern. October 1990 - March 1991. Kansas State University, Division of Biology Manhattan, KS, Research Assistant. August 1988 - May 1990.
- Smithsonian Institution, Conservation Research Center Front Royal, VA, Intern. December 1987 - March 1988.
Affiliations
- USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative - Principle Investigator, Southern Rocky Mountains 2000 - present
- Member – The Society for Conservation Biology 1989 – 2011
- Member – The American Society of Mammalogists 1994 – 2002
- Member – Colorado Boreal Toad Recovery Team 1996 – present
- Member – Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology 1997 – 2007
- Research Associate – Denver Zoological Foundation 1998 – present
- Member – Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 1999 – present SW PARC – Steering Committee 2008 – 2011
- Member – Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles 2000 – 2014
- Co-Editor, Journal of Herpetology 2010 – 2015 Section Editor, Journal of Herpetology 2014 – present
- Member – American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists 2002 – present
- Member – Herpetologists’ League 2007 – present Executive Council 2007 – 2011
- Chair – EE Williams Research Grant Committee 2009 – 2011
Partners
- University of Georgia (Chandler, Howell)
- Colorado State University (Bailey, Funk, Huyvaert)
- Colorado Natural Heritage Program (Lambert)
- USGS - ARMI (Adams, Hossack, Fisher, Walls, Waddle, Grant, Chambert, Pilliod)
- USGS - Powell Center USGS (Vandever, Smalling, Anderson)
- Pennsylvania State University (Miller, Amburgey)
- Conservation Science Partners Arizona Game and Fish (Jones, Sredl)
- USFWS (Crawford, Ireland)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Crockett)
- University of Arizona (Stiedl, Zylstra)
- University of Colorado (Johnson)
- Zoological Society of London (Garner)
- Rocky Mountain National Park (Watry)
- Iowa State University (Pierce, Swanson)
- University of Wyoming (Murphy)
Science and Products
Date published: October 25, 2013
Status: Active Elucidating mechanisms underlying amphibian declines in North America using hierarchical spatial models
Amphibian populations are declining globally at unprecedented rates but statistically rigorous identification of mechanisms is lacking. Identification of reasons underlying large-scale declines is imperative to plan and implement effective conservation efforts. Most research on amphibian population decline has focused on local populations and local factors. However, the ubiquity of declines...
Attribution: John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis
Year Published: 2018
Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines
A research priority can be defined as a knowledge gap that, if resolved, identifies the optimal course of conservation action. We (a group of geographically distributed and multidisciplinary research scientists) used tools from nominal group theory and decision analysis to collaboratively identify and prioritize information...
Campbell Grant, Evan H.; Adams, M.J.; Fisher, Robert N.; Grear, Daniel A.; Halstead, Brian J.; Hossack, Blake R.; Muths, Erin L.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.; Russell, Robin E.; Smalling, Kelly L.; Waddle, J. Hardin; Walls, Susan C.; White, C. LeAnnAttribution: Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Water Resources, Wildlife Program, United States of America
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Grant, E. H. C., Adams, M. J., Fisher, R. N., Grear, D. A., Halstead, B. J., Hossack, B. R., Muths, E., Richgels, K. L. D., Russell, R. E., Smalling, K. L., Waddle, J. H., Walls, S. C., and White, C. L., 2018, Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines: Global Ecology and Conservation, v. 16, article e00441, 9 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00441
Year Published: 2018
Quantifying climate sensitivity and climate-driven change in North American amphibian communities
Changing climate will impact species’ ranges only when environmental variability directly impacts the demography of local populations. However, measurement of demographic responses to climate change has largely been limited to single species and locations. Here we show that amphibian communities are responsive to climatic variability, using >...
