A5086676128- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Marine animal studies overview
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Diatoms and Algae Research
- Law, logistics, and international trade
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Marine and fisheries research
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
United States Geological Survey
2018-2025
Western Ecological Research Center
2018-2025
Pacific Science Center
2021-2024
De Montfort University
2021
University of California, Davis
2012-2020
Nevada Department of Wildlife
2019
US Forest Service
2019
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
2017
University of Iowa
2011
University of Miami
1969
Abstract The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ) has caused the greatest known wildlife pandemic, infecting over 500 amphibian species. It remains unclear why some host species decline from disease‐related mortality whereas others persist. We introduce a conceptual model that predicts infection risk in ectotherms will decrease as difference between and environmental tolerances (i.e. tolerance mismatch) increases. test this prediction using both local‐scale data Costa Rica...
Rio Grande Cooters (Pseudemys gorzugi) occupy the watershed and have among smallest ranges of all North American freshwater turtles. Anthropogenic dewatering is considered to caused range contractions population declines. We sought facilitate management recommendations by determining extent movement potential associations with extrinsic cues. conducted a GPS-enabled telemetry study from August 2015 May 2017 on Devils River in Texas, USA. included Capture–Mark–Recapture data 2011, 2014,...
Abstract Enhancing gene flow through translocations can be a useful tool in recovering small and isolated populations. However, it is not devoid of genetic risks, such as outbreeding depression future generations, that have negative consequences terms the establishment mean fitness population. Studies monitor long-term effects rescue on populations wild are few, especially for snakes. We used monitoring body condition indices to investigate conservation translocation admixture Mogollon...
Given limited resources for managing invasive species, traditional survey methods may not be feasible to implement at a regional scale. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has proven an effective method detecting some but comparisons between the detection probability of eDNA and using modern occupancy modeling are rare. We developed qPCR assay detect two species watersnake (Nerodia fasciata Nerodia sipedon) introduced California, USA, we compared efficacy aquatic trapping. tested 3-9 water...
Abstract Survival is a key vital rate for projecting the viability of wild populations. Estimating survival difficult many rare or elusive species because recapture rates marked individuals are low, and ultimate fate unknown. Low have made it to accurately estimate survival, evaluate importance individual environmental covariates survival. Individual such as size particularly include in capture–mark–recapture models state unknown during periods when not captured. Here, we integrate von...
Conservation practitioners must contend with an increasing array of threats that affect biodiversity. Citizen scientists can provide timely and expansive information for addressing these across large scales, but their data may contain sampling biases. We used randomization procedures to account possible biases in opportunistically reported citizen science identify species' sensitivities human land use. analyzed 21,044 records 143 native reptile amphibian species the Carolina Herp Atlas from...
Abstract Because alpine tundra is responding to climate change, a need exists understand the meaning of observed changes. To provide context for such interpretation, relevance niche and neutral theories biogeography continuum classification approaches biogeographic description are assessed. Two extensive studies tundra, from Indian Peaks area, Colorado Glacier National Park, Montana, combined. The data ordinated describe relations. pattern that emerges one vegetation, but with distinctions...
Occupancy models provide a reliable method of estimating species distributions while accounting for imperfect detectability. The cost false absences is that detection and nondetection surveys typically require repeated visits to site or multiple-observer techniques. More efficient methods collecting data estimate probabilities would allow additional sites be surveyed the same amount effort, which support more precise estimation covariate effects improve inference about underlying ecological...
Abstract Demographic models enhance understanding of drivers population growth and inform conservation efforts to prevent declines extinction. For species with complex life histories, however, parameterizing demographic is challenging because some stages can be difficult study directly. Integrated (IPMs) empower researchers estimate vital rates for organisms that have cryptic or widely dispersing early by integrating multiple data sources. a stream‐inhabiting frog ( Rana boylii ) declining...
Conversion and fragmentation of wildlife habitat often leads to smaller isolated populations can reduce a species' ability disperse across the landscape. As consequence, genetic drift quickly lower variation increase vulnerability extirpation. For species conservation concern, quantification population size connectivity clarify influence in local provides important information for management recovery strategies. Here, we used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data...
Abstract Occupancy methods propelled the quantitative study of species distributions forward by separating observation process, or imperfect detectability species, from ecological processes interest governing distributions. studies come at a cost, however: collection additional data to account for nondetections sites where is present. The most common occupancy designs (repeated‐measures designs) require repeat visits use multiple observers detection methods. Time‐to‐detection have been...
Abstract Estimates of demographic rates for animal populations and individuals have many applications ecological conservation research. In animals, survival is size‐dependent, but estimating the form size–survival relationship presents challenges. For elusive species with low recapture rates, individuals’ size will be unknown at points in time. Integrating growth capture–mark–recapture models a Bayesian framework empowers researchers to impute missing data, uncertainty, include as covariate...
The growth rate of reptiles is plastic and often varies among individuals, populations, years in response to environmental conditions. For an imperiled species, the individual animals important component demographic models, changes rates might precede abundance. We analyzed a long-term dataset on Giant Gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) characterize spatial temporal variability evaluate potential predictors growth. collected data snout–vent length (SVL) over 22 yr (1995–2016) from eight sites...
Species distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly used to project the potential of introduced species outside their native range. Such studies rarely explicitly evaluate conflicts with should range expand. Two snake eastern North America, Nerodia fasciata and sipedon, have been California where they represent a new stressor declining amphibians, fish, reptiles. To distributions these non-native watersnakes in western we built ensemble SDMs using MaxEnt, Boosted Regression Trees, Random...
Conservation-reliant species require perpetual management by humans to persist. But do that persist largely in human-dominated landscapes actually conditions maintained humans? Because most extant populations of giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) inhabit the highly modified rice agricultural regions Sacramento Valley, we sought evaluate whether are indeed a conservation-reliant dependent on maintenance agriculture and its infrastructure for their continued existence. Specifically,...
Climate can have a strong influence on species distributions, and amphibians with different life histories might be affected by annual variability in precipitation ways. The Sierra Nevada of California, United States, experienced some the driest wettest years record early 21st Century, predicted to increase climate change. We examined relationship between adult occupancy dynamics three high elevation anurans site variation measures winter severity, summer wetness, cumulative drought. further...
Northern Watersnakes, Nerodia sipedon, have been introduced into California's Central Valley and pose an important new challenge for the management of biodiversity in state's already greatly distressed freshwater ecosystems. Nonnative watersnakes will likely compete with federally threatened Giant Gartersnakes, Thamnophis gigas, prey on native amphibians fish, including young salmonids, many which are imperiled. We used three types aquatic funnel traps different methods to estimate abundance...
ABSTRACT Demographic models provide insight into which vital rates and life stages contribute most to population growth. Integral projection (IPMs) offer flexibility in matching model structure a species’ demography. For many rare species, data are lacking for key rates, uncertainty might dissuade researchers from attempting build demographic model. We present work that highlights how the implications of uncertainties unknowns can be explored by building analyzing alternative models....