Across the country, USGS scientists research amphibians to help other agencies manage this historically underappreciated and now declining group. Our scientists have learned that no single threat explains global amphibian declines; instead, a variety of local and global factors are contributing. Habitat loss, disease, contaminants, and other threats are all part of the pattern.
An ARMI of Many
An ARMI of Many
The USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) is an integrated program of research and monitoring studies across the US focused on hydrology, disease, decision support, recovery, and restoration.
A is for Amphibian
A is for Amphibian
The Ecosystems A-Z series highlights some of the work our scientists are leading starting with amphibians.
Amphibian Research
Amphibian Research
Filter Total Items: 28
No results found.
Recent data (2020-2022) related to USGS amphibian research is listed below. A complete listing of USGS amphibian data is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 28
Data from visual encounter and acoustic monitoring surveys targeting amphibians and reptiles in Big Thicket National Preserve in southeast Texas from August 2010 to September 2018
This dataset contains data from visual encounter and acoustic surveys in Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas from August 2010 to September 2018. This dataset also includes salinity measurements from nine salinity loggers deployed in the study area.
Corticosterone release rates, water quality, microbiome, and mucosome data for analysis of Pseudacris ornata sites
We measured environmental variables at multiple spatial scales and their effect on three physiological health metrics of ornate chorus frog (Pseudacris ornata) tadpoles to identify potential correlates of population declines. To accomplish this, we measured corticosterone (glucocorticoid hormone associated with the stress response in amphibians) release rates, as well as the skin mucosal...
Detection and non-detection records of Saipan's terrestrial herpetofauna, 2018
There are two datasets included in this entry. The diurnal dataset contains 28 columns of data collected during transects surveys. The nocturnal dataset contains 52 columns. We randomly select 56 sites, each 50 m in length, from 37,968 m of transects spanning the island that were originally created for bird surveys in 1982 through the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife...
Boreal toad survival data in relation to Bd status and community composition
These data represent capture mark recapture data from toads, and results of testing for Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) the pathogen that causes amphibian chytridiomycosis on individuals. The data span from 2004-2016 at three sites in Montana where boreal toads were declining. The data also include temperature measurements at the sites and information on the egg counts and Bd...
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS amphibian research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS amphibian publications is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 73
The Louisiana Amphibian Monitoring Program from 1997 to 2017: Results, analyses, and lessons learned
To determine trends in either frog distribution or abundance in the State of Louisiana, we reviewed and analyzed frog call data from the Louisiana Amphibian Monitoring Program (LAMP). The data were collected between 1997 and 2017 using North American Amphibian Monitoring Program protocols. Louisiana was divided into three survey regions for administration and analysis: the Florida...
Authors
Jacoby Carter, Darren Johnson, Jeff Boundy, William Vermillion
Identifying climate-resistant vernal pools: Hydrologic refugia for amphibian reproduction under droughts and climate change
Vernal pools of the northeastern United States provide important breeding habitat for amphibians but may be sensitive to droughts and climate change. These seasonal wetlands typically fill by early spring and dry by mid-to-late summer. Because climate change may produce earlier and stronger growing-season evapotranspiration combined with increasing droughts and shifts in precipitation...
Authors
Jennifer M. Cartwright, Toni Lyn Morelli, Evan H. Campbell Grant
An updated assessment of status and trend in the distribution of the Cascades frog (Rana cascadae) in Oregon, USA
Conservation efforts need reliable information concerning the status of a species and their trends to help identify which species are in most need of assistance. We completed a comparative evaluation of the occurrence of breeding for Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae), an amphibian that is being considered for federal protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Specifically, in 2018...
Authors
Adam Duarte, Christopher Pearl, Brome McCreary, Jennifer Rowe, Michael J. Adams
Amphibian population responses to mitigation: Relative importance of wetland age and design
Wetland creation is a common practice to mitigate for the loss of natural wetlands. However, there is still uncertainty about how effectively created wetlands replace habitat provided by natural wetlands. This uncertainty is due in part because post-construction monitoring of biological communities, and vertebrates especially, is rare and typically short-term (
Authors
Emily Bea Oja, Leah S Swartz, Erin L. Muths, Blake R. Hossack
Assessing the ecological functionality and integrity of natural ponds, excavated ponds and stormwater basins for conserving amphibian diversity
Wetlands provide ecological functionality by maintaining and promoting regional biodiversity supporting quality habitat for aquatic organisms. Globally, habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation due to increases in agricultural activities and urban development have reduced or altered geographically isolated wetlands, thus reducing biodiversity. The objective of this study was to assess...