Miller, David A.W.; Campbell Grant, Evan H.; Muths, Erin L.; Amburgey, Staci M.; Adams, M.J.; Joseph, Maxwell B.; Waddle, J. Hardin; Johnson, Pieter T.J.; Ryan, Maureen E.; Schmidt, Benedikt R.; Calhoun, Daniel L.; Davis, Courtney L.; Fisher, Robert N.; Green, David M.; Hossack, Blake R.; Rittenhouse, Tracy A.G.; Walls, Susan C.; Bailey, Larissa L.; Cruickshank, Sam S.; Fellers, Gary M.; Gorman, Thomas A.; Haas, Carola A.; Hughson, Ward; Pilliod, David S.; Price, Steven J.; Ray, Andrew M.; Sadinski, Walter; Saenz, Daniel; Barichivich, William J.; Brand, Adrianne B,; Brehme, Cheryl S.; Dagit, Rosi; Delaney, Katy S.; Glorioso, Brad M.; Kats, Lee B.; Kleeman, Patrick M.; Pearl, Christopher; Rochester, Carlton J.; Riley, Seth P. D.; Roth, Mark F.; Sigafus, BrentAttribution: Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Water Resources, Wildlife Program, United States of America
View Citation
Miller, D. A. W., Grant, E. H. C., Muths, E., Amburgey, S. M., Adams, M. J., Joseph, M. B., Waddle, J. H., Johnson, P. J. T., Ryan, M. E., Schmid, B. R., Calhoun, D. L., Davis, C. L., Fisher, R. N., Green, D. M., Hossack, B. R., Rittenhouse, T. A. G., Walls, S. C., Bailey, L. L., Cruickshank, S. S., Fellers, G. M., Gorman, T. A., Haas, C. A., Hughson, W., Pilliod, D. S., Price, S. J., Ray, A. M., Sadinski, W., Saenz, D., Barichivich, W. J., Brand, A. B., Brehme, C. S., Dagit, R., Delaney, K. S., Glorioso, B. M., Kats, L. B., Kleeman, P. M., Pearl, C. A., Rochester, C. J., Riley, S. P. D., Roth, M., and Sigafus, B. H., 2018, Quantifying climate sensitivity and climate-driven change in North American amphibian communities: Nature Communications, v. 9, no. Article number: 3926, p. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06157-6
Year Published: 2018
Exploring the amphibian exposome in an agricultural landscape using telemetry and passive sampling
This is the first field study of its kind to combine radio telemetry, passive samplers, and pesticide accumulation in tissues to characterize the amphibian exposome as it relates to pesticides. Understanding how habitat drives exposure in individuals (i.e., their exposome), and how that relates to individual health is critical to managing species...
Swanson, Jennifer E.; Muths, Erin L.; Pierce, Clay; Dinsmore, Stephen J.; Vandever, Mark W.; Hladik, Michelle; Smalling, Kelly L.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
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Swanson, J.E., Muths, E., Pierce, C.L., Dinsmore, S.J., Vandever, M.W., Hladik, M.L. and Smalling, K.L., 2018. Exploring the amphibian exposome in an agricultural landscape using telemetry and passive sampling. Scientific reports, 8(1), p.10045.
Year Published: 2018
Increasing connectivity between metapopulation ecology and landscape ecology
Metapopulation ecology and landscape ecology aim to understand how spatial structure influences ecological processes, yet these disciplines address the problem using fundamentally different modeling approaches. Metapopulation models describe how the spatial distribution of patches affects colonization and extinction, but often do not account for...
Howell, Paige E.; Muths, Erin L.; Hossack, Blake; Sigafus, Brent; Chandler, RichardAttribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Howell, P.E., Muths, E., Hossack, B.R., Sigafus, B.H. and Chandler, R.B., 2018. Increasing connectivity between metapopulation ecology and landscape ecology. Ecology, 99(5), pp.1119-1128.
Year Published: 2018
Host-pathogen metapopulation dynamics suggest high elevation refugia for boreal toads
Emerging infectious diseases are an increasingly common threat to wildlife. Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an emerging infectious disease that has been linked to amphibian declines around the world. Few studies exist that explore amphibian-Bd dynamics at the landscape scale,...
Mosher, Brittany A.; Bailey, Larissa L.; Muths, Erin L.; Huyvaert, Kathryn P.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2018
Identifying species conservation strategies to reduce disease-associated declines
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are a salient threat to many animal taxa, causing local and global extinctions, altering communities and ecosystem function. The EID chytridiomycosis is a prominent driver of amphibian declines, which is caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). To guide conservation policy, we...
