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Integrating Science and Adaptive Land Management

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By Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center November 13, 2017

Widespread habitat deterioration due to fire and invasive species in the Great Basin have created a need for coordination across land agencies and between science and management activities in the Great Basin. 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
two scientists working in a sagebrush experimental plot

Plant-Soil-Environment Laboratory (FRESC)

We produce basic and applied science needed to manage landscapes in ways that make them resistant and resilient to stressors such as wildfire, exotic plant invasions, drought, and temperature extremes. These stressors impact ecosystem productivity and functioning and pose costly risks to human health and safety in the western United States. We team with other state and federal agencies to find...
By
Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
link

Plant-Soil-Environment Laboratory (FRESC)

We produce basic and applied science needed to manage landscapes in ways that make them resistant and resilient to stressors such as wildfire, exotic plant invasions, drought, and temperature extremes. These stressors impact ecosystem productivity and functioning and pose costly risks to human health and safety in the western United States. We team with other state and federal agencies to find...
Learn More

If a publication is not available online, we may be able to provide you with a reprint by request. Please send an email to fresc_outreach@usgs.gov and include the citation for the publication of interest.

Filter Total Items: 13

The ecological uncertainty of wildfire fuel breaks: Examples from the sagebrush steppe

Fuel breaks are increasingly being implemented at broad scales (100s to 10,000s of square kilometers) in fire‐prone landscapes globally, yet there is little scientific information available regarding their ecological effects (eg habitat fragmentation). Fuel breaks are designed to reduce flammable vegetation (ie fuels), increase the safety and effectiveness of fire‐suppression operations, and ultim
Authors
Douglas J. Shinneman, Matthew J. Germino, David S. Pilliod, Cameron L. Aldridge, Nicole Vaillant, Peter S. Coates
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science

Can’t see the random forest for the decision trees: Selecting predictive models for restoration ecology

Improving predictions of restoration outcomes is increasingly important to resource managers for accountability and adaptive management, yet there is limited guidance for selecting a predictive model from the multitude available. The goal of this paper was to identify an optimal predictive framework for restoration ecology using eleven modeling frameworks (including, machine learning, inferential,
Authors
David Barnard, Matthew Germino, David Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Cara Applestein, Bill Davidson, Matthew Fisk
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Adapting management to a changing world: Warm temperatures, dry soil, and interannual variability limit restoration success of a dominant woody shrub in temperate drylands

Restoration and rehabilitation of native vegetation in dryland ecosystems, which encompass over 40% of terrestrial ecosystems, is a common challenge that continues to grow as wildfire and biological invasions transform dryland plant communities. The difficulty in part stems from low and variable precipitation, combined with limited understanding about how weather conditions influence restoration o
Authors
Robert K. Shriver, Caitlin M. Andrews, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Justin L. Welty, Matthew J. Germino, Michael C. Duniway, David A. Pyke, John B. Bradford
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Southwest Biological Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

A conservation paradox in the Great Basin—Altering sagebrush landscapes with fuel breaks to reduce habitat loss from wildfire

Interactions between fire and nonnative, annual plant species (that is, “the grass/fire cycle”) represent one of the greatest threats to sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems and associated wildlife, including the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). In 2015, U.S. Department of the Interior called for a “science-based strategy to reduce the threat of large-scale rangeland fire to habit
Authors
Douglas J. Shinneman, Cameron L. Aldridge, Peter S. Coates, Matthew J. Germino, David S. Pilliod, Nicole M. Vaillant
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

Methodological considerations regarding online extraction of water from soils for stable isotope determination

No abstract available.
Authors
Brynne E. Lazarus, Matthew J. Germino
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Weather-centric rangeland revegetation planning

Invasive annual weeds negatively impact ecosystem services and pose a major conservation threat on semiarid rangelands throughout the western United States. Rehabilitation of these rangelands is challenging due to interannual climate and subseasonal weather variability that impacts seed germination, seedling survival and establishment, annual weed dynamics, wildfire frequency, and soil stability.
Authors
Stuart P. Hardegree, John T. Abatzoglou, Mark W. Brunson, Matthew J. Germino, Katherine C. Hegewisch, Corey A. Moffet, David S. Pilliod, Bruce A. Roundy, Alex R. Boehm, Gwendwr R. Meredith
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