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Sara E. Breitmeyer, John F. Bunnell, Kim J Laidig, Patrick Burritt, Marilyn Sobel, Jonathan Cohl, Michelle Hladik, Kristin M. Romanok, Paul M. Bradley
Comparative effects of energy-related saline wastewaters and sodium chloride on hatching, survival, and fitness-associated traits of two amphibian species
Salinity (sodium chloride [NaCl]) is a prevalent and persistent contaminant that negatively affects freshwater ecosystems. Although most studies focus on effects of salinity from road salts (primarily NaCl), high-salinity wastewaters from energy extraction (wastewaters) could be more harmful because they contain NaCl and other toxic components. Many amphibians are sensitive to salinity...
Authors
Brian J. Tornabene, Creagh Breuner, Blake R. Hossack
Corticosterone mediates a growth-survival tradeoff for an amphibian exposed to increased salinity
Life-history tradeoffs are common across taxa, but growth-survival tradeoffs—usually enhancing survival at a cost to growth—are less frequently investigated. Increased salinity (NaCl) is a prevalent anthropogenic disturbance that may cause a growth-survival tradeoff for larval amphibians. Although physiological mechanisms mediating tradeoffs are seldom investigated, hormones are prime...
Authors
BJ Tornabene, Blake R. Hossack, EJ Crespi, CW Breuner
New amphibian and reptile parish records from Louisiana, USA
Dundee and Rossman (1989) published distribution maps of Louisiana herpetofaunal species in The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana over 30 years ago. Since then many records have been published, mostly in Herpetological Review, documenting additions to these original maps. Though many are single species additions, several compilations of new Louisiana records have been published...
Authors
Brad Glorioso
Evaluating corticosterone as a biomarker for amphibians exposed to increased salinity and ambient corticosterone
Physiological biomarkers are commonly used to assess the health of taxa exposed to natural and anthropogenic stressors. Glucocorticoid (GC) hormones are often used as indicators of physiological stress in wildlife because they affect growth, reproduction and survival. Increased salinity from human activities negatively influences amphibians and their corticosterone (CORT; the main...
Authors
Brian J. Tornabene, Blake R. Hossack, Erica J Crespi, Creagh W Breuner
Evaluation of regulatory action and surveillance as preventive risk-mitigation to an emerging global amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal)
The emerging amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a severe threat to global urodelan (salamanders, newts, and related taxa) biodiversity. Bsal has not been detected, to date, in North America, but the risk is high because North America is one of the global hotspots for urodelan biodiversity. The North American and United States response to the discovery of Bsal...
Authors
Daniel A. Grear, Brittany A. Mosher, Katherine Richgels, Evan H. Campbell Grant
Metal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians
Amphibian larvae are commonly used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health because they are susceptible to contaminants. However, there is limited information on how species characteristics and trophic position influence contaminant loads in larval amphibians. Importantly, there remains a need to understand whether grazers (frogs and toads [anurans]) and predators (salamanders) provide...
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Emily Bea Oja, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jon D Davenport, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Patrick M. Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead, Kenzi M Stemp, Brian J. Tornabene, Zachary J Bunnell, Blake R. Hossack
Reptile and amphibian diversity and abundance in an urban landscape: Impacts of fragmentation and the conservation value of small patches
Urbanization is a major contributor to habitat loss and fragmentation and is considered a global threat to biodiversity. We studied reptile and amphibian species diversity and abundance in a highly fragmented landscape adjacent to the second largest metropolitan area in the United States. Habitat patches in our study area were made up of remnant native vegetation surrounded by roads...
