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USGS science helps understand the causes, consequences, and benefits of wildfire and helps prevent and manage larger, catastrophic events.

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Ecosystems Science at USGS

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Ecosystems Mission Area

The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area provides science that directly benefits the health, safety, and prosperity of the American people by providing trusted and timely information to help address the Nation’s toughest management and conservation issues impacting public lands and the surrounding communities that benefit from them. 

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USGS Science for Food & Water Security

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USGS Ecosystems Mission Area science helps ensure safe and abundant domestic food and water supplies, ensuring all Americans access to livelihoods and traditions that connect generations with each other and the outdoors and strengthen America’s self-reliance

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USGS Science for Public Safety & Security

Before and after pictures - Hurricane Rita and Holly Beach, Louisiana, USA

Science within the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area provides a critical advantage in addressing public safety, infrastructure, and security issues surrounding natural disasters and changing landscapes, strengthening America’s ability to be a hazard ready Nation. 

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USGS Science for Economic Growth

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Science provided by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area helps boost America’s economy by providing practical tools to implement cost-effective management and development strategies that supports the Nation’s economic growth and protects our natural heritage.

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News

Reeling in Cleaner Data: Experts Use AI to Support Resilient Inland Fisheries

Reeling in Cleaner Data: Experts Use AI to Support Resilient Inland Fisheries

Western Fisheries Research Center Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Meeting - August 19, 2026

Western Fisheries Research Center Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Meeting - August 19, 2026

Advancing the Science and Management of Range Shifts

Advancing the Science and Management of Range Shifts

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Publications

Bayesian hierarchical model of lake whitefish cohort strength from sparse trawl data Bayesian hierarchical model of lake whitefish cohort strength from sparse trawl data

Recruitment indices for rare or intermittently recruiting fishes are needed to compare year classes and evaluate recruitment drivers, but sparse trawl data with many zero-catch observations complicate estimation. We used fall bottom trawl data from New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio surveys in Lake Erie's central and eastern basins to estimate annual relative cohort strength of age-0 lake...
Authors
Zachary J Amidon, Song S. Qian, Robin L. DeBruyne, Mark Richard Dufour, Christine M. Mayer, Edward Roseman, Alexis McCarter
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Great Lakes Science Center

Decision analysis of long-term research and monitoring investments for the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program Decision analysis of long-term research and monitoring investments for the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program

Congressional authorization of the Water Resource Development Act of 2020 increased funding for the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) program and its Long Term Resource Monitoring (LTRM) element. With adequate resources there is an opportunity for LTRM to expand its understanding of the Upper Mississippi River System, address unmet partner information needs, and better inform...
Authors
Max Post van der Burg, Jeffrey N. Houser, David R. Smith
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Estimating greater sage-grouse population sizes within Oregon, 2017–24 Estimating greater sage-grouse population sizes within Oregon, 2017–24

We fit a binomial mixture (N-mixture) model to lek (breeding area) count data to estimate annual population sizes of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) within Oregon between 2017 and 2024. Population estimates were delineated among 24 priority areas for conservation, and additional sources of information were considered, including male-to-female sex ratios, lek...
Authors
Brian G. Prochazka, Austin L. Nash, Shawn T. O’Neil, Skyler T. Vold, Peter S. Coates, Adrian P. Monroe, Cameron L. Aldridge
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Science

Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

Advancing the Environmental DNA Toolkit for Ecosystem Monitoring and Management

The emerging field of Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis allows characterization of species presence and community biodiversity by identifying trace amounts of genetic material left behind as organisms move through their environments. EESC scientists have been using eDNA technologies to detect native and rare species and as community biomonitoring tools.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Advancing the Environmental DNA Toolkit for Ecosystem Monitoring and Management

Advancing the Environmental DNA Toolkit for Ecosystem Monitoring and Management

The emerging field of Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis allows characterization of species presence and community biodiversity by identifying trace amounts of genetic material left behind as organisms move through their environments. EESC scientists have been using eDNA technologies to detect native and rare species and as community biomonitoring tools.
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Invasive brown treesnake

Combining Novel Technologies for Fast, Field-Ready eDNA Detection of Brown Treesnakes to Enhance Biosecurity Across International Borders

The USGS is working with the Department of the Navy to develop a new, field-ready tool to help detect Brown Treesnake environmental DNA to help prevent the spread and establishment of the invasive species into new areas.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Combining Novel Technologies for Fast, Field-Ready eDNA Detection of Brown Treesnakes to Enhance Biosecurity Across International Borders

Combining Novel Technologies for Fast, Field-Ready eDNA Detection of Brown Treesnakes to Enhance Biosecurity Across International Borders

The USGS is working with the Department of the Navy to develop a new, field-ready tool to help detect Brown Treesnake environmental DNA to help prevent the spread and establishment of the invasive species into new areas.
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Caribou roaming the Arctic Coastal Plain

Terrestrial Mammal Research

Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Terrestrial Mammal Research

Terrestrial Mammal Research

Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.
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