A5059003713- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Smart Materials for Construction
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Food Supply Chain Traceability
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
University of Connecticut
2015-2025
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
2017
University of Missouri
2004-2015
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
2015
University of Wisconsin–Madison
2011-2013
South Dakota State University
2002
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...
Harvesting timber is a common form of land use that has the potential to cause declines in amphibian populations.It essential understand behavior and fate individuals resulting consequences for vital rates (birth, death, immigration, emigration) under different forest management conditions.We report on experimental studies conducted three regions United States identify mechanisms responses by pond-breeding amphibians harvest treatments.Our demonstrate life stages related oviposition larval...
Much of the biodiversity associated with isolated wetlands requires aquatic and terrestrial habitat to maintain viable populations. Current federal wetland regulations in United States do not protect or extend protection surrounding habitat. Consequently, some land managers, city planners, policy makers at state local levels are making an effort these neighboring upland habitats. Balancing human land-use conservation is challenging, well-informed hindered by a lack knowledge specific risks...
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...
ABSTRACT Chronic exposure to physical, chemical, and biotic stressors can make animals more susceptible infections. Such stress‐induced susceptibility is widely expected disease—and epidemics—more likely severe. However, whether the impacts of on individuals scale up population‐level outcomes uncertain, both theoretically empirically. We initiated ranavirus epidemics in replicate mesocosm populations larval wood frogs ( Lithobates sylvaticus ) exposed conditions known impact their individual...
Juvenile survival is an important life history feature, because recent modeling efforts suggest that modest changes in juvenile rates due to habitat change may greatly affect population growth rates. We compared water loss and of recently metamorphosed American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus), Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans), Wood sylvaticus) juveniles contained within four microhabitats, two which occur uncut control forest (i.e., ridgetop, drainage) harvested clearcut open, brushpile)....
Numerous studies have documented the decline of amphibians following timber harvest. However, direct evidence concerning mechanisms population is lacking and hinders attempts to develop conservation or recovery plans solutions for forest species. We summarized by which abundance may initially harvest into three testable hypotheses: (1) mortality, (2) retreat, (3) evacuation. Here, we tested evacuation hypothesis within a large-scale, replicated experiment. used drift fences with pitfall...
Migration presents a trade-off for individuals between the potential fitness benefits of reaching high-quality habitat vs. costs migration. Within an information-theoretic framework, we examined migration adult wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) in response to timber harvest and annual weather conditions using Cox proportional-hazard estimates survival. In 2004 prior harvest, survival did not differ inside (0.75, SE = 0.078) outside (0.73, 0.235) circular arrays (each 164 m radius). Following both...
Camera trapping is a standard tool in ecological research and wildlife conservation. Study designs, particularly for small-bodied or cryptic species often attempt to boost low detection probabilities by using non-random camera placement baited cameras, which may bias data, incorrectly estimate occupancy. We investigated the ability of non-baited, multi-camera arrays increase wildlife. design components were evaluated their influence on detectability iteratively parsing an empirical dataset...
Abstract Species’ distributions will respond to climate change based on the relationship between local demographic processes and how this varies range position. A rarely tested prediction is that populations at extremes of a species’ envelope (e.g., in areas with highest mean annual temperature) be most sensitive shifts (i.e., warming). We using dynamic species distribution model linking rates variation temperature precipitation for wood frogs ( Lithobates sylvaticus ) North America. Using...
Knowing the phenologies of species in a region helps guide management and conservation activities breeding ponds surrounding terrestrial habitats. We examined phenology pond-breeding amphibians central Missouri oak-hickory forests. Two were monitored for 4 y from 2000–2003 five other 1 during 2004 using drift fences with pitfall traps. found 15 amphibians, nine which we captured sufficient abundance to evaluate phenology. Among species, migrations occur Feb. Nov., while subsequent metamorph...
Fitness benefits to individuals from using a particular habitat during the non-breeding season are likely species- and habitat-specific. Our goal was define postbreeding use of adult Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica) within continuous oak-hickory forest in Missouri. We used radio-telemetry determine whether evenly spaced throughout this type or clumped at resource. In addition, we determined microhabitat selection conditional logistic regression that compares frog locations paired points located 2...
ABSTRACT When introduced species invade new environments, they often overlap with native currently occupying those spaces, either spatially through suitable habitat or environmentally their realized niches. The goal of this research is to determine the between New England cottontail ( Sylvilagus transitionalis ) and eastern floridanus identify potential areas invasion by refuge for from (Connecticut, USA). Using presence data a regional, standardized monitoring protocol, we developed...
The distribution and arrangement of habitats human use areas are important to understanding where why conflicts with wildlife occur; such data may inform proactive management activities minimize conflicts. Black bear (Ursus americanus) abundance the number human-black increasing in northeast United States, particularly developed areas. We applied a spatial modeling approach identify landscape variables associated intensity Connecticut, predicted most likely future. Percent forest cover...
ABSTRACT Many terrestrial ectotherms have gone to great evolutionary lengths adapt long cold winters; some even evolved the ability tolerate freezing of most extracellular fluid in body. Now, however, high‐elevation and high‐latitude winters are experiencing an accelerated period warming. Specialised winter adaptations that promoted fitness a seasonally frozen environment may soon be superfluous or maladaptive. We ask whether include changes immune functions, changing conditions could exert...