Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI);
Inventory and Monitoring in the Southeast Region (2003).
 

Annual Report

C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.
Steve A. Johnson
William J. Barichivich
Jennifer S. Staiger

11 November 2003
 

Introduction

ARMI research in the Southeastern Region is conducted from the Florida Integrated Science Center, Gainesville, Florida. Additional ARMI-related research has been conducted by USGS biologists with the Miami-based Center for Water and Restoration Studies, although they have not received ARMI funding. SEARMI is responsible for monitoring the status of 144 species of amphibians in NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, TN, PR, and VI, an area approximately 800 x 1000 linear miles, excluding the Caribbean territories. Within this area, Department of Interior (DOI) land holdings are numerous, ranging in size from "postage stamp" historical sites to extremely large ecosystem-wide parks and preserves. Most lands are administered by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Bureau of Land Management has certain responsibilities for oversight in coal mining areas (such as in northern Alabama), but there are no land holdings.

As in other areas, SEARMI monitors amphibians based on a 3-tiered approach involving sites with intensive research (apex sites), sites that form the basic areas for the core of monitoring activities (mid-level sites), and sites where inventories are conducted (base sites). With few exceptions, federal lands in the southeast have not been surveyed for amphibians or their habitats, thus requiring inventories before proceeding to more intensive study. For this reason, much of our current research focuses on mid-level and base sites. Another emphasis has been on the development of appropriate sampling and biometrical techniques and in understanding the biases associated with their use.  Information from SEARMI's inventory and monitoring program (data collected from the mid-level and apex sampling sites) will be used to assess the status of amphibians on DOI lands using PAO analyses (see Corn et al., Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative: Concepts and Implementation, Biological Science Report USGS/BRD/BSR-2004-xxxx). By making probabilistic arguments, PAO uses an estimation of site occupancy rate to measure species detection probabilities. SEARMI biologists are collecting extensive data on species and their habitats that will allow for an assessment of distribution patterns and trends, and the initiation of research on declines or problem areas should they be identified. Finally, we are developing partnerships and collecting data on amphibian distribution, available literature, and the extent of previous amphibian surveys on DOI lands.

• Extensive Broad Scale Sampling (Base Sites)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park; GSMNP (1998-2001)
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge; ONWR (2000-2002)
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge; SMNWR (2002-2003)
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge; LSNWR (2002-2003)
Big Cypress National Preserve (2001-2002)
Everglades National Park (2001-2002)
• Core of SEARMI Sampling (Mid-level Monitoring Areas)
Terrestrial salamanders (GSMNP, 1998-2000)
Cave salamanders (GSMNP, 1998-2001)
Aquatic and terrestrial amphibians (ONWR, 2000-2002; SMNWR, 2002-2003)
• Intensive (Apex Sites)
SMNWR (Mark/recapture study of amphibians at terrestrial sites.  Comparison with USFWS data from late 1970's)
ONWR (Mark/recapture study of hylid frogs and aquatic salamanders)
LSNWR (Prescribed fire impacts on hylid frogs)

Current results

         Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). – Field work in the GSMNP was conducted from 1998-2001. Details of this work have been presented elsewhere (see Reports and www.cars.usgs.gov). In FY 2003, these data were extensively subjected to additional QA/QC, summary, analysis, and interpretation. Based on these efforts, a book, a research manual, and several peer-reviewed papers and notes have been published (see Products).

Further, a critical variable in both ecological and conservation field studies is determining how many individuals of a species are present within a defined sampling area. Labor intensive techniques such as capture-mark-recapture and removal sampling may provide estimates of abundance, but there are many logistical constraints to their widespread application. Many studies on terrestrial and aquatic salamanders use point-counts as an index of abundance, assuming that detection remains constant while sampling. If this constancy is violated, determination of detection probabilities is critical to the accurate estimation of abundance. Royle (in press) recently developed a statistical approach that allows abundance and detection to be estimated simultaneously from point counts. In FY 2003, we adapted this model to estimate these parameters for salamanders sampled over a six year period in area-constrained plots in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Estimates of salamander abundance varied among years, but annual changes in abundance did not vary uniformly among species. Except for two species, abundance estimates were not correlated with site covariates (elevation, soil and water pH, conductivity, air and water temperature). The uncertainty in the estimates was so large as to make correlations ineffectual in predicting which covariates might influence abundance. Detection probabilities also varied among species and sometimes among years for the six species examined. We found such a high degree of variation in our counts and in estimates of detection among species, sites, and years as to cast doubt upon the appropriateness of using point-count data to monitor population trends using a small number of area-constrained survey plots. Still, the model provided reasonable estimates of abundance that could make it useful in estimating population size from point-count surveys.