Spectrophotometry of Artemisia tridentata to quantitatively determine subspecies

Ecological restoration is predicated on our abilities to discern plant taxa. Taxonomic identification is a first step in ensuring that plants are appropriately adapted to the site. An example of the need to identify taxonomic differences comes from big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). This species is composed of three predominant subspecies occupying distinct environmental niches, but overlap and
Authors
Bryce Richardson, Alicia Boyd, Tanner Tobiasson, Matthew J. Germino
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Aerodynamic roughness length estimation with lidar and imaging spectroscopy in a shrub-dominated dryland

The aerodynamic roughness length (Z0 m) serves an important role in the flux exchange between the land surface and atmosphere. In this study, airborne lidar (ALS), terrestrial lidar (TLS), and imaging spectroscopy data were integrated to develop and test two approaches to estimate Z0 m over a shrub dominated dryland study area in south-central Idaho, USA. Sensitivity of the two parameterization me
Authors
Aihua Li, Wenguang Zhao, Jessica J Mitchell, Nancy F. Glenn, Matthew J. Germino, Joel B. Sankey, Richard M. Allen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Plant community resistance to invasion by Bromus species: The roles of community attributes, Bromus interactions with plant communities, and Bromus traits

The factors that determine plant community resistance to exotic annual Bromus species (Bromus hereafter) are diverse and context specific. They are influenced by the environmental characteristics and attributes of the community, the traits of Bromus species, and the direct and indirect interactions of Bromus with the plant community. Environmental factors, in particular ambient and soil temperatur
Authors
Jeanne Chambers, Matthew J. Germino, Jayne Belnap, Cynthia Brown, Eugene W. Schupp, Samuel B St. Clair
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center

Ecosystem impacts of exotic annual invaders in the genus Bromus

An understanding of the impacts of exotic plant species on ecosystems is necessary to justify and guide efforts to limit their spread, restore natives, and plan for conservation. Invasive annual grasses such as Bromus tectorum, B. rubens, B. hordeaceus, and B. diandrus (hereafter collectively referred to as Bromus) transform the structure and function of ecosystems they dominate. Experiments that
Authors
Matthew J. Germino, Jayne Belnap, John M. Stark, Edith B. Allen, Benjamin M. Rau
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Introduction: Exotic annual Bromus in the western USA

The spread and impacts of exotic species are unambiguous, global threats to many ecosystems. A prominent example is the suite of annual grasses in the Bromus genus (Bromus hereafter) that originate from Europe and Eurasia but have invaded or are invading large areas of the Western USA. This book brings a diverse, multidisciplinary group of authors together to synthesize current knowledge, research
Authors
Matthew J. Germino, Jeanne C. Chambers, Cynthia S. Brown
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Successes and challenges from formation to implementation of eleven broad-extent conservation programs

Integration of conservation partnerships across geographic, biological, and administrative boundaries is increasingly relevant because drivers of change, such as climate shifts, transcend these boundaries. We explored successes and challenges of established conservation programs that span multiple watersheds and consider both social and ecological concerns. We asked representatives from a diverse
Authors
Erik A. Beever, John B. Bradford, Matthew J. Germino, Brady J. Mattsson, Max Post van der Burg, Mark Brunson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

link
Cheatgrass in the Santa Rosa Range, Nevada.

New Invasive Annual Grass Book Addresses Critical Questions for the Western U.S.

BOISE, Idaho — Bromus species – such as cheatgrass – are exotic annual grasses that have become the dominant annual grasses in the western hemisphere. Their spread and impacts across the western U.S. continue despite the many attempts by land managers to control these species.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Communications and Publishing
Environmental Factors Affect Success of Sagebrush Reseeding Efforts

Environmental Factors Affect Success of Sagebrush Reseeding Efforts

In the western U.S., big sagebrush ecosystems provide habitat for about 350 species of conservation concern, but are sensitive to disturbance and are...

