Susan Walls, Ph.D.
Susan Walls is a research wildlife biologist who serves as the coordinator and lead scientist for the southeastern region of the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI).
ARMI is a national program for which funding was appropriated by Congress in 2000 in response to mounting evidence and concern for declines of amphibians in the U.S. and worldwide. Susan's research group establishes and implements long-term monitoring of amphibians at key sites within the southeastern U.S. (AL, GA, FL, SC, NC and TN) and conducts research on potential causes of declines. The team focuses on model-based monitoring to assess the impacts of climate change, emerging diseases, habitat restoration, and invasive species on amphibian communities.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 61
Maximizing species distribution model performance when using historical occurrences and variables of varying persistency Maximizing species distribution model performance when using historical occurrences and variables of varying persistency
Occurrence data used to build species distribution models often include historical records from locations in which the species no longer exists. When these records are paired with contemporary environmental values that no longer represent the conditions the species experienced, the model creates false associations that hurt predictive performance. The extent of mismatching increases with...
Authors
Jason Bracken, Amelie Y. Davis, Katherine M. O’Donnell, William Barichivich, Susan C. Walls, Tereza Jezkova
Informing future condition scenario planning for habitat specialists of the imperiled pine rockland ecosystem of South Florida Informing future condition scenario planning for habitat specialists of the imperiled pine rockland ecosystem of South Florida
This project evaluated habitat conditions for two species found in the imperiled pine rockland ecosystem—the Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) and the Key Ring-Necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus acricus). The Rim Rock Crowned Snake historically occurred in eastern Miami-Dade County (hereafter, mainland) as well as throughout the Florida Keys, whereas the Key Ring-Necked Snake...
Authors
Susan Walls
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) not detected in an intensive survey of wild North American amphibians 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 challenges that include low rates of...
Authors
J. Hardin Waddle, Daniel Grear, Brittany Mosher, Evan Campbell Grant, Michael Adams, Adam Backlin, William Barichivich, Adrianne Brand, Gary Bucciarelli, Daniel Calhoun, Tara Chestnut, Jon M. Davenport, Andrew Dietrich, Robert Fisher, Brad Glorioso, Brian J. Halstead, Marc Hayes, R. Honeycutt, Blake R. Hossack, Patrick Kleeman, Julio Lemos-Espinal, Jeffrey Lorch, Robert Atkinson, Erin Muths, Christopher Pearl, Katherine Richgels, Charles Robinson, Mark Roth, Jennifer Rowe, Walter Sadinski, Brent Sigafus, Iga Stasiak, Samuel Sweet, Susan C. Walls, Gregory Watkins-Colwell, C. White, Lori Williams, Megan Winzeler
Changes in physiology and microbial diversity in larval ornate chorus frogs are associated with habitat quality Changes in physiology and microbial diversity in larval ornate chorus frogs are associated with habitat quality
Environmental change associated with anthropogenic disturbance can lower habitat quality, especially for sensitive species such as many amphibians. Variation in environmental quality may affect an organism’s physiological health and, ultimately, survival and fitness. Using multiple health measures can aid in identifying populations at increased risk of declines. Our objective was to...
Authors
Cory Goff, Susan Walls, David Rodriguez, Caitlin Gabor
Editorial: Contributions of behavior and physiology to conservation biology Editorial: Contributions of behavior and physiology to conservation biology
Conservation biology is a rapidly evolving discipline, with its synthetic, multidisciplinary framework expanding extensively in recent years. Seemingly disparate disciplines, such as behavior and physiology, are being integrated into this discipline's growing portfolio, resulting in diverse tools that can help develop conservation solutions. Behavior and physiology have traditionally...
Authors
Caitlin R Gabor, Susan Walls
Category count models for adaptive management of metapopulations: Case study of an imperiled salamander Category count models for adaptive management of metapopulations: Case study of an imperiled salamander
Managing spatially structured populations of imperiled species presents many challenges. Spatial structure can make it difficult to predict population responses to potential recovery activities, and learning through experimentation may not be advised if it could harm threatened populations. Adaptive management provides an appealing framework when experimentation is considered too risky...
Authors
Katherine M. O’Donnell, Paul Fackler, Fred Johnson, Mathieu Bonneau, Julien Martin, Susan Walls
Integrating behavior and physiology into strategies for amphibian conservation Integrating behavior and physiology into strategies for amphibian conservation
The amphibian decline crisis has been challenging to address because of the complexity of factors—and their multitude of interactive effects—that drive this global issue. Dissecting such complexity could benefit from strategies that integrate multiple disciplines and address the mechanistic underpinnings of population declines and extirpations. We examine how the disciplines of behavior...
Authors
Susan Walls, Caitlin R Gabor
Seeking shelter from the storm: Conservation and management of imperiled species in a changing climate Seeking shelter from the storm: Conservation and management of imperiled species in a changing climate
Climate change is anticipated to exacerbate the extinction risk of species whose persistence is already compromised by habitat loss, invasive species, disease, or other stressors. In coastal areas of the southeastern United States (USA), many imperiled vertebrates are vulnerable to hurricanes, which climate models predict to become more severe in the 21st century. Despite this escalating...
