Robert N Fisher
Biography
Dr. Robert Fisher is a conservation biologist with the US Geological Survey’s Western Ecological Research Center and works as part of a large integrated team. His focus has been on how natural systems are responding to the Anthropocene, and what types of resiliency they have or lack as it relates to maintaining ecological integrity and biodiversity. Additionally, through understanding individual species and community responses to perturbations through modern monitoring techniques, he and his team can determine appropriate management experiments or options to possibly recover resiliency. Geographically they have two foci, the first is southern California where urbanization and conservation planning bring various direct and indirect drivers of ecological change, and climate variability is currently extreme and drives landscape level drought and wildfires. Their second foci are the tropical islands of the Pacific Basin, from Palau and Papua New Guinea east to Hawai’i. These islands have also been driven by human change and are on the front line as extreme recent weather variability in the cyclone belt impact terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding how biodiversity was generated in this ecoregion is critical to managing its loss, and their team focuses across time and space (biogeography) to understand these processes utilizing molecular tools tied to expeditions of discovery in this poorly studied ecoregion.
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 1995
- M.S., Zoology, University of California, Davis, CA 1991
- B.S., Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 1988
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Conservation biology
- Biogeography
- Modelling
- Natural history
- Speciation
- Invasive species
- Climate variability
- Anthropocene
Science and Products
WERC Fire Science
WERC scientists are defining the past, present, and future of wildfires for wildlife and human communities. Explore this webpage to learn about specific, ongoing projects across California and parts of Nevada.
Amphibian Research in Southern California
Amphibian populations have declined in many areas around the world. Initially, there was skepticism as to whether the observed declines were merely minor population fluctuations, but it has become increasingly clear that many declines are both real and sustained. At the request of the U.S. Department of the Interior, USGS Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) scientists are supporting the...
Golden Eagles in Coastal Southern California
The status of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in coastal southern California is unclear. To address this knowledge gap, Dr. Robert Fisher in collaboration with local, State and other Federal agencies begin a multi-year survey and tracking program of golden eagles to address questions regarding habitat use, movement behavior, nest occupancy, genetic population structure, and human impacts...
Reptile Biodiversity in the Pacific Basin Islands
Dr. Robert Fisher and his colleagues have teamed up with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and multiple universities to conduct several types of studies that will address high priority issues related to reptiles in the Pacific Basin Islands. These studies will provide new information about species diversity, endemicity, biology and demography of reptile fauna and will lay the...
San Diego Field Station
The San Diego Field Station is the site of research on golden eagles, endangered amphibians and reptiles, and more. Click on the "Science" tab for a comprehensive summary of this study site's projects.
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...
A clarification on the effects of urbanization on Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) habitat selection
IntroductionIn 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) published an Open-File Report (Tracey and others, 2018) presenting a Bayesian habitat selection model for golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in San Diego County, California. The model used telemetry data to examine the effects of urban development, exurban development, and topography (...
Tracey, Jeff A.; Madden, Melanie C.; Bloom, Peter H.; Fisher, Robert N.
Slender salamanders (genus Batrachoseps) reveal Southern California to be a center for the diversification, persistence, and introduction of salamander lineages
BackgroundThe southern California biodiversity hotspot has had a complex geological history, with both plate tectonic forces and sea level changes repeatedly reconfiguring the region, and likely driving both lineage splittings and extinctions. Here we investigate patterns of genetic divergence in two species of slender salamanders (Plethodontidae...
Jockusch, Elizabeth L; Hansen, Robert W; Fisher, Robert N.; Wake, David B Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) not detected in an intensive survey of wild North American amphibians
The salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans [Bsal]) is causing massive mortality of salamanders in Europe. The potential for spread via international trade into North America and the high diversity of salamanders has catalyzed concern about Bsal in the U.S. Surveillance programs for invading pathogens must initially meet...
Waddle, Hardin; Grear, Daniel A.; Mosher, Brittany; Campbell Grant, Evan H.; Adams, Michael J.; Backlin, Adam R.; Barichivich, William; Brand, Adrianne B.; Bucciarelli, Gary M.; Calhoun, Daniel L.; Chestnut, Tara; Davenport, Jon M.; Dietrich, Andrew E.; Fisher, Robert N.; Glorioso, Brad; Halstead, Brian J.; Hayes, Marc P; Honeycutt, R. Ken; Hossack, Blake R.; Kleeman, Patrick M.; Lemos-Espinal, Julio A; Lorch, Jeffrey M.; Atkinson, Robert W.; Muths, Erin L.; Pearl, Christopher; Richgels, Katherine; Robinson, Charles W; Roth, Mark F.; Rowe, Jennifer; Sadinski, Walter; Sigafus, Brent H.; Stasiak, Iga; Sweet, Samuel; Walls, Christopher B.; Watkins-Colwell, Gregory J; White, C. LeAnn; Williams, Lori A; Winzeler, Megan E.