Work continues on a model that attempts to emulate the effect of landscape changes on salamander communities. The recent availability of a high resolution vegetation map of the Park will be incorporated into the model. Data analysis and model development continues. We anticipate completing the analysis in early 2004 with peer-reviewed paper submission by June.

         Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR). – Field research in ONWR extended from August 2000 until August 2002. Most data have been summarized and analyzed. Dr. Lora Smith, formerly of SE ARMI and lead scientist at Okefenokee, expects to have a manuscript on the results of the project ready for submission before the end of calendar year 2003. All sampling equipment was removed from the refuge by November 2003 after high water levels allowed access to previously inaccessible sites.

Base-level monitoring areas

         St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (SMNWR). – Located in the Florida panhandle, SMNWR has a diversity of upland and wetland habitats and potentially supports 40 species of amphibians (21 anurans and 19 caudates). SEARMI established the refuge as a base-level monitoring area in the summer of 2002.  One of our goals is to establish a current, comprehensive list of amphibian species for the refuge. Methods we use to conduct this inventory include time-constrained searches, dip netting, aquatic funnel trapping, automated frogloggers, drift fences with associated funnel and pitfall traps, and incidental observations. Data gleaned from our base-level inventory will be used to help design our mid-level monitoring strategy and to update the species list maintained by refuge staff. Thus far we have found 29 species of amphibians (20 anurans and 9 caudates). Our base-level work at the refuge is conducted in concert with mid- and apex-level studies.

         Lower Suwannee Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge (LSNWR). – LSNWR is located on the Gulf Coast in Florida's Big Bend and potentially supports 37 species of amphibians (21 anurans and 16 caudates). Because there are no historical amphibian data for the refuge, we are conducting base-level sampling across the refuge to inventory species richness.  SEARMI initiated an inventory in the summer of 2002.  Methods we use include drift fences with associated funnel traps, PVC pipe refugia, dip netting, automated frogloggers, and incidental observations.  In April 2003 we installed 10 drift fence arrays in various habitats at LSNWR. The arrays are organized into two groups--five in Levy County south of the Suwannee River, and five in Dixie County north of the river.  Because of logistic constraints, traps are usually opened at only one group of arrays during sampling periods. Since May of 2003, we have sampled eight three or four day periods and captured 615 anurans (no salamanders). To date at LSNWR, using funnel traps at drift fences and the techniques mentioned above, we have documented 22 species of amphibians (18 anurans and 4 caudates), several of which are county records. Data from this base-level work will be used to develop a species list for the refuge and to design a mid-level monitoring plan. Our base-level work at the refuge is conducted in concert with apex-level studies of treefrog populations. 

Mid-level monitoring areas

         St Marks National Wildlife Refuge (SMNWR). – Mid-level monitoring by SE ARMI is being conducted at numerous wetlands on SMNWR. Our mid-level monitoring sites include ephemeral wetlands, lakes, streams, and manmade impoundments.  Methods we use at these sites are dip netting, visual encounter surveys, frogloggers, and aquatic funnel traps. We also collect covariate data during sampling, including water temperature, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, fish species, and aquatic invertebrates.  We sampled mid-level sites monthly in conjunction with our apex-level drift fence study.  To date we have sampled 44 wetlands and detected 23 species of amphibians (15 anuran and 8 caudates), excluding froglogger data.  Data from mid-level sites will be used to estimate species detectability and finalize a long-term monitoring plan incorporating PAO.