Authors
Kathleen Semple Delaney, Gary Busteed, Robert N. Fisher, Seth P D Riley
Across the country, USGS scientists research amphibians to help other agencies manage this historically underappreciated and now declining group. Our scientists have learned that no single threat explains global amphibian declines; instead, a variety of local and global factors are contributing. Habitat loss, disease, contaminants, and other threats are all part of the pattern.
An ARMI of Many
An ARMI of Many
The USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) is an integrated program of research and monitoring studies across the US focused on hydrology, disease, decision support, recovery, and restoration.
A is for Amphibian
A is for Amphibian
The Ecosystems A-Z series highlights some of the work our scientists are leading starting with amphibians.
Amphibian Research
Amphibian Research
Filter Total Items: 28
No results found.
Recent data (2020-2022) related to USGS amphibian research is listed below. A complete listing of USGS amphibian data is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 28
Data from visual encounter and acoustic monitoring surveys targeting amphibians and reptiles in Big Thicket National Preserve in southeast Texas from August 2010 to September 2018
This dataset contains data from visual encounter and acoustic surveys in Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas from August 2010 to September 2018. This dataset also includes salinity measurements from nine salinity loggers deployed in the study area.
Corticosterone release rates, water quality, microbiome, and mucosome data for analysis of Pseudacris ornata sites
We measured environmental variables at multiple spatial scales and their effect on three physiological health metrics of ornate chorus frog (Pseudacris ornata) tadpoles to identify potential correlates of population declines. To accomplish this, we measured corticosterone (glucocorticoid hormone associated with the stress response in amphibians) release rates, as well as the skin mucosal...
Detection and non-detection records of Saipan's terrestrial herpetofauna, 2018
There are two datasets included in this entry. The diurnal dataset contains 28 columns of data collected during transects surveys. The nocturnal dataset contains 52 columns. We randomly select 56 sites, each 50 m in length, from 37,968 m of transects spanning the island that were originally created for bird surveys in 1982 through the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife...
Boreal toad survival data in relation to Bd status and community composition
These data represent capture mark recapture data from toads, and results of testing for Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) the pathogen that causes amphibian chytridiomycosis on individuals. The data span from 2004-2016 at three sites in Montana where boreal toads were declining. The data also include temperature measurements at the sites and information on the egg counts and Bd...
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS amphibian research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS amphibian publications is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 73
The Louisiana Amphibian Monitoring Program from 1997 to 2017: Results, analyses, and lessons learned
To determine trends in either frog distribution or abundance in the State of Louisiana, we reviewed and analyzed frog call data from the Louisiana Amphibian Monitoring Program (LAMP). The data were collected between 1997 and 2017 using North American Amphibian Monitoring Program protocols. Louisiana was divided into three survey regions for administration and analysis: the Florida...
Authors
Jacoby Carter, Darren Johnson, Jeff Boundy, William Vermillion
Identifying climate-resistant vernal pools: Hydrologic refugia for amphibian reproduction under droughts and climate change
Vernal pools of the northeastern United States provide important breeding habitat for amphibians but may be sensitive to droughts and climate change. These seasonal wetlands typically fill by early spring and dry by mid-to-late summer. Because climate change may produce earlier and stronger growing-season evapotranspiration combined with increasing droughts and shifts in precipitation...
Authors
Jennifer M. Cartwright, Toni Lyn Morelli, Evan H. Campbell Grant
An updated assessment of status and trend in the distribution of the Cascades frog (Rana cascadae) in Oregon, USA
Conservation efforts need reliable information concerning the status of a species and their trends to help identify which species are in most need of assistance. We completed a comparative evaluation of the occurrence of breeding for Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae), an amphibian that is being considered for federal protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Specifically, in 2018...
Authors
Adam Duarte, Christopher Pearl, Brome McCreary, Jennifer Rowe, Michael J. Adams
Amphibian population responses to mitigation: Relative importance of wetland age and design
Wetland creation is a common practice to mitigate for the loss of natural wetlands. However, there is still uncertainty about how effectively created wetlands replace habitat provided by natural wetlands. This uncertainty is due in part because post-construction monitoring of biological communities, and vertebrates especially, is rare and typically short-term (
Authors
Emily Bea Oja, Leah S Swartz, Erin L. Muths, Blake R. Hossack
Assessing the ecological functionality and integrity of natural ponds, excavated ponds and stormwater basins for conserving amphibian diversity
Wetlands provide ecological functionality by maintaining and promoting regional biodiversity supporting quality habitat for aquatic organisms. Globally, habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation due to increases in agricultural activities and urban development have reduced or altered geographically isolated wetlands, thus reducing biodiversity. The objective of this study was to assess...