Biotelemetry data for Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) captured in coastal southern California, February 2017–December 2019
Because of a lack of clarity about the status of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in coastal southern California, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, and San Diego Management and Monitoring Program, began a multi-year survey and...
Tracey, Jeff A.; Madden, Melanie C.; Molden, James C.; Sebes, Jeremy B.; Bloom, Peter H.; Fisher, Robert N. Changes in capture rates and body size among vertebrate species occupying an insular urban habitat reserve
Long‐term ecological monitoring provides valuable and objective scientific information to inform management and decision‐making. In this article, we analyze 22 years of herpetofauna monitoring data from the Point Loma Ecological Conservation Area (PLECA), an insular urban reserve near San Diego, CA. Our analysis showed that counts of individuals...
Stanley, Thomas; Clark, Rulon W.; Fisher, Robert N.; Rochester, Carlton J.; Root, Stephanie A; Lombardo, Keith J; Ostermann-Kelm, Stacey D Historical museum collections and contemporary population studies implicate roads and introduced predatory bullfrogs in the decline of western pond turtles
The western pond turtle (WPT), recently separated into two paripatrically distributed species (Emys pallida and Emys marmorata), is experiencing significant reductions in its range and population size. In addition to habitat loss, two potential causes of decline are female-biased road mortality and high juvenile mortality from non-native...
Nicholson, E. Griffin; Manzo, Stephanie; Devereux, Zachary; Morgan, Thomas; Fisher, Robert N.; Brown, Christopher W.; Dagit, Rosi; Scott, Peter A; Shaffer, H. Bradley Mitigation ponds offer drought resiliency for western spadefoot (Spea hammondii) populations
Synergistic effects of habitat loss, drought, and climate change exacerbate amphibian declines. In southern California urbanization continues to convert natural habitat, while prolonged drought reduces surface water availability. Protection of biodiversity may be provided through mitigation; however, the long-term effectiveness of different...
Baumberger, Katherine L.; Backlin, Adam R.; Gallegos, Elizabeth; Hitchcock, Cynthia Joan; Fisher, Robert N. Establishment of brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) across a southern California county and potential interactions with a native lizard species
The brown anole, Anolis sagrei, is a native species to the Caribbean; however, A. sagrei has invaded multiple parts of the USA, including Florida, Louisiana, Hawai’i and more recently California. The biological impacts of A. sagrei invading California are currently unknown. Evidence from the invasion in Taiwan shows that...
Fisher, Samuel R; Del Pinto, Lelani A; Fisher, Robert N. Amphibian responses in the aftermath of extreme climate events
Climate change-induced extinctions are estimated to eliminate one in six known species by the end of the century. One major factor that will contribute to these extinctions is extreme climatic events. Here, we show the ecological impacts of recent record warm air temperatures and simultaneous peak drought conditions in California. From 2008–2016,...
Bucciarelli, Gary M.; Clark, Morgan; Delaney, Katy S.; Riley, Seth P D; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Fisher, Robert N.; Honeycutt, Rodney L; Kats, Lee B. Does the virus cross the road? Viral phylogeographic patterns among bobcat populations reflect a history of urban development
Urban development has major impacts on connectivity among wildlife populations and is thus likely an important factor shaping pathogen transmission in wildlife. However, most investigations of wildlife diseases in urban areas focus on prevalence and infection risk rather than potential effects of urbanization on transmission itself. Feline...
Kozakiewicz, Christopher P.; Burridge, Christopher P.; Funk, W. Chris; Craft, Meggan E.; Crooks, Kevin R.; Fisher, Robert N.; Fountain-Jones, Nicholas M.; Jennings, Megan K.; Kraberger, Simona J; Lee, Justin S.; Lyren, Lisa M.; Riley, Seth P D; Serieys, Laurel E K; VandeWoude, Sue; Carver, Scott Introgression obscures lineage boundaries and phylogeographic history in the western banded gecko, Coleonyx variegatus (Squamata: Eublepharidae)
The geomorphological formation of the Baja California peninsula and the Gulf of California is a principal driver of diversification for the reptiles of North America’s warm deserts. The western banded gecko, Coleonyx variegatus, is distributed throughout the Mojave, Sonoran and Peninsular deserts. In this study we use multilocus sequence data...