Apex-level monitoring areas

         St Marks National Wildlife Refuge (SMNWR). – Apex-level monitoring at SMNWR consists of mark-recapture studies at 12 drift fence arrays located among the three major units of the refuge. In the fall of 2002, we established drift-fence arrays (with associated pitfall and funnel traps) at 12 apex sites to repeat a study conducted by the USFWS in the late 1970's. From October 2002 through September 2003 we opened traps at the arrays monthly for seven consecutive days most months.  We deployed environmental monitoring equipment (temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, and soil moisture) at 3 of our apex sites to collect covariate data.  During 12 months of sampling at the arrays we had 1,403 amphibian captures (285 reptile captures) and detected 15 anuran species and 2 caudate species (25 reptile species detected). Prominent among our captures were 16 Ambystoma cingulatum, a federally threatened salamander. We also captured 11 Eleutherodactylus planirostris, a nonindigenous species that was not detected in the late 1970's. Although we have not yet completed detailed analyses, some interesting patterns are emerging in our capture data as compared to the results from the USFWS study. FWS biologists captured Striped Newts (Notophthalmus perstriatus) at three of the array sites and considered this species common in the 1970's.  Despite our trapping effort at the arrays and our extensive sampling of suitable breeding ponds, we have yet to detect Striped Newts on the refuge. Three other salamander species have been captured in fewer numbers and at fewer sites in our study compared with results from the 1970's. However, our effort is a fraction of the effort expended during the USFWS study. We will compare current species richness and abundance to that found during the USFWS study two decades ago. We expect to reanalyze their raw data and use the "open" model in program PRESENCE to compare their historic findings with our results. Data from apex sites will also be used to estimate species detectability and design a long-term monitoring plan incorporating PAO.

         Lower Suwannee Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge (LSNWR). – LSNWR was established as an apex-level monitoring area in July 2003. The primary objective of this research is to assess short-term demographic effects of prescribed burns on treefrog populations. Prescribed burning is a common and widespread management tool in the Southeast, but little is known about population-level impacts to amphibians. We established grids of 121 PVC pipe refugia at each of two apex-monitoring sites located within pine flatwoods communities at LSNWR.  Sites are visited monthly and all treefrogs encountered are individually marked, weighed, measured, and released.  The grids have been checked for frogs twice to date, and a total of 59 Hyla femoralis, 27 H. squirella, and 3 H. gratisoa have been individually marked.  This initial work, which will continue through summer 2004, is a pilot study to determine if the PVC grid design is adequate for addressing our primary objective.

Other Activities

         Effects of Nonindigenous Species. – Between May and August 2003, laboratory trials were conducted to assess the outcomes of interactions between the larvae of two nonindigenous amphibians (Bufo marinus and Osteopilus septentrionalis) and the larvae of two amphibians native to Florida (Hyla cinerea and Bufo terrestris). Additional experimental trials were designed to assess the outcome of interactions between B. marinus and O. septentrionalis. Measures of growth and development of larval H. cinerea and B. terrestris were significantly lower when these species were reared with O. septentrionalis larvae than when reared separately.  Hyla cinerea larvae also experienced significantly reduced growth in the presence of B. marinus larvae. As a result of decreased growth and developmental rates, larval H. cinerea and B. terrestris each took significantly longer to reach metamorphosis when reared with O. septentrionalis.  The magnitude of this effect was an additional 4.1 days for H. cinerea (adding 11.2% to larval developmental time) and an additional 1.9 days for B. terrestris (adding 12.1% to larval developmental time). The presence of larvae of either nonindigenous species did not significantly impact survivorship of B. terrestris larvae in these trials. However, there was some evidence that survivorship of H. cinerea larvae reared with nonindigenous larvae was lower than that of H. cinerea tadpoles reared separately. Preliminary analyses suggest that when both nonindigenous species are reared together, growth and developmental rates of B. marinus larvae are lower than when this species is reared separately.  In contrast, growth and development rates of O. septentrionalis larvae are marginally greater when this species is reared with B. marinus larvae than when reared separately. Osteopilus septentrionalis outcompeted both H. cinerea and B. terrestris in an experimental setting.  Bufo marinus, however, only affected H. cinerea, and the magnitude of this effect was smaller than that caused by O. septentrionalis.  These results suggest that these nonindigenous amphibians, especially O. septentrionalis, may adversely impact native amphibian communities in Florida.