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Sara E. Breitmeyer, John F. Bunnell, Kim J Laidig, Patrick Burritt, Marilyn Sobel, Jonathan Cohl, Michelle Hladik, Kristin M. Romanok, Paul M. Bradley
Comparative effects of energy-related saline wastewaters and sodium chloride on hatching, survival, and fitness-associated traits of two amphibian species
Salinity (sodium chloride [NaCl]) is a prevalent and persistent contaminant that negatively affects freshwater ecosystems. Although most studies focus on effects of salinity from road salts (primarily NaCl), high-salinity wastewaters from energy extraction (wastewaters) could be more harmful because they contain NaCl and other toxic components. Many amphibians are sensitive to salinity...
Authors
Brian J. Tornabene, Creagh Breuner, Blake R. Hossack
Corticosterone mediates a growth-survival tradeoff for an amphibian exposed to increased salinity
Life-history tradeoffs are common across taxa, but growth-survival tradeoffs—usually enhancing survival at a cost to growth—are less frequently investigated. Increased salinity (NaCl) is a prevalent anthropogenic disturbance that may cause a growth-survival tradeoff for larval amphibians. Although physiological mechanisms mediating tradeoffs are seldom investigated, hormones are prime...
Authors
BJ Tornabene, Blake R. Hossack, EJ Crespi, CW Breuner
New amphibian and reptile parish records from Louisiana, USA
Dundee and Rossman (1989) published distribution maps of Louisiana herpetofaunal species in The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana over 30 years ago. Since then many records have been published, mostly in Herpetological Review, documenting additions to these original maps. Though many are single species additions, several compilations of new Louisiana records have been published...
Authors
Brad Glorioso
Evaluating corticosterone as a biomarker for amphibians exposed to increased salinity and ambient corticosterone
Physiological biomarkers are commonly used to assess the health of taxa exposed to natural and anthropogenic stressors. Glucocorticoid (GC) hormones are often used as indicators of physiological stress in wildlife because they affect growth, reproduction and survival. Increased salinity from human activities negatively influences amphibians and their corticosterone (CORT; the main...
Authors
Brian J. Tornabene, Blake R. Hossack, Erica J Crespi, Creagh W Breuner
Evaluation of regulatory action and surveillance as preventive risk-mitigation to an emerging global amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal)
The emerging amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a severe threat to global urodelan (salamanders, newts, and related taxa) biodiversity. Bsal has not been detected, to date, in North America, but the risk is high because North America is one of the global hotspots for urodelan biodiversity. The North American and United States response to the discovery of Bsal...
Authors
Daniel A. Grear, Brittany A. Mosher, Katherine Richgels, Evan H. Campbell Grant
Metal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians
Amphibian larvae are commonly used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health because they are susceptible to contaminants. However, there is limited information on how species characteristics and trophic position influence contaminant loads in larval amphibians. Importantly, there remains a need to understand whether grazers (frogs and toads [anurans]) and predators (salamanders) provide...
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Emily Bea Oja, Danielle M. Cleveland, Jon D Davenport, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Patrick M. Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead, Kenzi M Stemp, Brian J. Tornabene, Zachary J Bunnell, Blake R. Hossack
Reptile and amphibian diversity and abundance in an urban landscape: Impacts of fragmentation and the conservation value of small patches
Urbanization is a major contributor to habitat loss and fragmentation and is considered a global threat to biodiversity. We studied reptile and amphibian species diversity and abundance in a highly fragmented landscape adjacent to the second largest metropolitan area in the United States. Habitat patches in our study area were made up of remnant native vegetation surrounded by roads...
Authors
Kathleen Semple Delaney, Gary Busteed, Robert N. Fisher, Seth P D Riley