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Includes data used to estimate population demographic parameters for an exemplary high-elevation amphibian species, the federally endangered Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon shenandoah). These parameters were entered into a Markov projection model which we used to forecast the future population status of the Shenandoah salamander.

Altered flow regimes can contribute to dissociation between life history strategies and environmental conditions, leading to reduced persistence reported for many wildlife populations inhabiting regulated rivers. The Oregon spotted frog Rana pretiosa is a threatened species occurring in floodplains, ponds, and wetlands in the Pacific Northwest with a core range in Oregon, USA. All life stages of R. pretiosa are reliant on aquatic habitats, and inundation patterns across the phenological timeline can have implications for population success. We conducted capture–mark–recapture (CMR) sampling of adult and subadult R. pretiosa at three sites along the Deschutes River downstream from two dams that regulate flows. We related the seasonal extent of inundated habitat at each site to monthly survival probabilities using a robust design CMR model. We also developed matrix projection models to simulate population dynamics into the future under current river flows. Monthly survival was strongly associated with the extent and variability of inundated habitat, suggesting some within-season fluctuations at higher water levels could be beneficial. Seasonal survival was lowest in the winter for all three sites, owing to limited water availability and the greater number of months within this season relative to other seasons. Population growth for the two river-connected sites was most strongly linked to adult survival, whereas population growth at the river-disconnected site was most strongly tied to survival in juvenile stages. This research identifies population effects of seasonally limited water and highlights conservation potential of enhancing survival of particularly influential life stages.

Data contain metabolic rates of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) exposed to different thermal regimes, and the movements of salamanders marked with PIT tags and exposed to electromagnetic fields.

This dataset contains data from an ongoing trapping effort beginning in 2019 targeting alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) in the Atchafalaya Basin of south-central Louisiana.

This dataset contains data on trapping methodology, turtle captures, and environmental variables from a trapping effort targeting alligator snapping turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) in south-central Louisiana in 2019.

Data used in manuscript applying occupancy analysis to estimate presence of four anuran species at wetlands in northern Iowa as a function of eight environmental
covariates hypothesized to affect occupancy.

We investigated the influence of brines and NaCl alone at commensurate concentrations on three larval amphibian species that occur in areas with energy-related brine contamination. The dataset contains size information (mass in grams, snout-vent length in millimeters) of larval Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) and Leopard Frogs (Rana pipiens) and Barred Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium) taken during 96-h lethal-concentration-50 experiments. Larvae were generally exposed to concentrations of brine or NaCl ranging from 0–8,000 mg/L increasing by 1,000 mg/L increments. Other associated dataset: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.913836

We investigated the influence of increased salinity on survival, growth, water content, and Corticosterone responses of larval Northern Leopard Frogs (Rana pipiens) by exposing them to environmentally-relevant salinity treatments for 24 days. We also inhibited Corticosterone for half of the replicates using mifepristone to determine if Corticosterone mediates effects of salinity and tradeoffs between traits. Other associated datasets:
https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.919212
https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.919211
https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.919209

We investigated the relative effects of NaCl and energy-related saline wastewaters on hatching success, survival, size and development, and behaviors of northern leopard frogs ([i]Rana pipiens[/i]) and boreal chorus frogs ([i]Pseudacris maculata[/i]). Eggs were exposed and responses were tracked through hatching for 24 days. Five datasets are included. (1) Includes hatching and survival data for leopard frog eggs and larvae. (2) Includes hatching and survival data for chorus frog eggs and larvae. (3) Includes behavioral responses of both species monitored daily from day 9–24. (4) Includes morphology measurements from larval leopard frogs taken at the end of the experiment on day 24. (5) Includes morphology measurements from larval leopard frogs taken at the end of the experiment on day 24.

We exposed larval leopard frogs to increased salinity and RU486 (a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist) and tested their influence on waterborne corticosterone (baseline and stress-induced) and aldosterone and relationships between the two adrenal steroid hormones.

This data set is comprised of 2 files consisting of field observations, morphological measurements, and water quality measurements relevant to a publication on the classification and population status of the WV Spring salamander, Gyrinophilius subterraneus.