         Database Development. – Although SEARMI has a stand alone Access database, efforts have been made to migrate existing data to the national database as well as to create a real-time connection to the San Diego SQL server. The SEARMI staff is working with the Fisher group to develop PDA field forms through Pendragon Forms Enterprise Edition. Progress to date includes the creation and distribution of a single field form and 11 subforms. Field testing is underway and full scale implementation is scheduled for December 2003. Additionally, a PC based interface to the San Diego server is planned for local use.

         Trace metals in aquatic salamanders. – In collaboration with Brian Hughes (WRD) we initiated a study of trace metals in the aquatic salamanders Amphiuma means and Siren lacertina.  We plan to sample at three sites in Florida—SMNWR, Katharine Ordway Preserve, Lake Apopka. To date, we have sampled four ponds at SMNWR.  Over a three-day trapping period in September 2003, we captured 13 Siren lacertina and two Amphiuma means.  We collected tail tissue from 12 of the Siren and both Amphiuma.  Samples have not yet been submitted for analysis. 

         Disease Monitoring. – We continue to look for diseased or malformed amphibians during our field work at SMNWR and LSNWR.  On 19 December 2002 we found sick Rana sphenocephala tadpoles at a single pond ("Perkinsus Pond") at SMNWR.  Tadpoles were bloated, edemic, and lethargic.  We collected 20 tadpoles, and shipped six live, six frozen, and eight formalin-preserved to Dr. David Green at the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI.  An additional four live tadpoles collected on 18 December 2002 from another pond ("Prairie Pond") were also submitted for health screening.  Based on histological examination and/or a PCR-based test, 12 of the tadpoles from "Perkinsus Pond" were infected with an unidentified Perkinsus-like organism (likely to be named Anuraperkinsus emelandra). None of the four tadpoles from "Prairie Pond" were infected with this organism.  Several species of parasites, which are common in tadpoles, were also detected by histology.  We collected additional tadpoles on 10 February 2003 from four ponds, including "Perkinsus Pond."  Fifteen Rana sphenocephala tadpoles from "Perkinsus Pond", 15 R. sphenocephala and 2 R. grylio tadpoles from "Stony Bayou 1" pool, 16 R. grylio tadpoles from "Ring Pond",  and 18 R. sphenocephala tadpoles from "Gum Forest Pond," were collected. The R. grylio tadpoles were the first of this species seen by Dr. Green's lab. Based on observations during necropsy of the tadpoles, only three tadpoles (from the infected "Perkinsus Pond") appeared to be infected with the Perkinsus-like organism. None of the tadpoles examined from the other three ponds appeared infected. During our monthly field sampling at SMNWR, we continued to visit "Perkinsus Pond" to look for diseased amphibians.  On 19 May 2003, we made another collection from this pond and sent 4 R. sphenocephala and 6 Acris gryllus tadpoles to the Madison laboratory.  Based on histology, one of the R. sphenocephala and one of the A. gryllus tadpoles were infected with the Perkinsus-like organism.  This was the first time Dr. Green detected the Perkinsus-like organism in a non-ranid amphibian. A PCR-based test revealed an additional A. gryllus was infected with the disease-causing organism. On 18 August 2003 we shipped another group of tadpoles, 14 A. gryllus tadpoles from "Perkinsus Pond," and 5 R. catesbeiana and 5 R. clamitans from "Jennifer Sink," for health screening.  Based on necropsy of the tadpoles, three R. clamitans and all five R. catesbeiana from "Jennifer Sink" were presumptively positive for the Perkinsus-like organism.  This suggests that the disease is not isolated and occurs in at least four species of anurans at SMNWR.