Gerber, Brian D.; Converse, Sarah J.; Muths, Erin L.; Crockett, Harry J.; Mosher, Brittany A.; Bailey, Larissa L.Attribution: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Ecosystems, Cooperative Research Units, United States of America
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Gerber, B. D., Converse, S. J., Muths, E., Crockett, H. J., Mosher, B. A. and Bailey, L. L. (2017), Identifying Species Conservation Strategies to Reduce Disease-Associated Declines. CONSERVATION LETTERS. doi:10.1111/conl.12393
Year Published: 2017
Heterogeneous responses of temperate-zone amphibian populations to climate change complicates conservation planning
The pervasive and unabated nature of global amphibian declines suggests common demographic responses to a given driver, and quantification of major drivers and responses could inform broad-scale conservation actions. We explored the influence of climate on demographic parameters (i.e., changes in the probabilities of survival and recruitment)...
Muths, Erin L.; Chambert, Thierry A.; Schmidt, B. R.; Miller, D. A. W.; Hossack, Blake R.; Joly, P.; Grolet, O.; Green, D. M.; Pilliod, David S.; Cheylan, M.; Fisher, Robert N.; McCaffery, R. M.; Adams, M. J.; Palen, W. J.; Arntzen, J. W.; Garwood, J.; Fellers, Gary M.; Thirion, J. M.; Grant, Evan H. Campbell; Besnard, A.
Year Published: 2017
Placement of intracoelomic radio transmitters and silicone passive sampling devices in northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens)
Historically, wetland toxin exposure studies have relied on single time point samples from stationary sampling devices. Development of passive sampling devices (PSDs) that can be attached to individual animals within wetland habitats has greatly improved in recent years, presenting an innovative sampling technology that can potentially yield...
Yaw, Taylor; Swanson, Jennifer E.; Pierce, Clay; Muths, Erin L.; Smalling, Kelly L.; Vandever, Mark W.; Zaffarano, Bianca AnneAttribution: Cooperative Research Units
Year Published: 2017
Amphibians, pesticides, and the amphibian chytrid fungus in restored wetlands in agricultural landscapes
Information on interactions between pesticide exposure and disease prevalence in amphibian populations is limited, especially from field data. Exposure to certain herbicides and insecticides has the potential to decrease the immune response in frogs, which can potentially lead to increased abundance of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) zoospores...
Reeves, Rebecca A.; Pierce, Clay; Vandever, Mark W.; Muths, Erin L.; Smalling, Kelly L.Attribution: New Jersey Water Science Center, Water Resources
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Reeves, R.A., Pierce, C.L., Vandever, M.W., Muths, E., Smalling, K.L., 2017, Amphibians, pesticides and the amphibian chytrid fungus in restored wetlands in agricultural landscapes. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, vol. 12, p. 68-77.
Year Published: 2017
Using decision analysis to support proactive management of emerging infectious wildlife diseases
Despite calls for improved responses to emerging infectious diseases in wildlife, management is seldom considered until a disease has been detected in affected populations. Reactive approaches may limit the potential for control and increase total response costs. An alternative, proactive management framework can identify immediate actions that...
Grant, Evan H. Campbell; Muths, Erin L.; Katz, Rachel A.; Canessa, Stefano; Adams, M.J.; Ballard, Jennifer R.; Berger, Lee; Briggs, Cheryl J.; Coleman, Jeremy; Gray, Matthew J.; Harris, M. Camille; Harris, Reid N.; Hossack, Blake R.; Huyvaert, Kathryn P.; Kolby, Jonathan E.; Lips, Karen R.; Lovich, Robert E.; McCallum, Hamish I.; Mendelson, Joseph R.; Nanjappa, Priya; Olson, Deanna H.; Powers, Jenny G.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.; Russell, Robin E.; Schmidt, Benedikt R.; Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Annemarieke; Watry, Mary Kay; Woodhams, Douglas C.; White, C. LeAnnAttribution: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Ecosystems
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Grant, E. H. C., Muths, E., Katz, R. A., Canessa, S., Adams, M. J., Ballard, J. R., Berger, L., Briggs, C. J., Coleman, J. T. H., Gray, M. J., Harris, M C., Harris, R. N., Hossack, B., Huyvaert, K. P., Kolby, J., Lips, K. R., Lovich, R. E., McCallum, H. I., Mendelson, J. R., Nanjappa, P., Olson, D. H., Powers, J. G., Richgels, K. L. D., Russell, R. E., Schmidt, B. R., Spitzen-van der Sluijs, A., Watry, M. K., Woodhams, D. C., and White, C. L., 2017, Using decision analysis to support proactive management of emerging infectious wildlife diseases: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, v. 15, no. 4, p. 214-221.
