Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Rebecca McCaffery

I am a Research Biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey. My research focuses on wildlife population ecology, community ecology, and restoration ecology of a diverse suite of wildlife species found in the mountains and forests of the northwestern United States.

I lead FRESC's Olympic Field Station, which is nestled within Olympic National Park in Washington. I engage in cooperator-driven research with National Park Service and Tribal partners on the Olympic peninsula and throug​hout western Washington, as well as larger initiatives. My work focuses the ecology of wildlife populations as related to climate change, habitat characteristics, disease, restoration practices, and other natural and anthropogenic effects. My work spans taxonomic groups and has recently included amphibians, bats, marmots, fishers, small mammals, and ungulates. In addition to taxonomic diversity, my projects range in scope from questions related to individual populations to those examining community interactions and landscape-level processes.

Professional Experience

  • 2022-Present: USGS, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Research Biologist, Port Angeles, WA

  • 2015-2022: USGS, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Wildlife Biologist, Port Angeles, WA

  • 2014-2015: University of Montana, Post-doctoral Research Associate, Missoula, MT

  • 2010-2011: University of Maryland, Post-doctoral Research Associate, College Park, MD

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Fish and Wildlife Biology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT (2010)

  • B.A., Biology, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR (2002)

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • North America Section President, Society for Conservation Biology (2019-2021 President Elect, 2021-2023 President, 2023-2025 Past President)

Science and Products

No Result Found
No results found.

If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.

Filter Total Items: 15

Terrestrial fauna are agents and endpoints in ecosystem restoration following dam removal

Dam removal is an effective and increasingly applied river restoration strategy. This has led to heightened calls for research and monitoring aimed at understanding physical and ecological outcomes following dam removal. While such research programs have increased, roles of terrestrial fauna in the restoration process remain poorly understood, although wildlife and invertebrate fauna are key compo
Authors
Rebecca McCaffery, John P. McLaughlin, Kim Sager-Fradkin, Kurt J. Jenkins
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Heterogeneous responses of temperate-zone amphibian populations to climate change complicates conservation planning

The pervasive and unabated nature of global amphibian declines suggests common demographic responses to a given driver, and quantification of major drivers and responses could inform broad-scale conservation actions. We explored the influence of climate on demographic parameters (i.e., changes in the probabilities of survival and recruitment) using 31 datasets from temperate zone amphibian populat
Authors
Erin L. Muths, Thierry A. Chambert, B. R. Schmidt, D. A. W. Miller, Blake R. Hossack, P. Joly, O. Grolet, D. M. Green, David S. Pilliod, M. Cheylan, Robert N. Fisher, R. M. McCaffery, M. J. Adams, W. J. Palen, J. W. Arntzen, J. Garwood, Gary M. Fellers, J. M. Thirion, Evan H. Campbell Grant, A. Besnard
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Effects of amphibian chytrid fungus on individual survival probability in wild boreal toads

Chytridiomycosis is linked to the worldwide decline of amphibians, yet little is known about the demographic effects of the disease. We collected capture-recapture data on three populations of boreal toads (Bufo boreas [Bufo = Anaxyrus]) in the Rocky Mountains (U.S.A.). Two of the populations were infected with chytridiomycosis and one was not. We examined the effect of the presence of amphibian c
Authors
D. S. Pilliod, E. Muths, R. D. Scherer, P.E. Bartelt, P.S. Corn, B. R. Hossack, B.A. Lambert, R. Mccaffery, C. Gaughan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

McCaffery, R.; and P. M. Lukacs. 2016. A generalized integrated population model to estimate greater sage-grouse population dynamics. Ecosphere 7(11): e01585.
McCaffery, R.M., Nowak, J.J., Lukacs, P.M., 2016, Improved analysis of lek count data using N-Mixture models: Journal of Wildlife Management, v. 80, no. 6, p. 1011–1021, https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21094.
McCaffery, R.M., Richards-Zawacki, C.L., Lips, K.R., 2015, The demography of Atelopus decline- Harlequin frog survival and abundance in central Panama prior to and during a disease outbreak: Global Ecology and Conservation, v. 4, p. 232-242, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2015.07.003.
McCaffery, R.M., Eby, L.A., Maxell, B.A., Corn, P.S., 2014, Breeding site heterogeneity reduces variability in frog recruitment and population dynamics: Biological Conservation, v. 170, p. 169-176.
McCaffery, R.M., Reisor, R., Irvine, K., Brunson, J., 2014, Demographic monitoring and population viability analysis of two rare beardtongues from the Uinta Basin: Western North American Naturalist, v. 74, no. 3, p. 257-274.
McCaffery, R.M., Lips, K.R., 2013, Survival and Abundance in Males of the Glass Frog Espadarana (Centrolene) prosoblepon in Central Panama: Journal of Herpetology, v. 47, no. 1, p. 162-168.
McCaffery, R.M., 2012, Bird ecology across boundaries- international pen pals in the biology classroom: Science and Children, v. 49, no. 7, p. 31-35.
McCaffery, R.M., Solonen, A., Crone, E.E., 2012, Frog population viability under present and future climate conditions- a Bayesian state-space approach: Journal of Animal Ecology, v. 81, p. 978-985.
McCaffery, R.M., Maxell, B.A., 2010, Decreased winter severity increases viability of a montane frog population: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v. 107, p. 8644-8649.
Kearney, M., Wahl, R., Autumn, K., 2005, Increased capacity for sustained locomotion at low temperature in parthenogenetic geckos of hybrid origin.: Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, v. 78, no. 3, p. 316-324.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

To request an interview, contact fresc_outreach@usgs.gov or call (541) 750-1030.