         Sampling bias analysis. – We conducted an analysis of sampling biases (pipe location, pipe diameter, seasonal species preference) associated with occupancy of PVC pipes by hylid treefrogs. We sampled a population of two species of hylid treefrogs (Hyla cinerea and H. squirella) using 90 vertical ground-placed PVC pipes of 3 diameters positioned along a 1500-m transect in order to identify potential capture biases. The transect was located at a forest-open pond ecotone at the FISC in Alachua County, Florida. We recorded 1,981 treefrog observations (778 unmarked, 1,203 recaptures) in 8 months. Our results identified species-specific seasonal and weather-related variation in capture by pipe diameter and pipe location. These biases may limit the usefulness of this sampling technique when monitoring long-term treefrog population status and trends. A research paper discussing our findings will appear in the next issue of Southeastern Naturalist.

         Aquatic Funnel Trap Testing. – Throughout 2003 we continued using modified aquatic funnel traps to sample for amphibians and fish at our monitoring sites.  The traps, made primarily from plastic-coated chicken wire, are commercially produced crayfish traps modified with Vexar™ mesh. A USGS SCEP student at the University of Florida, Kristina Sorensen, used these traps to characterize populations of Siren lacertina and Amphiuma means at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Katharine Ordway Preserve.  She also compared trap success between the modified crayfish traps and plastic minnow traps.  In sampling at SMNWR, we captured 14 species of amphibians, 9 species of aquatic reptiles, and at least 31 fish species. The traps are especially effective for S. lacertina and A. means. 

         Cuban Treefrog Distribution. – Cuban Treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) are one of four species of nonindigenous anurans established in Florida. Cuban Treefrogs are voracious predators, which are known to feed on native treefrogs. Cuban Treefrogs continue to expand their range northward in the Florida peninsula. We are documenting new distribution records for this invasive species and plan to create a spatial dataset with its associated metadata to be posted to our website. We are collaborating with Extension staff at the University of Florida on this project.  We are working with UF to develop a "fact sheet" for Cuban Treefrogs that will be available through our web site.

         Water Quality Monitoring. – We assisted Brian Hughes and staff (WRD) in the collection and field processing of water samples from 16 sites at SMNWR and 8 sites at LSNWR. Water samples were collected at streams, lakes, and isolated wetlands in June 2003 at SMNWR and in July 2003 at LSNWR. Most locations sampled for water quality were co-located with amphibian monitoring sites—some wetlands at SMNWR were mid-level monitoring sites. Field parameters (pH, conductance, dissolved oxygen, temperature), major ions, nutrients, trace metals (including mercury), and suspended/particulate organic carbon were analyzed at all the sites.

         Outreach. – The Schoolyard Treefrog Monitoring Project, introduced at the Florida Integrated Science Center Open House in April 2002, involves children in the study of amphibians and their habitats. Using artificial refugia (PVC pipes in the ground), the children can observe treefrogs found in the habitats around their schools. They report the species and number of individuals found to the project's website (http://cars.er.usgs.gov/Education/Herpetology/Data_Submission/data_submission.html), and can compare results with other schools. Currently five schools in the Gainesville and St. Petersburg, FL, areas are participating in the project.

In order to increase public awareness about the ARMI program and frogs in general, we developed a calendar for 2004 showcasing 13 species of frogs from north Florida and highlighting the ARMI program. Calendars, which are being printed by the USGS Tallahassee office, will be distributed to local natural resource agencies, universities, public schools, visitors to the Florida Integrated Science Center in Gainesville, and our project cooperators. We also will distribute calendars to SMNWR and LSNWR as one product from our research. The calendars will be given to refuge visitors.

Plans for 2004

• We will continue our base-level inventories of amphibians at St. Marks and Lower Suwannee NWRs. Base-level data will be collected in concert with our mid- and apex-level studies.
   
• We will continue mid-level monitoring of wetlands at SMNWR.  We plan to sample a selected suite of wetlands quarterly to determine amphibian species richness.  We will collect the same covariate data (see Water Quality Monitoring) but will include counts of fish and invertebrate predators, canopy cover, hydroperiod, and presence of disease (e.g., Perkinsus-like organism) as covariates.  We are collaborating with Brian Hughes to establish pressure transducers at 15 ponds to record water levels and determine hydroperiods.  We hope to identify predators and other covariates that influence amphibian species richness.
   
