Summer nests of the tailed frog (Ascaphus truei) from the Oregon Coast Range
Adams, M.J., 1993, Summer nests of the tailed frog (Ascaphus truei) from the Oregon Coast Range: Northwestern Naturalist, v. 74, no. 1, p. 15-18.
Michael J Adams
Biography
Education
Ph.D. Wildlife Science, 1997, University of Washington
B.S. Wildlife Biology, 1992, Colorado State University
Specialty
Research in my lab focuses on amphibian conservation issues. We are currently addressing issues such as invasive species, disease, land use change, and long-term monitoring design for amphibians in North America. We use a combination of comparative surveys and manipulative experiments to understand the factors affecting amphibian distribution and abundance.
Research Interests
Freshwater Community Ecology
Survey/Monitoring Design
Invasive Species Ecology
Complex Life Cycles
Amphibian Biology
Northwest Forests
Wildlife Ecology
Science and Products
Date published: August 22, 2019
Status: Active Disease
Disease is a major threat facing amphibian and reptile populations around the world. Our research addresses interactions between pathogens, the environment, and hosts to better understand ways to prevent the spread of disease.
Contacts: Michael J Adams
Date published: August 22, 2019
Status: Active Quantitative and Other Methods
Applying quantitative methods to evaluate ecological hypotheses for wild animal populations is inherently challenging due to the complexity of ecological systems and the sampling process that is used to monitor them.
Contacts: Michael J Adams
Date published: November 13, 2017
Status: Active Oregon Spotted Frog
The Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) is a medium-sized anuran native to the northwestern United States. Body coloration ranges from brown or tan to brick red, usually overlaid with dark, ragged spots. Oregon spotted frogs can be distinguished from other native species by their relatively short hind legs, orange or red wash of color on underside of abdomen and legs, and upturned...
Contacts: Michael J Adams
Date published: November 13, 2017
Status: Active Aquatic Habitats and Communities
The Pacific Northwest includes a patchwork of public lands managed by numerous state and federal agencies. Our research informs and supports these agencies as they conserve and manage native amphibian species, including pre- and post-treatment assessment, decision support, long-term monitoring, population translocation, and habitat restoration.
Contacts: Michael J Adams
Date published: November 6, 2017
Status: Active Declining Amphibians
Amphibian populations world-wide are declining for reasons that include disease, habitat loss, and invasive species. Our research addresses these threats as part of the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), a nationwide, federally funded program. We work with resource managers to provide information that improves understanding of status of amphibians and the implications of...
Contacts: Michael J Adams
Date published: November 6, 2017
Status: Active Aquatic Invasive Species
Aquatic invasive species, like bullfrogs, stocked fish, crayfish, and reed canarygrass can affect aquatic systems in a variety of ways and have been linked to declines in some amphibians.
Contacts: Michael J Adams
Date published: September 20, 2017
Status: Active Herpetological Research Team (FRESC)
The Herpetological Research Team focuses on issues related to conservation and management of amphibians and other aquatic and semi-aquatic species. Among our current studies are effects of invasive species, disease, and land use change on the dynamics of amphibian communities to inform conservation and management decision making.
Contacts: Michael J Adams, Christopher A Pearl
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
Date published: January 1, 2019
Oregon Spotted Frog Monitoring at Jack Creek 2015-2018 (final)
This dataset contains information from mark-recapture and egg mass surveys conducted 2015-2018 by USGS as part of an ongoing Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) monitoring effort at Jack Creek, Klamath County, Oregon. Data consist of spotted frog counts (handled by surveyors) aggregated by date, location, life stage, and sex, as well as data on environmental conditions at the time each survey...
Date published: January 1, 2019
Terrestrial salamander captures after the 2003 Clark Fire, Willamette National Forest, OR
Data are the result of fixed-area, time-constrained searches for terrestrial salamanders within and nearby a wildfire-affected area of the Willamette National Forest, OR. The spatial extent of the study was within one kilometer of the border of the Clark fire that burned an area of 2,009 ha in 2003. Site surveys occurred during March and April, 2005. An important feature of the data is that...
Date published: January 1, 2019
Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) observations in Oregon, 2016-2018
This dataset contains information from surveys conducted 2016-2018 by USGS as part of an ongoing Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) monitoring effort in Oregon. USGS research activities in 2016, 2017, and 2018 were divided into six study design categories: breeding (egg mass counts), mid-level (visual encounter surveys for occupancy monitoring), apex (mark-recapture), telemetry, trapping, and...