Read Article

Widespread habitat deterioration due to fire and invasive species in the Great Basin have created a need for coordination across land agencies and between science and management activities in the Great Basin. 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
two scientists working in a sagebrush experimental plot

Plant-Soil-Environment Laboratory (FRESC)

We produce basic and applied science needed to manage landscapes in ways that make them resistant and resilient to stressors such as wildfire, exotic plant invasions, drought, and temperature extremes. These stressors impact ecosystem productivity and functioning and pose costly risks to human health and safety in the western United States. We team with other state and federal agencies to find...
By
Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
link

Plant-Soil-Environment Laboratory (FRESC)

We produce basic and applied science needed to manage landscapes in ways that make them resistant and resilient to stressors such as wildfire, exotic plant invasions, drought, and temperature extremes. These stressors impact ecosystem productivity and functioning and pose costly risks to human health and safety in the western United States. We team with other state and federal agencies to find...
Learn More

If a publication is not available online, we may be able to provide you with a reprint by request. Please send an email to fresc_outreach@usgs.gov and include the citation for the publication of interest.

Filter Total Items: 13

The ecological uncertainty of wildfire fuel breaks: Examples from the sagebrush steppe

Fuel breaks are increasingly being implemented at broad scales (100s to 10,000s of square kilometers) in fire‐prone landscapes globally, yet there is little scientific information available regarding their ecological effects (eg habitat fragmentation). Fuel breaks are designed to reduce flammable vegetation (ie fuels), increase the safety and effectiveness of fire‐suppression operations, and ultim
Authors
Douglas J. Shinneman, Matthew J. Germino, David S. Pilliod, Cameron L. Aldridge, Nicole Vaillant, Peter S. Coates
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science

Can’t see the random forest for the decision trees: Selecting predictive models for restoration ecology

Improving predictions of restoration outcomes is increasingly important to resource managers for accountability and adaptive management, yet there is limited guidance for selecting a predictive model from the multitude available. The goal of this paper was to identify an optimal predictive framework for restoration ecology using eleven modeling frameworks (including, machine learning, inferential,
Authors
David Barnard, Matthew Germino, David Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Cara Applestein, Bill Davidson, Matthew Fisk
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Adapting management to a changing world: Warm temperatures, dry soil, and interannual variability limit restoration success of a dominant woody shrub in temperate drylands

Restoration and rehabilitation of native vegetation in dryland ecosystems, which encompass over 40% of terrestrial ecosystems, is a common challenge that continues to grow as wildfire and biological invasions transform dryland plant communities. The difficulty in part stems from low and variable precipitation, combined with limited understanding about how weather conditions influence restoration o
Authors
Robert K. Shriver, Caitlin M. Andrews, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Justin L. Welty, Matthew J. Germino, Michael C. Duniway, David A. Pyke, John B. Bradford
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Southwest Biological Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

A conservation paradox in the Great Basin—Altering sagebrush landscapes with fuel breaks to reduce habitat loss from wildfire

Interactions between fire and nonnative, annual plant species (that is, “the grass/fire cycle”) represent one of the greatest threats to sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems and associated wildlife, including the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). In 2015, U.S. Department of the Interior called for a “science-based strategy to reduce the threat of large-scale rangeland fire to habit
Authors
Douglas J. Shinneman, Cameron L. Aldridge, Peter S. Coates, Matthew J. Germino, David S. Pilliod, Nicole M. Vaillant
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

Methodological considerations regarding online extraction of water from soils for stable isotope determination

No abstract available.
Authors
Brynne E. Lazarus, Matthew J. Germino
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Weather-centric rangeland revegetation planning

Invasive annual weeds negatively impact ecosystem services and pose a major conservation threat on semiarid rangelands throughout the western United States. Rehabilitation of these rangelands is challenging due to interannual climate and subseasonal weather variability that impacts seed germination, seedling survival and establishment, annual weed dynamics, wildfire frequency, and soil stability.
Authors
Stuart P. Hardegree, John T. Abatzoglou, Mark W. Brunson, Matthew J. Germino, Katherine C. Hegewisch, Corey A. Moffet, David S. Pilliod, Bruce A. Roundy, Alex R. Boehm, Gwendwr R. Meredith
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