Science and Products

No Result Found
No results found.

If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.

Filter Total Items: 15

Terrestrial fauna are agents and endpoints in ecosystem restoration following dam removal

Dam removal is an effective and increasingly applied river restoration strategy. This has led to heightened calls for research and monitoring aimed at understanding physical and ecological outcomes following dam removal. While such research programs have increased, roles of terrestrial fauna in the restoration process remain poorly understood, although wildlife and invertebrate fauna are key compo
Authors
Rebecca McCaffery, John P. McLaughlin, Kim Sager-Fradkin, Kurt J. Jenkins
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Heterogeneous responses of temperate-zone amphibian populations to climate change complicates conservation planning

The pervasive and unabated nature of global amphibian declines suggests common demographic responses to a given driver, and quantification of major drivers and responses could inform broad-scale conservation actions. We explored the influence of climate on demographic parameters (i.e., changes in the probabilities of survival and recruitment) using 31 datasets from temperate zone amphibian populat
Authors
Erin L. Muths, Thierry A. Chambert, B. R. Schmidt, D. A. W. Miller, Blake R. Hossack, P. Joly, O. Grolet, D. M. Green, David S. Pilliod, M. Cheylan, Robert N. Fisher, R. M. McCaffery, M. J. Adams, W. J. Palen, J. W. Arntzen, J. Garwood, Gary M. Fellers, J. M. Thirion, Evan H. Campbell Grant, A. Besnard
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Effects of amphibian chytrid fungus on individual survival probability in wild boreal toads

Chytridiomycosis is linked to the worldwide decline of amphibians, yet little is known about the demographic effects of the disease. We collected capture-recapture data on three populations of boreal toads (Bufo boreas [Bufo = Anaxyrus]) in the Rocky Mountains (U.S.A.). Two of the populations were infected with chytridiomycosis and one was not. We examined the effect of the presence of amphibian c
Authors
D. S. Pilliod, E. Muths, R. D. Scherer, P.E. Bartelt, P.S. Corn, B. R. Hossack, B.A. Lambert, R. Mccaffery, C. Gaughan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

McCaffery, R.; and P. M. Lukacs. 2016. A generalized integrated population model to estimate greater sage-grouse population dynamics. Ecosphere 7(11): e01585.
McCaffery, R.M., Nowak, J.J., Lukacs, P.M., 2016, Improved analysis of lek count data using N-Mixture models: Journal of Wildlife Management, v. 80, no. 6, p. 1011–1021, https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21094.
McCaffery, R.M., Richards-Zawacki, C.L., Lips, K.R., 2015, The demography of Atelopus decline- Harlequin frog survival and abundance in central Panama prior to and during a disease outbreak: Global Ecology and Conservation, v. 4, p. 232-242, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2015.07.003.
McCaffery, R.M., Eby, L.A., Maxell, B.A., Corn, P.S., 2014, Breeding site heterogeneity reduces variability in frog recruitment and population dynamics: Biological Conservation, v. 170, p. 169-176.
McCaffery, R.M., Reisor, R., Irvine, K., Brunson, J., 2014, Demographic monitoring and population viability analysis of two rare beardtongues from the Uinta Basin: Western North American Naturalist, v. 74, no. 3, p. 257-274.
McCaffery, R.M., Lips, K.R., 2013, Survival and Abundance in Males of the Glass Frog Espadarana (Centrolene) prosoblepon in Central Panama: Journal of Herpetology, v. 47, no. 1, p. 162-168.
McCaffery, R.M., 2012, Bird ecology across boundaries- international pen pals in the biology classroom: Science and Children, v. 49, no. 7, p. 31-35.
McCaffery, R.M., Solonen, A., Crone, E.E., 2012, Frog population viability under present and future climate conditions- a Bayesian state-space approach: Journal of Animal Ecology, v. 81, p. 978-985.
McCaffery, R.M., Maxell, B.A., 2010, Decreased winter severity increases viability of a montane frog population: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v. 107, p. 8644-8649.
Kearney, M., Wahl, R., Autumn, K., 2005, Increased capacity for sustained locomotion at low temperature in parthenogenetic geckos of hybrid origin.: Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, v. 78, no. 3, p. 316-324.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

To request an interview, contact fresc_outreach@usgs.gov or call (541) 750-1030.

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

Was this page helpful?