Authors
Susan Walls, William Barichivich, Jonathan Chandler, Ashley Meade, Marysa Milinichik, Katherine O'Donnell, Megan Owens, Terry Peacock, Joseph Reinman, Rebecca Watling, Olivia Wetsch
Linking variability in climate to wetland habitat suitability: Is it possible to forecast regional responses from simple climate measures? Linking variability in climate to wetland habitat suitability: Is it possible to forecast regional responses from simple climate measures?
Temporary wetlands have value to both ecological and social systems. Interactions between local climate and the surrounding landscape result in patterns of hydrology that are unique to temporary wetlands. These seasonal and annual fluctuations in wetland inundation contribute to community composition and richness. Thus, predicting wetland community responses to environmental change is...
Authors
Davis C, Miller D, Evan Campbell Grant, Brian Halstead, Patrick Kleeman, Susan Walls, William Barichivich
Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines 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 needs within the context of disease-associated amphibian decline...
Authors
Evan Campbell Grant, M. Adams, Robert Fisher, Daniel Grear, Brian J. Halstead, Blake Hossack, Erin Muths, Katherine Richgels, Robin Russell, Kelly Smalling, J. Waddle, Susan Walls, C. White
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, 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
Quantifying climate sensitivity and climate-driven change in North American amphibian communities 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 >500,000 time-series observations for 81...
Authors
David A.W. Miller, Evan Campbell Grant, Erin Muths, Staci Amburgey, M. Adams, Maxwell Joseph, J. Waddle, Pieter Johnson, Maureen Ryan, Benedikt Schmidt, Daniel Calhoun, Courtney Davis, Robert Fisher, David Green, Blake Hossack, Tracy Rittenhouse, Susan Walls, Larissa Bailey, Sam Cruickshank, Gary Fellers, Thomas Gorman, Carola Haas, Ward Hughson, David Pilliod, Steven Price, Andrew Ray, Walter Sadinski, Daniel Saenz, William Barichivich, Adrianne Brand, Cheryl Brehme, Rosi Dagit, Katy Delaney, Brad Glorioso, Lee Kats, Patrick Kleeman, Christopher Pearl, Carlton Rochester, Seth Riley, Mark Roth, Brent Sigafus
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Coping with constraints: Achieving effective conservation with limited resources Coping with constraints: Achieving effective conservation with limited resources
Conservation resources have become increasingly limited and, along with social, cultural and political complexities, this shortfall frequently challenges effectiveness in conservation. Because conservation can be costly, efforts are often only initiated after a species has declined below a critical threshold and/or when statutory protection is mandated. However, implementing conservation
Authors
Susan Walls
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 61
Maximizing species distribution model performance when using historical occurrences and variables of varying persistency Maximizing species distribution model performance when using historical occurrences and variables of varying persistency
Occurrence data used to build species distribution models often include historical records from locations in which the species no longer exists. When these records are paired with contemporary environmental values that no longer represent the conditions the species experienced, the model creates false associations that hurt predictive performance. The extent of mismatching increases with...
Authors
Jason Bracken, Amelie Y. Davis, Katherine M. O’Donnell, William Barichivich, Susan C. Walls, Tereza Jezkova
Informing future condition scenario planning for habitat specialists of the imperiled pine rockland ecosystem of South Florida Informing future condition scenario planning for habitat specialists of the imperiled pine rockland ecosystem of South Florida
This project evaluated habitat conditions for two species found in the imperiled pine rockland ecosystem—the Rim Rock Crowned Snake (Tantilla oolitica) and the Key Ring-Necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus acricus). The Rim Rock Crowned Snake historically occurred in eastern Miami-Dade County (hereafter, mainland) as well as throughout the Florida Keys, whereas the Key Ring-Necked Snake...
Authors
Susan Walls
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) not detected in an intensive survey of wild North American amphibians 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 challenges that include low rates of...
Authors
J. Hardin Waddle, Daniel Grear, Brittany Mosher, Evan Campbell Grant, Michael Adams, Adam Backlin, William Barichivich, Adrianne Brand, Gary Bucciarelli, Daniel Calhoun, Tara Chestnut, Jon M. Davenport, Andrew Dietrich, Robert Fisher, Brad Glorioso, Brian J. Halstead, Marc Hayes, R. Honeycutt, Blake R. Hossack, Patrick Kleeman, Julio Lemos-Espinal, Jeffrey Lorch, Robert Atkinson, Erin Muths, Christopher Pearl, Katherine Richgels, Charles Robinson, Mark Roth, Jennifer Rowe, Walter Sadinski, Brent Sigafus, Iga Stasiak, Samuel Sweet, Susan C. Walls, Gregory Watkins-Colwell, C. White, Lori Williams, Megan Winzeler
Changes in physiology and microbial diversity in larval ornate chorus frogs are associated with habitat quality Changes in physiology and microbial diversity in larval ornate chorus frogs are associated with habitat quality
Environmental change associated with anthropogenic disturbance can lower habitat quality, especially for sensitive species such as many amphibians. Variation in environmental quality may affect an organism’s physiological health and, ultimately, survival and fitness. Using multiple health measures can aid in identifying populations at increased risk of declines. Our objective was to...