• Apex-level monitoring at SMNWR will consist of quarterly sampling at established drift fence arrays through 2004. We are retrieving archived tape data from the 1970's USFWS study at the refuge, and we will work with biometrician Robert Dorazio (Florida Integrated Science Center) to compare our data with historic data in an attempt to identify changes in amphibian species richness and abundance. At LSNWR, the PVC pipes at our two apex-sites will be checked monthly for treefrogs—one site is scheduled to burn in the spring of 2004. We will check the pipes for several months post burn, and analyze our data to detect short-term effects.
   
• Monitoring for diseased and malformed amphibians will continue at our study sites. We will continue to monitor "Perkinsus Pond", "Jennifer Sink", and other ponds at SMNWR for diseased amphibians and we will work closely with David Green on this issue. We plan to submit a collaborative proposal with Dr. Green to the ARMI competitive grants program.
   
• Pending funds from the USFWS in 2004, we hope to initiate a range-wide monitoring program for Striped Newts (Notophthalmus perstriatus). This study will include collaborators from federal and state agencies, an NGO, and a private research station.  Objectives of the proposed study are to determine factors that affect Striped Newt detectability, site occupancy, and metapopulation dynamics (i.e., local extinction and colonization probabilities); use program PRESENCE to examine population status and trends for Striped Newts across their range; and to establish a diverse team of cooperators committed to conducting long-term research on Striped Newt population status, trends, and factors affecting site occupancy dynamics
   
• Preparation of manuscript based on data collected at ONWR.
   
• Potentially negative interactions between indigenous and nonindigenous anuran larvae were documented during the summer 2003 in a series of laboratory experiments. Results showed that the presence of two larval nonindigenous amphibians, Bufo marinus and Osteopilus septentrionalis, can have significant but variable effects on the body size and developmental rate of the larvae of several species of amphibians indigenous to Florida (B. terrestris, Hyla cinerea, and Gastrophryne carolinensis). Research in 2004 will include experiments designed to identify the competitive mechanisms underlying the observed effects of nonindigenous anuran larvae on indigenous larvae.  Using the same basic laboratory set-up as in 2003, the relative importance of competitive interference and exploitation will be assessed using a series of factorial experiments in which the effects of increased competitor density (interference competition) and decreased food supply (exploitation competition) are examined independently. Further, an aquatic predator, such as Notopthalmus viridescens, will be added to mesocosms in order to examine the potential impact of nonindigenous amphibian larvae on the predator-prey dynamics of a simulated larval amphibian community. Research in 2004 also will examine the interaction of B. marinus and G. carolinensis larvae in order to determine the mechanism of the observed growth facilitation.
   
• We plan to visit new DOI lands as potential ARMI monitoring sites, including Harris Neck, Savannah, Carolina Sandhills, and Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuges.

National, Regional, and Local Concerns

• Are all the regions on the right track in terms of how we are approaching I&M?

--inventorying (how much time is spent on new inventories as opposed to monitoring per se)
--monitoring (are species of concern ["trust species"] being adequately monitored)
--contracting (how much is used, either directly or through CESUs)

• Who is going to do the monitoring in the future? It is quite clear that FWS will not be able to do so (money, expertise, and manpower issues) and NPS seems to be following their own approach (at least in the Southeast). USGS will never have the money and manpower to do it all, and if our partners are unwilling or unable, what is plan B? Is there any high level (Reston-Washington-State Capitol) attempts to form official partnerships and orchestrate data sharing and common sampling procedures. Field researchers can get to know refuge biologists, but we have no voice in Atlanta or Tallahassee, for example, and ARMI field or research biologists are unlikely to get an audience, much less a commitment, from the FWS Regional Directors or Directors of State agencies. Of course, we could always cut costs by firing all our biologists/techs, and contracting for status or inventories directly with our partners.
   
