Images

This turtle crossed a road leaving the reservoir and will cross it again to return to the reservoir. Road crossings present high risk to turtles and are a large source of mortality.  

Photo taken at Lookout Point Reservoir, Oregon

Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP) and Rangeland Condition Monitoring Assessment and Projection (RCMAP) r2 values when compared to field observations. The variation between models and version was high. 

Temperature logger attached to submerged cobble in Quartzville Creek, OR. This logger was placed as part of an ongoing effort to retrieve continuous temperature data from rivers and tributaries within the Willamette River basin, OR.

Cinnamon teal with a GPS tracking backpack that weighs 10 grams, making it much more successful in staying on longer than heavier tracking devices. 

A young rough-skinned newt in a defensive posture known as "unkenreflex." Several amphibian species curl up their bodies to display their brightly colored bellies as a warning to predators that they are poisonous.

Screenshot of the Conservation Efforts Database Sagebrush Trends Module. The interactive map shows different kinds of sagebrush trends currently in the database and where they are.   

Screenshot of the Conservation Efforts Database Cutthroat Trout Module. The interactive map shows different kinds of cutthroat trout restoration projects currently in the database and where they are.  

Screenshot of the Conservation Efforts Gunnison Sage-Grouse Module. The interactive map shows different kinds of Gunnison Sage-Grouse restoration projects currently in the database and where they are.     

Image of a Lahontan cutthroat trout swimming in a stream. Image taken by Justin Welty. 

Screenshot of the Conservation Efforts Database sagebrush module. The interactive map shows different kinds of sagebrush restoration projects currently in the database and where they are. 

Climate-niche species richness for 130 lizard and snake species between recent and late-century future climate scenario if animals are able to disperse freely to areas with suitable climate. Areas in dark brown have fewer species in the future and areas in teal gained climate-niche space for novel species.

The northern rubber boa is an example of a species predicted to have a smaller climate-niche space by the end of the century. Under climate scenario RCP 8.5--which assumes carbon emissions stay near current levels--this species' range could be reduced from most of the northwestern U.S. to only a small portion of British Columbia.

If dispersal is not possible, reptile species-richness will remain concentrated in the southwest U.S. and northern Mexico as the climate changes. Areas shaded in dark brown show a loss of reptile species, which may happen if the climate becomes too warm. Areas in white have no change in species richness.

The Gila monster is an example of a species predicted to have an expanded climate-niche space by the end of the century. Under climate scenario RCP 8.5--which assumes carbon emissions stay near current levels--this species' range could expand as far north as Washington State.

A USGS field crew working on soil sampling, plant community monitoring, and soil water infiltration in the Colorado 'front range.'

USGS scientists identifying plant community composition in Larimer County, Colorado. Information on plant community composition is critical for understanding differences in soil carbon-responses to exotic annual grass invasion between sites. 

USGS scientists dig small ‘micro pits' to collect soil for testing. The team is careful to minimize the impact to the environment. Soil is stored on a tarp while sampling so it can be returned to the pit afterwards.

A USGS scientist uses the grid-point intercept method to characterize plant communities in Larimer County, Colorado. The grid-point intercept method uses points along a grid to sample plant species or ground cover within a larger plot.

A USGS scientist prepares a mini-disc infiltrometer to assess soil water infiltration. The degree to which water can infiltrate soil is closely tied to soil carbon content.

Underside of Bell Jet Helicopter with thermal infrared and true-color image sensors and JN and M.D. The helicopter is used for airborne surveys of river reaches to capture temperature values of water-surfaces.

A tall, partially dead western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) surrounded by smaller, dead juniper trees. Project ROAM (Rapid and Other Methods for Assessment and Monitoring) plots are sampled across a variety of rangeland ecosystems and treatment prescriptions, including juniper removal.