Meredith S Diskin
I am a Biological Science Technician with the U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center. My research focuses on amphibian conservation ecology, and addresses issues including invasive species, land-use changes and long-term monitoring of amphibian species in North America.
Education and Certifications
M.S., Biology, Texas A&M-University at Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX (2016)
B.S., Marine Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC (2012)
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.
Effects of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and methylmercury on survival of amphibians across the United States
The U.S. Geological Survey conducted sampling across the United States between 2017 and 2022 to assess the effects of methylmercury bioaccumulation and amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; Bd) on the survival of amphibian species. This dataset includes detections and non-detections of Bd (obtained from DNA extracted from skin swabs) and whole-body methylmercury...
Larval headwater stream amphibian captures from the Trask River Watershed Experimental Study of forest harvest impacts, 2008-2016
Forest harvest is one of the primary landscape-scale management actions affecting riparian forests of the Pacific Northwest, U.S, yet the effect of harvest on headwater steam amphibians is largely understudied. Existing information is often limited because of the difficulty separating movement and emigration processes from occupancy and abundance estimates. We designed a before-after...
Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae) surveys in Oregon and Washington 2022
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is evaluating the status of the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae) across its range to determine whether the species merits listing under the Endangered Species Act. The USGS conducted visual surveys for Rhyacotriton cascadae at 65 sites in Oregon and Washington that were historically occupied by the species. Sites were selected...
Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) observations in Oregon (ver. 6.0, March 2025)
This dataset contains information from surveys conducted 2016-2024 by USGS as part of an ongoing Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) monitoring effort in Oregon. USGS research activities 2016-2024 were divided into seven study design categories: breeding (egg mass counts), mid-level (visual encounter surveys for occupancy monitoring), apex (mark-recapture), telemetry, trapping, water...
Annotated bibliography of grazing effects on amphibians and their habitats (ver. 2.0, February 2022)
This database contains literature citations and associated summaries pertaining to livestock grazing effects on amphibians and their habitats, with an emphasis on the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) and other listed/sensitive wetland-breeding amphibians in the western United States. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, nor did we perform a systematic meta-analysis; rather...
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.
Effects of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and methylmercury on survival of amphibians across the United States
The U.S. Geological Survey conducted sampling across the United States between 2017 and 2022 to assess the effects of methylmercury bioaccumulation and amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; Bd) on the survival of amphibian species. This dataset includes detections and non-detections of Bd (obtained from DNA extracted from skin swabs) and whole-body methylmercury...
Larval headwater stream amphibian captures from the Trask River Watershed Experimental Study of forest harvest impacts, 2008-2016
Forest harvest is one of the primary landscape-scale management actions affecting riparian forests of the Pacific Northwest, U.S, yet the effect of harvest on headwater steam amphibians is largely understudied. Existing information is often limited because of the difficulty separating movement and emigration processes from occupancy and abundance estimates. We designed a before-after...
Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae) surveys in Oregon and Washington 2022
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is evaluating the status of the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae) across its range to determine whether the species merits listing under the Endangered Species Act. The USGS conducted visual surveys for Rhyacotriton cascadae at 65 sites in Oregon and Washington that were historically occupied by the species. Sites were selected...
Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) observations in Oregon (ver. 6.0, March 2025)
This dataset contains information from surveys conducted 2016-2024 by USGS as part of an ongoing Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) monitoring effort in Oregon. USGS research activities 2016-2024 were divided into seven study design categories: breeding (egg mass counts), mid-level (visual encounter surveys for occupancy monitoring), apex (mark-recapture), telemetry, trapping, water...
Annotated bibliography of grazing effects on amphibians and their habitats (ver. 2.0, February 2022)
This database contains literature citations and associated summaries pertaining to livestock grazing effects on amphibians and their habitats, with an emphasis on the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) and other listed/sensitive wetland-breeding amphibians in the western United States. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, nor did we perform a systematic meta-analysis; rather...