Jill Fleming
Biography
Jill joined the NEARMI research team in 2016 with a background in field biology. She completed her MS degree in 2018 at the University of Massachusetts where she focused on spatial ecology of terrestrial salamanders and mark-recapture research methods. Jill is especially interested in the relationships of amphibian populations to their broader ecosystems and their utility a natural resource management tool. Her role in NEARMI includes the collection of data in the field, coordination with partners, data management and analysis, and research reporting.
Education:
- MS, 2018, University of Massachusetts, Environmental Conservation
- BS, 2014, University of New Hampshire, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Science and Products
Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): Understanding Amphibian Populations in the Northeastern United States
Currently, 90 amphibian species are recognized in the Northeast, including 59 species in the Order Caudata (salamanders) and 31 species in the Order Anura (frogs and toads). Almost half of the amphibians in the Northeast are salamanders within the family Plethodontidae. Amphibians are found in all physiographic regions of the Northeast, from sea level to the heights of the Appalachian,...
Northeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative
The USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) is designed to determine where populations of amphibians are present, to monitor specific apex populations, and to investigate potential causes of amphibian declines, diseases, and malformations. The Northeast Region of ARMI encompasses thirteen states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey...
A latent process model approach to improve the utility of indicator species
The state of an ecosystem is governed by dynamic biotic and abiotic processes, which can only be partially observed. Costs associated with measuring each component limit the feasibility of comprehensive assessments of target ecosystems. Instead, indicator species are recommended as a surrogate index. While this is an attractive concept, indicator...
Fleming, Jillian Elizabeth; Sutherland, Chris; Sterrett, Sean C; Campbell Grant, Evan H. Moving from decision to action in conservation science
Biodiversity loss is a major threat to the integrity of ecosystems and is projected to worsen, yet the path to successful conservation remains elusive. Decision support frameworks (DSFs) are increasingly applied by resource managers to navigate the complexity, uncertainty, and differing socio-ecological objectives inherent to conservation problems...
Wright, Alexander; Bernard, Riley F; Mosher, Brittany A.; O'Donnell, Katherine; Braunagel, Taylor; DiRenzo, Graziella V.; Fleming, Jillian Elizabeth; Shafer, Charles; Brand, Adrianne B.; Zipkin, Elise F.; Campbell Grant, Evan H.