California Red-legged Frogs (Rana draytonii) are typically regarded as inhabitants of permanent ponds, marshes, and slow-moving streams, but their ecology in other habitats, including coastal dunes, remains obscure. To avoid and minimize potential negative effects of dune restoration activities, we studied the spatial ecology, habitat selection, and survival of California Red-legged Frogs in coastal dune drainages at Point Reyes National Seashore, California. Frogs remained in their home drainages throughout the summer, and, with some notable exceptions, most remained close to water. Home ranges of California Red-legged Frogs in dunes were generally small, and they selected areas near water with logs that served as refuge from environmental extremes and predators. California Red-legged Frogs avoided invasive dune plants, and had high survival rates in coastal dune drainages. Whether frogs will use dunes dominated by native species in the same manner as they use dunes degraded by non-native plants, and whether a more dynamic dune ecosystem will maintain the microhabitats necessary to support California Red-legged Frog populations in the future remains unknown.

Data release and code for Ecological Applications paper: A statistical forecasting approach to metapopulation viability analysis

This dataset provides the data associated with a 2015 project to examine factors affecting the occupancy of Gulf Coast Waterdogs along Bayou Lacombe, Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Data include site locations and distance from headwaters, water data (pH, turbidity, salinity, and depth), and capture data from trap checks. For Necturus beyeri captures, the datatset provides the sex of captures and length and mass measurements. The dataset states whether eggs were visible in females, whether each animal was swabbed for disease and whether tissue was clipped for genetics.

This dataset contains information from surveys conducted 2010-2018 by USGS as part of a long-term Oregon spotted frog monitoring effort in the central Oregon range. Data consist of site, survey, habitat, and species detection covariates, as well as inter-site distance measurements.

Amphibians living in agricultural areas encounter many challenges. Two factors affecting individuals in these landscapes are habitat loss and pesticides. This thesis focuses on amphibians using agricultural wetlands in Iowa, where row crops such as corn and soybeans dominate the landscape. The goal of of the first study was to determine the influences of site characteristics on amphibian presence and success. Occupancy analysis was used to estimate proportion of area occupied by four species as a function of eight covariates hypothesized to affect occupancy: fish abundance, salamander abundance, invertebrate density, vegetative cover, wetland area, water atrazine concentration, surrounding crop land use, and overall wetland health score. We surveyed 27 wetlands in 2015 and 2016. Occupancy analysis results indicate almost all covariates were supported in our model sets although their estimated effects were weak. Direction of predicted effects of covariates on amphibians varied by species and life stage. Results show that wetland site occupancy for species in our study ranged from https://0.23 to https://0.95. Although we did not find strong evidence that the environmental factors we measured influenced amphibian occupancy, we provide insight on amphibian use of a modified agricultural landscape. The goal of the second study was to understand where and when frogs are most susceptible to pesticide exposure and how that exposure relates to accumulation. We hypothesized habitat use would influence a frog’s exposure to pesticides. We radio tracked 72 Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates pipiens) in agricultural wetlands and assessed their survival. We used Passive Sampling Devices (PSDs) to test for differences in pesticide exposure among grassland, wetland, and agricultural habitats. We found that pesticide concentration analyzed from PSDs varied among habitat types (P < 0.01) with concentration greatest in agricultural habitats. Amphibians frequently used wetland habitats early in our study, and transitioned into grassland habitats later in the summer, using agricultural fields rarely. Number and concentration of pesticides were greatest in tissues collected in May, but few pesticides were detected in individuals captured in August (P < https://0.01 and P < https://0.01, respectively). Our results indicate risk of pesticide accumulation is highest in aquatic habitats earlier in the year.

This dataset contains initial data from head-started alligator snapping turtles released by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) from November 2015 to October 2016. In addition, it contains data from a five-day trapping effort at each of seven release sites by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from late June to early October 2018. Trapping was completed using hoop nets of three sizes. We recaptured eight head-started alligator snapping turtles as well as four individuals native to the creek.

Data release for manuscript summarizing responses of Rocky Mountain Tailed Frogs to the 2003 Robert Fire in Glacier National Park.

Livestock grazing is one of the most common land uses in the western United States, where multiple amphibians of conservation concern use habitats that are grazed. Despite the common intersection of grazing and sensitive amphibian species, there are very few reviews of research related to the issue. USGS researchers compiled and summarized literature pertaining to livestock grazing effects on amphibians and their habitats, with an emphasis on wetland-breeding species in the western United States. Users of the annotated bibliography can utilize an integrated search tool with user-defined criteria to query records and output results. This tool aids users in synthesizing research related to a range of specific questions and should assist land managers in evaluating and implementing grazing while maintaining habitat for wetland amphibians.