Leavitt, Dean H; Hollingsworth, Bradford; Fisher, Robert N.; Reeder, Tod W Integrating multiple data sources and multi-scale land-cover data to model the distribution of a declining amphibian
Determining the spatial scale at which landscape features influence population persistence is an important task for conservation planning. One challenge is that sampling biases confound factors that influence species occurrence and survey effort. Recent developments in Point Process Models (PPMs) enable researchers to disentangle the sampling...
Rose, Jonathan P.; Halstead, Brian J.; Fisher, Robert N.Living with Fire: The USGS Southern California Wildfire Risk Project
Southern California's fire ecology is unlike that of anywhere else in the United States. Fire control strategies developed for mountain forests don't have the same results here. So can science help uncover new answers to help Southern California communities manage and live with wildfires? This 11 minute film showcases ongoing USGS research supporting agencies on the
Wildfire Woes for Things That Swim, Hop, Crawl, and Eat a Lot
Biologist Robert Fisher tells a troubling tale of how wildfire in Southern California has disrupted the lives of frogs, shrews, fish, and salamanders (despite the latter's mythical fondness of flame).
USGS and 2007 California Wildfires: Very Endangered Trout
Adam Backlin, USGS Ecologist, talks about the potential dangers to the aquatic life in the streams around the Santa Ana Mountains as a result of the 2007 California wildfires.
USGS and 2007 California Wildfires: The Big Picture
Robert Fisher, USGS Research Biologist talks about the overall impact of fires on the biology of the area.
USGS and 2007 California Wildfires: Post-Fire—Invasive Plants
USGS Biologist, Robert Fisher, talks about the invasive species growing within the areas devastated by the 2007 California wildfires.
USGS Film: Living with Fire
A screenshot from the USGS film "Living with Fire".
"Living with Fire" is a 11-minute USGS production exploring ongoing USGS research on wildfire science in southern California -- where the fire ecology is unlike any other region in the United States.
USGS is investigating ways to balance community fire risk management and native habitat conservation as part
...
California Red-legged Frogs Reintroduced to Historic Range in Southern California
In a historic and exciting first, the federally threatened California red-legged frog, the inspiration for Mark Twain’s short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," has been successfully reintroduced to southern California by USGS scientists and collaborators.
Caught on Camera: Sierra Martens and Flying Squirrels Using Wildlife Passage
The adorable Sierra Marten pictured below was caught on wildlife camera in October. The camera was set up to study animal movement under a new road crossing structure known as the “toad road” in Sierra National Forest.
USGS WERC Researcher Wins Award for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation
SAN DIEGO—Dr. Robert Fisher wins Herpetological Conservation Award
Salamander Surveys by WERC Scientists Help Monitor Fungal Threat (US Fish and Wildlife Pacific Southwest Highlights)
SAN DIEGO – WERC scientists find salamanders, test for deadly chytrid disease
Burrowing Owls and Horned Lizards Thrive in Ecological Hot Spot Next to Los Angeles Airport (Los Angeles Times)
LOS ANGELES -- WERC Researchers study lizards and owls at the LAX Dunes preserve
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.
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.
Toad Crossing Ahead: New Study Tests Elevated Roads as Underpasses for Rare Toad
Many amphibians are either too small or too slow to avoid an oncoming car. For some populations of the Federally threatened Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus), this has meant increased mortality from vehicle strikes in addition to other threats from disease, drought, and habitat loss.
New USGS Study Paves a Path Forward for Reptiles, Amphibians, and Roadways
In a new study, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists ranked more than 160 species and sub-species of reptiles and amphibians in terms of their vulnerability to vehicle strikes and habitat fragmentation from roadways. Their results are published in the journal Landscape Ecology....
Scientists Discover New Species of Fijian Iguana
Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, The National Trust of Fiji and NatureFiji-MareqetiViti have discovered a new species of banded iguana.
New Research Confirms Continued, Unabated and Large-Scale Amphibian Declines: Local Action Key to Reversing Losses
New U.S. Geological Survey-led research suggests that even though amphibians are severely declining worldwide, there is no smoking gun – and thus no simple solution – to halting or reversing these declines.