• How can we monitor the status of amphibians nationally when so few protected species or fraction of biodiversity occurs on DOI lands? Perhaps ARMI should expand to non-DOI lands in certain instances.  Clearly, there are many species (some of them listed) that we will not be able to monitor if we limit ourselves to DOI lands. This may not be a problem in other regions, but is clearly a problem in the southeast. We should look to DOD and USDA (national forests) land holdings for places to conduct work as well as try to establish these agencies as cooperators that provide funding for research.  Another group of partners might be the state park systems. In Florida, for example, monitoring in state parks would enhance our spatial representation of species and habitats.  Furthermore, many of the parks have biologists that might be able and willing to carry out monitoring protocols that ARMI researchers develop.
   
• Budget. In the past we paid no overhead on ARMI funds. Last year, our Center required overhead to be taken out, but this was offset by a budget increase from Congress. This year, Southeast ARMI will be paying Center Overhead, an additional "facilities" overhead, an IDP charge, as well as partial salaries of two other FISC Administrators. We are being squeezed for funds. We can't hire new terms or temps because of FTE restrictions, and if we go to Johnson Controls the costs skyrocket. Outside funding sources (State, FWS, NPS) are dry or rapidly drying, and they don't want to pay our overhead or salaries anyway. This is something that needs to be addressed at a national level.

Staff

C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr., Research Zoologist, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center
Steve A. Johnson, Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center
William J. Barichivich, Biologist, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center
Jennifer S. Staiger, Biologist, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center
Maureen Kelly, Volunteer, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center
Brooke Talley, Volunteer, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center
Melissa Friedman, Volunteer, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center

Collaborators and Partners

Kenneth G. Rice, USGS, Florida Integrated Science Center
Hardin Waddle, USGS, Florida Integrated Science Center
Brian Hughes, USGS, WRD Georgia District Office
Ann Foster, USGS, Florida Integrated Science Center
Robert Dorazio, USGS, Florida Integrated Science Center
David E. Green, USGS, National Wildlife Health Center
Cyndy Loftin, USGS, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Jon McClosky, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Franklin Percival, USGS, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Keith Langdon, NPS, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Joe Reinman, USFWS, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
Steve Barlow, USFWS, Lower Suwannee Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
Lora Smith, Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center
Kevin G. Smith, University of Tennessee
Paul Box, Utah State University

Products

Publications

Barichivich, W.J.  2003. Appendix IV: Guidelines for building and operating remote field recorders. In Dodd, C. K., Jr. Monitoring Amphibians in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. U.S. Geological Survey Circular No. 1258:87-94.  <Acrobat PDF>.

Corser, J. D. and C. K. Dodd, Jr. 2004. Fluctuations in a metapopulation of nesting four-toed salamanders, Hemidactylium scutatum, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 1999-2003. Nat. Areas J., in press.

Dodd, C. K., Jr. 2003.  Monitoring Amphibians in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. U.S. Geological Survey Circular No. 1258, 117 pp.

Dodd, C.K., Jr.  2004. Red Hills salamander. Phaeognathus hubrichti Highton, 1961. Pp. __ In: M. J. Lannoo (ed.), Status and Conservation of U.S. Amphibians. Vol. 2: Species Accounts. Univ. California Press, Berkeley.

Dodd, C.K., Jr.  2004. Amphibian conservation and population manipulation. Pp. —  In: M.J. Lannoo (ed.),Status and Conservation of U.S. Amphibians. Vol. 1: Conservation Essays.  Univ. California Press, Berkeley.

Dodd, C. K., Jr. 2004.  The Amphibians of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Univ. Tennessee Press, Knoxville, in press.

Dodd, C.K., Jr. and L. L. Smith. 2003.  Habitat destruction and alteration. Historical trends and future prospects for amphibians. Pp. 94-112 In: R. D. Semlitsch (ed.), Amphibian Conservation. Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, DC.

Dodd, C.K., Jr., D. B. Means, and S.A. Johnson.  2004. Striped newt. Notophthalmus perstriatus (Bishop), 1941. Pp. ___ In: M. J. Lannoo (ed.), Status and Conservation of U.S. Amphibians. Vol. 2: Species Accounts. Univ. California Press, Berkeley.