Date published: January 1, 2019
Long-term amphibian monitoring data from the Willamette Valley, Oregon (2004-2015)
This dataset contains information from surveys conducted 2004-2015 by USGS as part of a long-term amphibian monitoring effort in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Data consist of site, survey, habitat, and species detection covariates.
Date published: January 1, 2019
Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) Monitoring and Assessment Data from the Trinity River, California (2013-2017)
A key objective of the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) is maintaining and enhancing other wildlife populations through the restoration initiatives. For herpetological species, the foothill yellow-legged frog and western pond turtle have been identified as important species on which to focus monitoring efforts due to their status as California state-listed Species of Concern. As a...
Date published: January 1, 2019
Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana boylii) Monitoring and Assessment Data from the Trinity River, California (2013-2017)
A key objective of the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) is maintaining and enhancing other wildlife populations through the restoration initiatives. For herpetological species, the foothill yellow-legged frog and western pond turtle have been identified as important species on which to focus monitoring efforts due to their status as California state-listed Species of Concern. As a...
Date published: January 1, 2019
Trask Watershed Study Amphibian Survival and Movement Data, 2008-2015
This data set contains mark-recapture information for individuals of Dicamptodon tenebrosus and Ascaphus truei marked for individual recognition. Amphibians represented in this data set were captured in 14 first-order perennial and seasonally intermittent streams in the East Fork of the South Fork of the Trask River in the northern Oregon Coast Range. Individuals are larval and mature aquatic...
Date published: January 1, 2018
Telemetry and habitat data for Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) in Oregon, USA
We used radio-telemetry to study late-season movement and habitat use by the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) at 9 sites from 4 populations along the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. This dataset includes individual frog morphometrics, location data, and habitat use during each tracking event that occurred roughly weekly between September and January of 2011, 2012, and 2016.
Date published: January 1, 2018
Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) Monitoring at Jack Creek 2015-2017
This dataset contains information from mark-recapture and egg mass surveys conducted 2015-2017 by USGS as part of an ongoing Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) monitoring effort at Jack Creek, Klamath County, Oregon. Data consist of spotted frog counts (handled by surveyors) aggregated by date, location, life stage, and sex, as well as data on environmental conditions at the time each survey...
Date published: January 1, 2018
Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) Breeding at Grazing Exclosures in Eastern Oregon 2002-2010 and 2013
We studied the short-term effects of full and partial livestock grazing exclosures on Columbia Spotted Frog (CSF; Rana luteiventris) populations using a controlled manipulative field experiment with pre- and post-treatment data. This dataset includes vegetation data collected 2002-2010 and 2013 at 94 lakes and ponds in and around the Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon. Data collection followed...
Date published: September 21, 2017
Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) Monitoring at Jack Creek 2015-2016
This dataset contains information from mark-recapture and egg mass surveys conducted by USGS as part of an ongoing Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) monitoring effort at Jack Creek, Klamath County, Oregon. Data consist of spotted frog counts aggregated by date, location, life stage, and sex, as well as data on environmental conditions at the time each survey.
Date published: January 1, 2017
Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) Monitoring in the Oregon Cascades 2012-2016
This dataset contains information from visual encounter surveys conducted between 2012 and 2016 by USGS as part of an ongoing Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) monitoring effort in the Oregon Cascade Mountain Range. We surveyed 91 sites using a rotating frame design in the Klamath and Deschutes Basins, Oregon, which encompass most of the species' core extant range.
Year Published: 2019
Floodplains provide important amphibian habitat despite multiple ecological threats
Floodplain ponds and wetlands are productive and biodiverse ecosystems, yet they face multiple threats including altered hydrology, land use change, and non‐native species. Protecting and restoring important floodplain ecosystems requires understanding how organisms use these habitats and respond to altered environmental conditions. We developed...
Holgerson, Meredith; Duarte, Adam; Hayes, Marc; Adams, Michael J.; Tyson, Julie A.; Douville, Keith; Strecker, Angela
Year Published: 2019
Effect of amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) on apparent survival of frogs and toads in the western USA
Despite increasing interest in determining the population-level effects of emerging infectious diseases on wildlife, estimating effects of disease on survival rates remains difficult. Even for a well-studied disease such as amphibian chytridiomycosis (caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis [Bd]), there are few estimates of...