Authors
Cory Goff, Susan Walls, David Rodriguez, Caitlin Gabor
Editorial: Contributions of behavior and physiology to conservation biology Editorial: Contributions of behavior and physiology to conservation biology
Conservation biology is a rapidly evolving discipline, with its synthetic, multidisciplinary framework expanding extensively in recent years. Seemingly disparate disciplines, such as behavior and physiology, are being integrated into this discipline's growing portfolio, resulting in diverse tools that can help develop conservation solutions. Behavior and physiology have traditionally...
Authors
Caitlin R Gabor, Susan Walls
Category count models for adaptive management of metapopulations: Case study of an imperiled salamander Category count models for adaptive management of metapopulations: Case study of an imperiled salamander
Managing spatially structured populations of imperiled species presents many challenges. Spatial structure can make it difficult to predict population responses to potential recovery activities, and learning through experimentation may not be advised if it could harm threatened populations. Adaptive management provides an appealing framework when experimentation is considered too risky...
Authors
Katherine M. O’Donnell, Paul Fackler, Fred Johnson, Mathieu Bonneau, Julien Martin, Susan Walls
Integrating behavior and physiology into strategies for amphibian conservation Integrating behavior and physiology into strategies for amphibian conservation
The amphibian decline crisis has been challenging to address because of the complexity of factors—and their multitude of interactive effects—that drive this global issue. Dissecting such complexity could benefit from strategies that integrate multiple disciplines and address the mechanistic underpinnings of population declines and extirpations. We examine how the disciplines of behavior...
Authors
Susan Walls, Caitlin R Gabor
Seeking shelter from the storm: Conservation and management of imperiled species in a changing climate Seeking shelter from the storm: Conservation and management of imperiled species in a changing climate
Climate change is anticipated to exacerbate the extinction risk of species whose persistence is already compromised by habitat loss, invasive species, disease, or other stressors. In coastal areas of the southeastern United States (USA), many imperiled vertebrates are vulnerable to hurricanes, which climate models predict to become more severe in the 21st century. Despite this escalating...
Authors
Susan Walls, William Barichivich, Jonathan Chandler, Ashley Meade, Marysa Milinichik, Katherine O'Donnell, Megan Owens, Terry Peacock, Joseph Reinman, Rebecca Watling, Olivia Wetsch
Linking variability in climate to wetland habitat suitability: Is it possible to forecast regional responses from simple climate measures? Linking variability in climate to wetland habitat suitability: Is it possible to forecast regional responses from simple climate measures?
Temporary wetlands have value to both ecological and social systems. Interactions between local climate and the surrounding landscape result in patterns of hydrology that are unique to temporary wetlands. These seasonal and annual fluctuations in wetland inundation contribute to community composition and richness. Thus, predicting wetland community responses to environmental change is...
Authors
Davis C, Miller D, Evan Campbell Grant, Brian Halstead, Patrick Kleeman, Susan Walls, William Barichivich
Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines 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 needs within the context of disease-associated amphibian decline...
Authors
Evan Campbell Grant, M. Adams, Robert Fisher, Daniel Grear, Brian J. Halstead, Blake Hossack, Erin Muths, Katherine Richgels, Robin Russell, Kelly Smalling, J. Waddle, Susan Walls, C. White
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, 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
Quantifying climate sensitivity and climate-driven change in North American amphibian communities 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 >500,000 time-series observations for 81...
Authors
David A.W. Miller, Evan Campbell Grant, Erin Muths, Staci Amburgey, M. Adams, Maxwell Joseph, J. Waddle, Pieter Johnson, Maureen Ryan, Benedikt Schmidt, Daniel Calhoun, Courtney Davis, Robert Fisher, David Green, Blake Hossack, Tracy Rittenhouse, Susan Walls, Larissa Bailey, Sam Cruickshank, Gary Fellers, Thomas Gorman, Carola Haas, Ward Hughson, David Pilliod, Steven Price, Andrew Ray, Walter Sadinski, Daniel Saenz, William Barichivich, Adrianne Brand, Cheryl Brehme, Rosi Dagit, Katy Delaney, Brad Glorioso, Lee Kats, Patrick Kleeman, Christopher Pearl, Carlton Rochester, Seth Riley, Mark Roth, Brent Sigafus
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Coping with constraints: Achieving effective conservation with limited resources Coping with constraints: Achieving effective conservation with limited resources
Conservation resources have become increasingly limited and, along with social, cultural and political complexities, this shortfall frequently challenges effectiveness in conservation. Because conservation can be costly, efforts are often only initiated after a species has declined below a critical threshold and/or when statutory protection is mandated. However, implementing conservation
Authors
Susan Walls