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Megan Winzeler

Megan Winzeler is a Biologist at the National Wildlife Health Center.

Megan has worked across multiple scientific and educational disciplines throughout her career. Her research focuses on the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on amphibians and reptiles (including contaminants, hydroperiods, and diseases). At the NWHC, she works with teams that combine field ecology with genetic tools to answer important questions about amphibian and reptile disease dynamics and conservation. Megan has a strong background in science communication, working with communities in Georgia and South Carolina to understand the information presented in state and federal environmental monitoring programs. She has given over 100 educational talks and events that reached over 15,000 individuals annually while at the University of Georgia. She has created curriculum and presentations ranging from native wildlife and habitat conservation to understanding risk associated with environmental contaminants.

Professional Experience

  • 2024-present Biologist, USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI

  • 2020-2024 Biological Sciences Technician, USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI

  • 2017-2019 Outreach Project Coordinator, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC

  • 2016-2017 Student Services Contractor in support of USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI

Education and Certifications

  • 2009-2013 Wildlife Science, Bachelor’s of Science, Purdue University

  • 2013-2016 Ecology, Master’s of Science, University of Georgia

Science and Products

Mercury concentrations in amphibian tissues across the United States, 2016-2021

Comma-separated values (.csv) file containing data related to amphibian sampling across the United States between 2016 and 2021. Data files contain mercury concentrations in amphibian and dragonfly tissues, mercury concentrations in sediment, as well as amphibian morphometrics, and habitat and climate characteristics where the samples were collected.
By
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Paranannizziopsis spp. associated with skin lesions in wild snakes in North America and development of a real-time PCR assay for rapid detection of the fungus in clinical samples

The emergence of ophidiomycosis (or snake fungal disease) in snakes has prompted increased awareness of the potential impacts of fungal infections on wild reptile populations. Yet, aside from Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, little is known about other mycoses affecting wild reptiles. The closely related genus Paranannizziopsis has been associated with dermatomycosis in snakes and tuataras in captive col
By
National Wildlife Health Center

Student Network for Amphibian Pathogen Surveillance Data (ver. 2.0, April 2024)

Data in this dataset were collected as a part of the Student Network for Amphibian Pathogen Surveilance (SNAPs) program throughout the United States by undergraduate students in biology or ecology courses as a part of their curriculum throughout 2022. This data was collected in the field by students and sent to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) for testing of two amphibian fungal pat
By
National Wildlife Health Center

Data from the article “An opportunistic survey reveals an unexpected coronavirus diversity hotspot in North America”

In summer 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was detected on mink farms in Utah. An interagency One Health response was initiated to assess the extent of the outbreak and included sampling animals from or near affected mink farms and testing them for SARS-CoV-2 and non-SARS coronaviruses. Among the 365 animals sampled, including domestic cats, mink, rodents, raccoons, and skunks, 261 (72%) of the animals harbored a
By
National Wildlife Health Center
View of ground covered in leaf litter with a camouflaged American toad.
American toad tucking into the leaf litter
American toad tucking into the leaf litter
View of ground covered in leaf litter with a camouflaged American toad.

American toad tucking into the leaf litter

American toad tucking into the leaf litter

American toad tucking into the leaf litter seen during fieldwork in Wisconsin.

By
National Wildlife Health Center
View of ground covered in leaf litter with a camouflaged American toad.

American toad tucking into the leaf litter

American toad tucking into the leaf litter

American toad tucking into the leaf litter seen during fieldwork in Wisconsin.

By
National Wildlife Health Center
View of wetland vegetation with a camouflaged green frog.
Green frog in wetland vegetation
Green frog in wetland vegetation
View of wetland vegetation with a camouflaged green frog.

Green frog in wetland vegetation

Green frog in wetland vegetation

A green frog camouflaged in wetland vegetation that was seen during fieldwork in Wisconsin.

By
National Wildlife Health Center
View of wetland vegetation with a camouflaged green frog.

Green frog in wetland vegetation

Green frog in wetland vegetation

A green frog camouflaged in wetland vegetation that was seen during fieldwork in Wisconsin.

By
National Wildlife Health Center
Grey colored Cope’s grey treefrog camouflaged against a tree trunk.
Cope’s grey treefrog
Cope’s grey treefrog
Grey colored Cope’s grey treefrog camouflaged against a tree trunk.

Cope’s grey treefrog

Cope’s grey treefrog

Cope’s grey treefrog on a tree trunk. Seen during fieldwork in Wisconsin.

By
National Wildlife Health Center
Grey colored Cope’s grey treefrog camouflaged against a tree trunk.

Cope’s grey treefrog

Cope’s grey treefrog

Cope’s grey treefrog on a tree trunk. Seen during fieldwork in Wisconsin.

By
National Wildlife Health Center
Green colored Cope’s grey treefrog on a tree trunk.
Cope’s grey treefrog, green morph
Cope’s grey treefrog, green morph
Green colored Cope’s grey treefrog on a tree trunk.

Cope’s grey treefrog, green morph

Cope’s grey treefrog, green morph

Cope’s grey treefrog, green morph, on a tree trunk. Seen during fieldwork in Wisconsin.