Spectrophotometry of Artemisia tridentata to quantitatively determine subspecies

Ecological restoration is predicated on our abilities to discern plant taxa. Taxonomic identification is a first step in ensuring that plants are appropriately adapted to the site. An example of the need to identify taxonomic differences comes from big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). This species is composed of three predominant subspecies occupying distinct environmental niches, but overlap and
Authors
Bryce Richardson, Alicia Boyd, Tanner Tobiasson, Matthew J. Germino
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Aerodynamic roughness length estimation with lidar and imaging spectroscopy in a shrub-dominated dryland

The aerodynamic roughness length (Z0 m) serves an important role in the flux exchange between the land surface and atmosphere. In this study, airborne lidar (ALS), terrestrial lidar (TLS), and imaging spectroscopy data were integrated to develop and test two approaches to estimate Z0 m over a shrub dominated dryland study area in south-central Idaho, USA. Sensitivity of the two parameterization me
Authors
Aihua Li, Wenguang Zhao, Jessica J Mitchell, Nancy F. Glenn, Matthew J. Germino, Joel B. Sankey, Richard M. Allen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Plant community resistance to invasion by Bromus species: The roles of community attributes, Bromus interactions with plant communities, and Bromus traits

The factors that determine plant community resistance to exotic annual Bromus species (Bromus hereafter) are diverse and context specific. They are influenced by the environmental characteristics and attributes of the community, the traits of Bromus species, and the direct and indirect interactions of Bromus with the plant community. Environmental factors, in particular ambient and soil temperatur
Authors
Jeanne Chambers, Matthew J. Germino, Jayne Belnap, Cynthia Brown, Eugene W. Schupp, Samuel B St. Clair
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center

Ecosystem impacts of exotic annual invaders in the genus Bromus

An understanding of the impacts of exotic plant species on ecosystems is necessary to justify and guide efforts to limit their spread, restore natives, and plan for conservation. Invasive annual grasses such as Bromus tectorum, B. rubens, B. hordeaceus, and B. diandrus (hereafter collectively referred to as Bromus) transform the structure and function of ecosystems they dominate. Experiments that
Authors
Matthew J. Germino, Jayne Belnap, John M. Stark, Edith B. Allen, Benjamin M. Rau
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Introduction: Exotic annual Bromus in the western USA

The spread and impacts of exotic species are unambiguous, global threats to many ecosystems. A prominent example is the suite of annual grasses in the Bromus genus (Bromus hereafter) that originate from Europe and Eurasia but have invaded or are invading large areas of the Western USA. This book brings a diverse, multidisciplinary group of authors together to synthesize current knowledge, research
Authors
Matthew J. Germino, Jeanne C. Chambers, Cynthia S. Brown
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Successes and challenges from formation to implementation of eleven broad-extent conservation programs

Integration of conservation partnerships across geographic, biological, and administrative boundaries is increasingly relevant because drivers of change, such as climate shifts, transcend these boundaries. We explored successes and challenges of established conservation programs that span multiple watersheds and consider both social and ecological concerns. We asked representatives from a diverse
Authors
Erik A. Beever, John B. Bradford, Matthew J. Germino, Brady J. Mattsson, Max Post van der Burg, Mark Brunson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Below are news stories associated with this project.

link
Cheatgrass in the Santa Rosa Range, Nevada.

New Invasive Annual Grass Book Addresses Critical Questions for the Western U.S.

BOISE, Idaho — Bromus species – such as cheatgrass – are exotic annual grasses that have become the dominant annual grasses in the western hemisphere. Their spread and impacts across the western U.S. continue despite the many attempts by land managers to control these species.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Communications and Publishing
Environmental Factors Affect Success of Sagebrush Reseeding Efforts

Environmental Factors Affect Success of Sagebrush Reseeding Efforts

In the western U.S., big sagebrush ecosystems provide habitat for about 350 species of conservation concern, but are sensitive to disturbance and are...

Read Article
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