Year Published: 2017
Informing recovery in a human-transformed landscape: Drought-mediated coexistence alters population trends of an imperiled salamander and invasive predators
Understanding the additive or interactive threats of habitat transformation and invasive species is critical for conservation, especially where climate change is expected to increase the severity or frequency of drought. In the arid southwestern USA, this combination of stressors has caused widespread declines of native aquatic and semi-aquatic...
Hossack, Blake R.; Honeycutt, R. Ken; Sigafus, Brent H.; Muths, Erin L.; Crawford, Catherine L.; Jones, Thomas R.; Sorensen, Jeff A.; Rorabaugh, James C.; Chambert, ThierryAttribution: Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Ecosystems
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Hossack, B. R., R. K. Honeycutt, B. H. Sigafus, E. Muths, C. L. Crawford, T. R. Jones, J. A. Sorensen, J. C. Rorabaugh, and T. Chambert. 2017. Informing recovery in a human-transformed landscape: Drought-mediated coexistence alters population trends of an imperiled salamander and invasive predators. Biological Conservation 209:377–394.
Year Published: 2017
Amphibian conservation: clarifications to comments from Andreone
We appreciate the comments from Andreone (2016) regarding our proposed alternative strategy for addressing the amphibian crisis. Andreone recognizes the utility of an Incident Command System approach but doubts the feasibility of implementation at an international level. We stated in our original article, however, that ‘the feasibility of our...
Muths, Erin L.; Fisher, Robert N.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
Pre-USGS Publications
Muths, E. 2013. Blackrock: Biological hotspot and hotbed of collaboration. Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative, Jackson, WY, Annual Newsletter, Fall, 2013.
Muths, E. 1999. Dwarf shrew found in Rocky Mountain National Park. Park Science 19(1): 25.
An observation on caching of prey by a long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata)
Muths, E. 1998. An observation on caching of prey by a long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata). Southwestern Naturalist. 43(1): 106.
Basking by adult boreal toads (Bufo boreas boreas) during the breeding season
Muths, E., and P.S. Corn. 1997. Basking by adult boreal toads (Bufo boreas boreas) during the breeding season. Journal of Herpetology. 31(3): 426-428.
Survey and assessment of amphibian populations in Rocky Mountain National Park
Corn, P.S., M.L. Jennings, and E. Muths. 1997. Survey and assessment of amphibian populations in Rocky Mountain National Park. Northwestern Naturalist. 78(1): 34-55.
Circulating levels of prolactin and progesterone in a wild population of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) Marsupialia: Macropodidae
Muths, E., and L.A. Hinds. 1996. Circulating levels of prolactin and progesterone in a wild population of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) Marsupialia: Macropodidae. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 101: 317-3.
Kangaroo rat bone compared to white rat bone after short-term disuse and exercise
Muths, E., and O.J. Reichman. 1996. Kangaroo rat bone compared to white rat bone after short-term disuse and exercise. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. 114A(4): 355-3.
Milk composition in a field population of red kangaroos, Macropus rufus (Desmarest) (Macropodidae: Marsupialia)
Muths, E. 1996. Milk composition in a field population of red kangaroos, Macropus rufus (Desmarest) (Macropodidae: Marsupialia). Australian Journal of Zoology. 44: 165-1.
Substrate Discrimination in Burying Beetles, Nicrophorus orbicollis (Coleoptera: Silphidae)
Muths, E. 1991. Substrate Discrimination in Burying Beetles, Nicrophorus orbicollis (Coleoptera: Silphidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 64(4): 447-450.
Date published: October 26, 2018
A Unified Research Strategy for Disease Management
As wildlife diseases increase globally, an understanding of host-pathogen relationships can elucidate avenues for management and improve conservation efficacy. Amphibians are among the most threatened groups of wildlife, and disease is a major factor in global amphibian declines.
Attribution: Fish & Wildlife Disease, Wildlife Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Date published: September 28, 2018
Large-scale Review of Amphibian Species and Community Response to Climate Change
Amphibian species and community richness has been declining in North America and climate change may play a role in these declines. Global climate change has led to a range shift of many wildlife species and thus understanding how these changes in species distribution can be used to predict amphibian community responses that may improve conservation efforts.
Attribution: Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center