R. Bruce Bury
Biography
Education
Ph.D. Zoology from University of California-Berkeley
MSc. Life Sciences from Calif. State Univ.-Sacramento
BSc. Biology from Humboldt State University
Specialty
Amphibians and Reptiles
Research Interests
Ecology of aquatic and forest ecosystems
Conservation biology of amphibians and reptiles
Effects of perturbations on animal populations
Biological invasions
Inventorying and monitoring
Science and Products
Ecology and Conservation of Sensitive Herpetofauna Species
Many species of amphibians and reptiles are declining or facing population threats in the West related to habitat loss, habitat alteration, introduction of non-native species, and other factors. Our work focuses on the status and trends of resident herpetofauna and how to better manage their habitats. Much of the effort is undertaken with cooperators, particularly with other agencies in the...
Resource partitioning in two stream salamanders, Dicamptodon tenebrosus and Rhyacotriton cascadae, from the Oregon Cascade Mountains
We investigated the potential for resource partitioning between the Coastal giant salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) and the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae) by examining their diet and microhabitats in forest streams. Larval D. tenebrosus and R. cascadae fed primarily upon aquatic insect larvae. We found similar foods in larval...
Cudmore, Wynn W.; Bury, R. Bruce A history of herpetologists and herpetology in the U.S. Department of the Interior
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has a long and distinguished history of employing herpetologists to conduct basic and applied research to better manage amphibian and reptile populations on public lands and even outside the boundaries of the United States. This history extends back over 125 years with roots in the U.S. Biological Survey,...
Lovich, Jeffrey E.; Scott, Norman J.; Bury, R. Bruce; Dodd, C. Kenneth; McDiarmid, Roy W. Hatchlings of the western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) in diet of great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
Niemela, Steve A.; Bury, R. Bruce Western pond turtle: Biology, sampling techniques, inventory and monitoring, conservation, and management: Northwest Fauna No. 7
One of only two native, freshwater turtle species in the western United States, western pond turtles are declining in portions of their original range. Declines are mostly due to habitat loss, introduction of non-native species, pollution, and lack of connectivity among populations. USGS zoologist R. Bruce Bury and colleagues from the U.S. Forest...
Bury, R.B.; Welsh, Hartwell H.; Germano, David J.; Ashton, Donald T. Modifications of traps to reduce bycatch of freshwater turtles
Mortality of freshwater turtles varies among types and deployments of traps. There are few or no losses in hoop or fyke traps set where turtles may reach air, including placement in shallows, addition of floats on traps, and tying traps securely to a stake or to shore. Turtle mortality occurs when traps are set deep, traps are checked at intervals...
Bury, R. Bruce The "peer" in "peer review"
Peer review is the best available mechanism for assessing and improving the quality of scientific work. As herpetology broadens its disciplinary and geographic boundaries, high-quality external review is ever more essential. We are writing this editorial jointly because the review process has become increasingly difficult. The resulting delays...
Perry, Gad; Bertoluci, Jaime; Bury, R. Bruce; Hansen, Robert W.; Jehle, Robert; Measey, John; Moon, Brad R.; Muths, Erin L.; Zuffi, Marco A.L. Using multilevel spatial models to understand salamander site occupancy patterns after wildfire
Studies of the distribution of elusive forest wildlife have suffered from the confounding of true presence with the uncertainty of detection. Occupancy modeling, which incorporates probabilities of species detection conditional on presence, is an emerging approach for reducing observation bias. However, the current likelihood modeling framework is...
Chelgren, Nathan; Adams, M.J.; Bailey, Larissa L.; Bury, R. Bruce Low thermal tolerances of stream amphibians in the Pacific Northwest: Implications for riparian and forest management
Temperature has a profound effect on survival and ecology of amphibians. In the Pacific Northwest, timber harvest is known to increase peak stream temperatures to 24??C or higher, which has potential to negatively impact cold-water stream amphibians. I determined the Critical Thermal Maxima (CT max) for two salamanders that are endemic to the...
Bury, R.B.
Science Review for the Scott Bar Salamander (Plethodon asupak) and the Siskiyou Mountains Salamander (P. stormi): Biology, Taxonomy, Habitat, and Detection Probabilities/Occupancy
The Plethodon elongatus Complex in the Klamath-Siskiyou Ecoregion of southern Oregon and northern California includes three species: the Del Norte salamander, Plethodon elongatus; the Siskiyou Mountains salamander, P. stormi; and the Scott Bar salamander, P. asupak. This review aims to summarize the current literature and information available on...
DeGross, Douglas J.; Bury, R. Bruce Dawning of Herpetological Conservation and Biology: A special welcome to your new journal
Inception of a new journal in herpetology is a rare event. The first discussion of developing a journal with an emphasis on natural history and conservation occurred among a subset of us (McCallum, others), while at the 2005 joint annual meeting of the SSAR/HL/ASIH in Tampa, Florida. Some of the initial questions we posed for a new herpetological...
Bury, R. Bruce; McCallum, Malcolm L.; Trauth, Stanley E.; Saumure, Raymond A. Natural history, field ecology, conservation biology and wildlife management: Time to connect the dots
Natural history and field ecology are essential building blocks for successful conservation and management of herpetofauna. Thus, natural history and field ecology merit major infusions of funding and increased recognition of their importance in science and management. Others have stated matters well: (1) Academic training in natural history...
Bury, R. Bruce Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-eared Slider). Reproduction
The natural range of Trachemys scripta elegans is centered in the south-central United States, from Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico. Because of its prominence in the international pet trade, the species now can be found over much of the United States, and its introduction has been documented throughout the world (Ernst et al. 1994. Turtles of the...
Bettelheim, Matthew P.; Bury, R. Bruce; Patterson, Laura C.; Lubcke, Glen M.