Russell, Robin E.; Halstead, Brian J.; Mosher, Brittany; Muths, Erin L.; Adams, Michael J.; Campbell Grant, Evan H.; Fisher, Robert N.; Kleeman, Patrick M.; Backlin, Adam R.; Pearl, Christopher; Honeycutt, R. Ken; Hossack, Blake R.Attribution: Biology and Ecosystems, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, United States of America
Year Published: 2019
Conservation research across scales in a national program: How to be relevant to local management yet general at the same time
Successfully addressing complex conservation problems requires attention to pattern and process at multiple spatial scales. This is challenging from a logistical and organizational perspective. In response to indications of worldwide declines in amphibian populations, the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) of the United States...
Adams, Michael J.; Muths, Erin L.
Year Published: 2019
Disentangling effects of invasive species and habitat while accounting for observer error in a long-term amphibian study
The invasive American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) and a variety of non‐native sport fish commonly co‐occur in lowland lentic habitats of the western United States. Both invasive taxa are implicated in declines of native amphibians in this region, but few long‐term studies of communities exist. Further, field studies of invasive–native...
Rowe, Jennifer; Duarte, Adam; Pearl, Christopher; Mccreary, Brome; Galvan, Stephanie; Peterson, James T.; Adams, Michael J.
Year Published: 2019
Compounding effects of climate change reduce population viability of a montane amphibian
Anthropogenic climate change presents challenges and opportunities to the growth, reproduction, and survival of individuals throughout their life cycles. Demographic compensation among life‐history stages has the potential to buffer populations from decline, but alternatively, compounding negative effects can lead to accelerated population decline...
Kissel, Amanda M.; Palen, Wendy J.; Ryan, Maureen E.; Adams, Michael J.
Year Published: 2018
Batrachochytrium salamandriovrans (Bsal) in Appalachia—Using scenario building to proactively prepare for a wildlife disease outbreak caused by an invasive amphibian chytrid fungus
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), a pathogenic chytrid fungus, is nonnative to the United States and poses a disease threat to vulnerable amphibian hosts. The Bsal fungus may lead to increases in threatened, endangered, and sensitive status listings at State, Tribal, and Federal levels, resulting in financial costs associated with...
Hopkins, M.C.; Adams, M.J.; Super, P.E.; Olson, D.H.; Hickman, C.R.; English, P.; Sprague, L.; Maska, I.B. ; Pennaz, A.B.; Ludwig, K.A.Attribution: Ecosystems
View Citation
Hopkins, M.C., Adams, M.J., Super, P.E., Olson, D.H., Hickman, C.R., English, P., Sprague, L., Maska, I.B., Pennaz, A.B., and Ludwig, K.A., 2018, Batrachochytrium salamandriovrans (Bsal) in Appalachia—Using scenario building to proactively prepare for a wildlife disease outbreak caused by an invasive amphibian chytrid fungus: U.S. Geological Survey Report 2018–1150, 31 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181150.
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, Midcontinent, United States of America
View Citation
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 (SAWSC), Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Water Resources, Wildlife Program, Midcontinent, Southwest, 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
Late-season movement and habitat use by Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) in Oregon, USA
Many amphibians use multiple habitats across seasons. Information on seasonal habitat use, movement between seasonal habitat types, and habitats that may be particularly valuable is important to conservation and management. We used radio-telemetry to study late-season movement and habitat use by Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) at nine sites...
Pearl, Christopher; Mccreary, Brome; Rowe, Jennifer; Adams, M.J.View Citation
Pearl, C.A., McCreary, B., Rowe, J.C., Adams, M.J., 2018, Late-season movement and habitat use by Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa) in Oregon, USA: Copeia, v. 106, no. 3, p. 539-549, https://doi.org/10.1643/CH-18-031.
Year Published: 2018
Prepublication communication of research results
Publishing of scientific findings is central to the scientific process, and it is traditional to consider findings “provisional” until accepted by a peer-reviewed journal. Until publication, communication of provisional findings beyond participants in the study is typically limited. This practice helps assure scientific integrity. However, a...