By
National Wildlife Health Center
Green colored Cope’s grey treefrog on a tree trunk.

Cope’s grey treefrog, green morph

Cope’s grey treefrog, green morph

Cope’s grey treefrog, green morph, on a tree trunk. Seen during fieldwork in Wisconsin.

By
National Wildlife Health Center

Paranannizziopsis spp. infections in wild snakes and a qPCR assay for detection of the fungus

The emergence of ophidiomycosis (or snake fungal disease) in snakes has prompted increased awareness of the potential effects of fungal infections on wild reptile populations. Yet, aside from Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, little is known about other mycoses affecting wild reptiles. The closely related genus Paranannizziopsis has been associated with dermatomycosis in snakes and tuataras in captive col
Authors
Jeffrey M. Lorch, Megan Winzeler, Julia S. Lankton, Stephen Raverty, Heindrich N Snyman, Helen M. Schwantje, Caeley Thacker, Susan Knowles, Hugh Y Cai, Daniel A. Grear
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Broad-scale assessment of methylmercury in adult amphibians

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic contaminant that has been mobilized and distributed worldwide and is a threat to many wildlife species. Amphibians are facing unprecedented global declines due to many threats including contaminants. While the biphasic life history of many amphibians creates a potential nexus for methylmercury (MeHg) exposure in aquatic habitats and subsequent health effects, the broad-scal

Authors
Brian J. Tornabene, Blake R. Hossack, Brian J. Halstead, Collin Eagles-Smith, Michael J. Adams, Adam R. Backlin, Adrianne Brand, Colleen Emery, Robert N. Fisher, Jillian Elizabeth Fleming, Brad Glorioso, Daniel A. Grear, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Patrick M. Kleeman, David Miller, Erin L. Muths, Christopher Pearl, Jennifer Rowe, Caitlin Teresa Rumrill, J. Hardin Waddle, Megan Winzeler, Kelly L. Smalling
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Avian-associated Aspergillus fumigatus displays broad phylogenetic distribution, no evidence for host specificity, and multiple genotypes within epizootic events

Birds are highly susceptible to aspergillosis, which can manifest as a primary infection in both domestic and wild birds. Aspergillosis in wild birds causes mortalities ranging in scale from single animals to large-scale epizootic events. However, pathogenicity factors associated with aspergillosis in wild birds have not been examined. Specifically, it is unknown whether wild bird-infecting strain
Authors
Lotus A. Lofgren, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Robert A. Cramer, David S. Blehert, Brenda M. Berlowski-Zier, Megan Winzeler, Cecilia Gutierrez-Perez, Nicole E. Kordana, Jason E. Stajich
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

An opportunistic survey reveals an unexpected coronavirus diversity hotspot in North America

In summer 2020, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detected on mink farms in Utah. An interagency One Health response was initiated to assess the extent of the outbreak and included sampling animals from on or near affected mink farms and testing them for SARS-CoV-2 and non-SARS coronaviruses. Among the 365 animals sampled, including domestic cats, mink, rodents, racc
Authors
Hon S. Ip, Kathryn M. Griffin, Jeffrey D. Messer, Megan Winzeler, Susan A. Shriner, Mary Lea Killian, Mia K. Torchetti, Thomas J. DeLiberto, Brian R. Amman, Caitlin M. Cossaboom, R. Reid Harvey, Natalie M. Wendling, Hannah Rettler, Dean Taylor, Jonathan S. Towner, Casey Barton Behravesh, David S. Blehert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Soil reservoir dynamics of ophidiomyces ophidiicola, the causative agent of snake fungal disease

Wildlife diseases pose an ever-growing threat to global biodiversity. Understanding how wildlife pathogens are distributed in the environment and the ability of pathogens to form environmental reservoirs is critical to understanding and predicting disease dynamics within host populations. Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging conservation threat to North American snake populations. The causati
Authors
Lewis J. Campbell, Joanna Burger, Robert T. Zappalorti, John F. Bunnell, Megan Winzeler, Daniel R. Taylor, Jeffrey M. Lorch
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

Evidence of vertical transmission of the snake fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola

Snake fungal disease (ophidiomycosis) is an emerging infection of snakes caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. Little is known about mechanisms of this pathogen's transmission and its implications for conservation of wild snake populations. We report four cases with evidence of vertical transmission of O. ophiodiicola from dam to offspring.
Authors
Anne G Stengle, Terence M. Farrell, Keenan S Freitas, Craig M. Lind, Steven J. Price, Brian O Butler, Tigran Tadevosyan, Marcos Isidoro Ayza, Daniel Taylor, Megan Winzeler, Jeffrey M. Lorch
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Pathogenic lineage of Perkinsea associated with mass mortality of frogs across the United States

Emerging infectious diseases such as chytridiomycosis and ranavirus infections are important contributors to the worldwide decline of amphibian populations. We reviewed data on 247 anuran mortality events in 43 States of the United States from 1999–2015. Our findings suggest that a severe infectious disease of tadpoles caused by a protist belonging to the phylum Perkinsea might represent the third
Authors
Marcos Isidoro Ayza, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Daniel A. Grear, Megan Winzeler, Daniel L. Calhoun, William J. Barichivich
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Science and Products