A5025843676- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Forest ecology and management
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Forest Management and Policy
United States Geological Survey
2015-2025
U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
2016-2025
Oregon State University
1993-2010
University of Southern Mississippi
2001-2002
City University of New York
1995-1996
City College of New York
1994-1996
Southwestern University
1989-1991
The populations of many amphibian species, in widely scattered habitats, appear to be severe decline; other amphibians show no such declines. There is known single cause for the declines, but their widespread distribution suggests involvement global agents--increased UV-B radiation, example. We addressed hypothesis that differential sensitivity among species UV radiation contributes these population focused on species-specific differences abilities eggs repair damage DNA and hatching success...
Geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs), those surrounded by uplands, exchange materials, energy, and organisms with other elements in hydrological habitat networks, contributing to landscape functions, such as flow generation, nutrient sediment retention, biodiversity support. GIWs constitute most of the many North American landscapes, provide a disproportionately large fraction wetland edges where functions are enhanced, form complexes water bodies create spatial temporal heterogeneity...
As part of an overall decline in biodiversity, populations many organisms are declining and species being lost at unprecedented rates around the world. This includes amphibians. Although numerous factors affecting amphibian populations, we show potential direct indirect effects climate change on amphibians individual, population community level. Shifts ranges predicted. Changes may affect survival, growth, reproduction dispersal capabilities. Moreover, can alter habitats including...
Since amphibian declines were first proposed as a global phenomenon over quarter century ago, the conservation community has made little progress in halting or reversing these trends. The early search for "smoking gun" was replaced with expectation that are caused by multiple drivers. While field observations and experiments have identified factors leading to increased local extinction risk, evidence effects of drivers is lacking at large spatial scales. Here, we use 389 time-series 83...
The Class Amphibia is one of the most severely impacted taxa in an on-going global biodiversity crisis. Because amphibian reproduction tightly associated with presence water, climatic changes that affect water availability pose a particularly menacing threat to both aquatic and terrestrial-breeding amphibians. We explore impacts facet climate change—that extreme variation precipitation—may have on This manifested principally as increases incidence severity drought major storm events. stress...
Though a third of amphibian species worldwide are thought to be imperiled, existing assessments simply categorize extinction risk, providing little information on the rate population losses. We conducted first analysis change in probability that amphibians occupy ponds and other comparable habitat features across United States. found overall occupancy by declined 3.7% annually from 2002 2011. Species Red-listed International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) an average 11.6% annually. All...
Changing climate will impact species' ranges only when environmental variability directly impacts the demography of local populations. However, measurement demographic responses to change has largely been limited single species and locations. Here we show that amphibian communities are responsive climatic variability, using >500,000 time-series observations for 81 across 86 North American study areas. The effect on colonization persistence probabilities varies among eco-regions depends...
We explore the category "geographically isolated wetlands" (GIWs; i.e., wetlands completely surrounded by uplands at local scale) as used in wetland sciences. As currently used, GIW (1) hampers scientific efforts obscuring important hydrological and ecological differences among multiple functional types, (2) aggregates a manner not reflective of regulatory management information needs, (3) implies so described are some way "isolated," an often incorrect implication, (4) is inconsistent with...
Models currently used to estimate patterns of species co-occurrence while accounting for errors in detection can be difficult fit when the effects covariates on occurrence probabilities are included. The source estimation problems is particular parameterization specify probability. We develop a new estimating interacting that allows specified quite naturally without problems. In our model, one assumed depend another, but second not presence first species. This pattern co-occurrence, wherein...
Abstract The development and use of automated species detection technologies, such as acoustic recorders, for monitoring wildlife are rapidly expanding. Automated classification algorithms provide cost‐ time‐effective means to process information‐rich data, but often at the cost additional errors. Appropriate methods necessary analyse data while dealing with different types We developed a hierarchical modelling framework estimating occupancy from data. explore design optimization...
Abstract The salamander chytrid fungus ( Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans [Bsal]) is causing massive mortality of salamanders in Europe. potential for spread via international trade into North America and the high diversity has catalyzed concern about Bsal U.S. Surveillance programs invading pathogens must initially meet challenges that include low rates occurrence on landscape, prevalence at a site, imperfect detection diagnostic tests. We implemented large-scale survey to determine if was...
We investigated the mechanisms of competition between two species larval salamanders, Ambystoma talpoideum and maculatum. A laboratory experiment revealed that A. maculatum suffered higher mortality during early periods growth when raised with its congener, talpoideum, than it did combined conspecifics. had no effect on survivorship talpoideum. However, inhibited as well This inhibition may be evidence exploitative for food. In a second experiment, was more aggressive (a form interference...
Restoration of wetland ecosystems is an important priority for many state and federal agencies, as well nongovernmental conservation organizations. The historic conversion wetlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) has resulted large‐scale implementation a variety practices designed to restore enhance ecosystem services. As consequence, effectiveness multiple approaches achieving desired goals varies depending on site conditions, employed, specific We reviewed government agency...
PERSPECTIVE article Front. Ecol. Evol., 16 March 2018Sec. Conservation and Restoration Ecology Volume 6 - 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2018.00024
Abstract Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a globally distributed fungal pathogen of amphibians that has contributed to one the largest disease‐related biodiversity losses in wildlife. Bd regularly viewed through lens global wildlife epizootic because spread highly virulent genetic lineages resulted well‐documented declines and extinctions multiple amphibian species. However, current state occurrence, host range, impacts, ecological drivers remains poorly understood outside most...
Abstract I examined the potential influence of climate change on dynamics a previously studied hybrid zone between pair terrestrial salamanders at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, U.S. Forest Service, in Nantahala Mountains North Carolina, USA. A 16‐year study led by Nelson G. Hairston, Sr. revealed that Plethodon teyahalee and shermani hybridized intermediate elevations, forming cline ‘pure’ parental P. lower elevations higher elevations. From 1974 to 1990 proportion elevation scored as...
A comprehensive view of population declines and their underlying causes is necessary to reverse species loss. Historically, in many cases, a narrow may have allowed continue, virtually undetected, for long periods time (perhaps even decades). We suggest that extinction debt likely responsible numerous most) amphibian this perspective should be incorporated into the structure research management. Extinction debt, originally proposed explain changes richness following environmental...
In amphibians, evidence of kin recognition is limited to anurans, and neighbor has only been documented in the territorial adults a frog terrestrial salamander. We examined whether occur among larval salamanders (Ambystoma opacum: Ambystomatidae) that are known be aggressive cannibalistic. Our results indicate A. opacum discriminate siblings from nonsiblings on basis four types agonistic behavior. Larvae were significantly less more submissive than nonsiblings, regardless larvae presented...
Abstract Disentangling the role that multiple interacting factors have on species responses to shifting climate poses a significant challenge. However, our ability do so is of utmost importance predict effects change distributions. We examined how populations three wetland‐breeding amphibians, which varied in life history requirements, responded six‐year period extremely variable precipitation. This interval was punctuated by both extensive drought and heavy precipitation flooding, providing...