Dodd, C. K., Jr. and R. M. Dorazio. Using point-counts to simultaneously estimate abundance and detection probabilities in a salamander community. Herpetologica, in review.

Johnson, S.A.  2003. Orientation and migration distances of a pond-breeding salamander (Notophthalmus perstriatus, Salamandridae).  Alytes 21:28-47.

Johnson, S.A.  200_. Conservation and Life History of the Striped Newt: The Importance of Habitat Connectivity. Pp. XX-XX in: Status and Conservation of Florida Amphibians and Reptiles, W.E. Meshaka and K. J. Babbitt (eds.). Krieger Publishing, Malabar, FL., in press.

Johnson, S.A.  200_. Influence of growth rate on life-history expression of striped newts. American Midland Naturalist, in press.

Johnson, S.A. and R.D. Owen. 2004.  Two-toed amphiuma. Amphiuma means Garden, 1821. Pp. __ In: M. J. Lannoo (ed.), Status and Conservation of U.S. Amphibians. Vol. 2: Species Accounts. Univ. California Press, Berkeley.

Johnson, S.A., J.S. Staiger, and W.J. Barichivich,.  2003. Eleutherodactylus planirostris Geographic Distribution. Herpetological Review 32(4):161-162.

Johnson, S.A. and W.J. Barichivich.  A simple technique for trapping Siren lacertina, Amphiuma means, and other aquatic vertebrates. Journal of Freshwater Ecology, in review.

S.A. Johnson, J.S. Staiger, W.J. Barichivich, and S. Barlow. Osteopilus septentrionalis Geographic Distribution. Herpetological Review, in review.

Krysko, K.L, K.M. Enge, J.H. Townsend, E. M. Langan, S.A. Johnson, and T.S. Campbell.  New county records of amphibians and reptiles in Florida.  Herpetological Review, in review.

Sorensen, K. 2003. Trapping success and population analysis of Siren lacertina and Amphiuma means. M.S. thesis, University of Florida, Gainesville.

Waldron, J. L., C. K. Dodd, Jr., and J. D. Corser. 2003.  Leaf litterbags: factors affecting capture of stream-dwelling salamanders. Applied Herpetology 1:23-36.

Zacharow, M., W. J. Barichivich, and C. K. Dodd, Jr. 2003. Using ground-placed PVC pipes to monitor hylid treefrogs: capture biases. Southeastern Nat., in press.

Reports

Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): 2003 Summary Report for St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge:  http://cars.er.usgs.gov/Amphibians_and_Reptiles/St_Marks_NWR/st_marks_nwr.html

Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): 2003 Summary Report for Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge: http://cars.er.usgs.gov/Amphibians_and_Reptiles/Lower_Suwannee_NWR/lower_suwannee_nwr.html

Presentations

Dodd, C. K., Jr. 2003. Amphibians of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 2003 Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Corps Invited Speaker, 26^th Annual All-Florida Herpetology Conference, Gainesville. April 6.

Dodd, C.K., Jr. 2003. Monitoring amphibians in the Southeastern US: ARMI and the Great Smoky Mountains. USGS/FISC Cyber Seminar, Gainesville. May 5.

Johnson, S.A. 2002. USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): The Southeastern ARMI Project. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Annual Meeting of the Florida and South Georgia Refuge Biologists, Folkston, GA. November.

Johnson, S.A. 2003. Orientation and migration distances of the Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus), a pond-breeding salamander. Gopher Tortoise Council, Orlando, FL. October.Johnson, S.A. 2003. USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), and Life History of Striped Newts. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Annual Park Biologists Meeting, Gold Head Branch State Park, Keystone Heights, FL. April.

Internet

Dodd, C. K., Jr. 2003. Checklist of the amphibians of the southeastern United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands: http://cars.er.usgs.gov/Amphibians_and_Reptiles/amphibian_checklist/amphibian_checklist.html

Dodd, C. K., Jr. 2003. References on Inventorying and Monitoring Amphibians: http://cars.er.usgs.gov/Amphibians_and_Reptiles/Herp_IM_Program/herp_im_program.html