Adams, M.J.; Harris, Reid N.; Campbell Grant, Evan H.; Gray, Matthew J.; Hopkins, M. Camille ; Iverson, Samuel A.; Likens, Robert; Mandica, Mark; Olson, D.H.; Shepack, Alex; Waddle, HardinView Citation
Adams, M.J., Harris, R.N., Grant, E.H., Gray, M.J., Hopkins, M.C., Iverson, S.A., Likens, R., Mandica, M., Olson, D.H., Shepack, A., Waddle, J.H., 2018, Pre-publication communication of research results: EcoHealth, p. online, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-018-1352-3.
Year Published: 2018
Regional variation in drivers of connectivity for two frog species (Rana pretiosa and R. luteiventris) from the U.S. Pacific Northwest
Comparative landscape genetics has uncovered high levels of variability in which landscape factors affect connectivity among species and regions. However, the relative importance of species traits versus environmental variation for predicting landscape patterns of connectivity is unresolved. We provide evidence from a landscape genetics study of...
Robertson, Jeanne M.; Murphy, Melanie A.; Pearl, Christopher; Adams, M.J.; Paez-Vacas, Monica I.; Haig, Susan M.; Pilliod, David S.; Storfer, Andrew; Funk, W. ChrisView Citation
Robertson, J.M., Murphy, M.A., Pearl, C.A., Adams, M.J., Páez-Vacas, M.I., Haig, S.M., Pilliod, D.S., Storfer, A., Funk, W., 2018, Regional variation in drivers of connectivity for two frog species (Rana pretiosa and R. luteiventris) from the U.S. Pacific Northwest: Molecular Ecology, p. online, https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.14798.
Year Published: 2018
Fitting N-mixture models to count data with unmodeled heterogeneity: Bias, diagnostics, and alternative approaches
Monitoring animal populations is central to wildlife and fisheries management, and the use of N-mixture models toward these efforts has markedly increased in recent years. Nevertheless, relatively little work has evaluated estimator performance when basic assumptions are violated. Moreover, diagnostics to identify when bias in parameter estimates...
Duarte, Adam; Adams, M.J.; Peterson, JamesAttribution: Cooperative Research Units
Pre-USGS Publications
February 22, 2010
Fatal Frog Fungus
The potentially lethal fungal disease chytridiomycosis has been associated with declining amphibian populations around the globe. This rapidly emerging disease, and the chytrid fungus that causes it, have forced scientists to scramble to learn more. There are still plenty of mysteries about the origin and spread of the fungus. With today's episode we will shed some light
...
Date published: September 10, 2019
Amphibian Occupancy in Chehalis River Floodplain
Floodplain ponds and wetlands are productive and biodiverse ecosystems. Protecting and restoring floodplain ecosystems requires understanding how organisms use these habitats and respond to altered environmental conditions.
Date published: June 10, 2019
New Study: Distribution of the Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog in Oregon
USGS researchers are beginning a new technical assistance study to help identify the current distribution of Foothill Yellow-Legged Frogs in Oregon.
Date published: May 31, 2019
Conservation Research Across Scales in a National Program
In 2000, the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative - or ARMI - was established, under the direction of the President and Congress, in response to worldwide declines in amphibian populations.
Date published: April 5, 2019
Disentangling Invasive Species and Habitat Effects in a Long-term Amphibian Study
In the Willamette Valley, Oregon, the invasive American bullfrog and a variety of non-native sport fish are implicated in declines of native amphibians. Few long-term community studies of invasive-native interactions exist, and such studies are often complicated by confounding habitat modifications.
Date published: February 1, 2019
Compounding Climate Effects on Amphibians
In montane ecosystems of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, increasing temperatures are resulting in a transition from snow-dominated to rain-dominated precipitation events, reducing snowpack.
Date published: November 9, 2018
Multi-Partner Workshop Highlights Science Actions for a Potential Wildlife Disease Outbreak
A new USGS Open-File Report outlines findings from a scenario building workshop on a wildlife disease, facilitated by the Department of the Interior’s Strategic Sciences Group (SSG) and led by the USGS.
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: October 5, 2018
Autumn Movements of Oregon Spotted Frog and Winter Habitat Use in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon
The Oregon spotted frog is endemic to the Pacific Northwest where loss and alteration of wetland habitats have contributed to declines in the species. Like many amphibians, the Oregon spotted frog uses multiple habitats across seasons.
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 (SAWSC), Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Date published: September 14, 2018
Assessing Oregon Spotted Frog Predation by Non-native Species Using DNA Analyses
The Oregon spotted frog (OSF) is listed as federally threatened and predation by non-native species is thought to be one of the main conservation threats to this species.