The climate-niche distribution--or the areas with suitable climate for survival--were mapped 130 reptile species in the recent time period and predicted for the late-century time period under the RCP 8.5 climate scenario. The RCP 8.5 scenario assumes carbon emissions continue at their current levels.
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team (FRESC)
Active
By Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
November 27, 2017
Wildlife respond to changes in their environment, some of which are dramatic and others subtle. To fully understand the factors that drive changes in populations and communities, we need better information on wildlife ecology in natural and human-altered landscapes. We conduct research and provide technical assistance to address applied questions about the ecology and conservation of wildlife species, populations, communities, and habitats. We study a wide range of ecosystems, from streams and ponds to forests and shrublands, in the Intermountain West and Great Basin.
Our work is organized into several major themes, including restoration, monitoring and evaluation, habitat relationships, invasive species, species life histories, ecosystem processes, and wildfire.
Principal Investigator
David Pilliod - Supervisory Research Ecologist
Federal Staff
Robert Arkle - Supervisory Biologist
Michelle Jeffries - Biologist & Project Manager for Land Treatment Digital Library and Land Treatment Exploration Tool
Savannah Bartel - Post-doctoral Ecologist
Kristina Parker - Biologist
Ashley Leavell - Biologist
Michaela Grossklaus - Biologist
Amanda Boone - Biologist/Lab Manager (PNW eDNA Laboratory)
Craig Steele - Biologist (PNW eDNA Laboratory)
Madison Roth - Biological Science Technician (PNW eDNA Laboratory)
Jayde Dempsey - Biological Science Technician (PNW eDNA Laboratory)
University/Contractor/Volunteer/Other
Leeland Bennion - Post-doctoral Ecologist, Boise State University
Amethyst Tagney - Student Intern, Boise State University
Science Themes of the FRESC Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team are highlighted below.
Filter Total Items: 21
Project ROAM
USGS is identifying, testing, and verifying rapid methods for rangeland assessment and restoration monitoring. Our methods complement existing monitoring frameworks, providing land management agencies with timely information that can be used to determine if restoration investments are successful, and why. Standardization, validation, repeatability, data management, and training are at the core of...
Proof of concept airborne eDNA testing to detect invasive species in shipping containers
Shipping containers that are transported by water vessels traveling between islands and the mainland or other islands can act as a vector for invasive species that are accidentally transported with the cargo. If the vessel carries a lot of cargo, or cargo has areas for different species to hide, inspections can be difficult, time consuming, and expensive, or in the case of non-agricultural...
Fuel Break Science in the Great Basin
Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey are developing a strategic framework for assessing and monitoring the impacts of fuel breaks in sagebrush ecosystems of the western U.S. Fuel breaks are increasingly being used to reduce the threat of wildfire, but more information on their efficacy and impacts on wildlife habitat and exotic annual grass invasion is needed.
Systematic Review and Analysis of Seeding and Herbicide Treatment in the Sagebrush Steppe
Seeding and herbicide treatments are a key aspect of the strategy used to break the annual grass-fire cycle in sagebrush steppe. However, past studies report considerable variability in the effectiveness of seeding and herbicide treatments. To generate a more consistent interpretation of post-fire herbicide and seeding effects, we are compiling, reviewing, and synthesizing findings from past...
Using Pollinator Environmental DNA to Assess the Ecological Resilience of America’s Grasslands
Scientists from six USGS science centers are collaborating with USDA, university, and Tribal partners, and Department of the Interior land managers, to assess the status of pollinator communities and the distribution of species of conservation concern using environmental DNA. These methods will be used to improve assessments of habitat quality and pollinator responses to restoration, including...
By
Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory
Using Artificial Flowers to Survey for Pollinators
Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are critical for the success of agriculture and must have suitable habitat to thrive. Planting pollinator-friendly plants under and around solar panels has the potential to benefit pollinators and nearby agriculture while contributing to renewable energy production.
Dakota Skipper Surveillance, Monitoring, and Assessment
The Dakota Skipper is a small butterfly that once lived throughout the grasslands of the north-central U.S. and south-central Canada but is now listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Wildland Fire Trends Tool
The Wildland Fire Trends Tool (WFTT) is a data visualization and analysis tool that calculates and displays wildfire trends and patterns for the western U.S. based on user-defined regions of interest, time periods, and ecosystem types. Users can use the tool to easily generate a variety of maps, graphs, and tabular data products that are informative for all levels of expertise. The WFTT provides...
READI-Net: Providing Tools for the Early Detection and Management of Aquatic Invasive Species
The USGS has developed the Rapid environmental (e)DNA Assessment and Deployment Initiative & Network (READI-Net) to accelerate the implementation of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis as a best practice for the early detection of aquatic biological threats. READI-Net provides tools and a strategy to collect and deliver early detection data for natural resource managers and public health protection...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments
The Wildfire Trends Tool: A data visualization and analysis tool to meet land management needs and facilitate scientific inquiry
Fighting wildfires and reducing their negative effects on natural resources costs billions of dollars annually in the U.S. We will develop the Wildfire Trends Tool (WTT), a data visualization and analysis tool that will calculate and display wildfire trends and patterns for the western U.S. based on user-defined regions of interest, time periods, and ecosystem types. The WTT will be...
GIS Clipping and Summarization Tool for Points, Lines, Polygons, and Rasters
Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses are an essential part of natural resource management and research. Calculating and summarizing data within intersecting GIS layers is common practice for analysts and researchers. However, the various tools and steps required to complete this process are slow and tedious, requiring many tools iterating over hundreds, or even thousands of...
Contributions to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy
USGS scientists are contributing to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy, a strategy intended to provide guidance so that efforts to conserve the iconic greater sage-grouse can be expanded to the entire sagebrush biome to benefit the people and wildlife that depend on it.
Reptile species richness and its predicted geographic change
The climate-niche distribution--or the areas with suitable climate for survival--were mapped 130 reptile species in the recent time period and predicted for the late-century time period under the RCP 8.5 climate scenario. The RCP 8.5 scenario assumes carbon emissions continue at their current levels.
Artificial Flower Designed for Environmental DNA Collection
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory designed artificial flowers to attract pollinators. DNA left behind on the flowers can be collected and analyzed as a non-invasive way to survey for pollinator species diversity and abundance.
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory designed artificial flowers to attract pollinators. DNA left behind on the flowers can be collected and analyzed as a non-invasive way to survey for pollinator species diversity and abundance.
Carrying a tubed rattlesnake
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker carries a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The snake’s head is enclosed in a plastic tube to allow her to safely handle it during the biological sample collection process.
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker carries a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The snake’s head is enclosed in a plastic tube to allow her to safely handle it during the biological sample collection process.
Tubing a rattlesnake
A Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) is coaxed into a plastic tube. This plastic tube allows researchers to safely handle the rattlesnake during biological sample collection.
A Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) is coaxed into a plastic tube. This plastic tube allows researchers to safely handle the rattlesnake during biological sample collection.
Catching a rattlesnake with snake tongs
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker and a volunteer use snake tongs to catch and hold down a rattlesnake.
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker and a volunteer use snake tongs to catch and hold down a rattlesnake.
Great Basin rattlesnake held by snake tongs
Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) held by snake tongs. The Great Basin rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Idaho.
Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) held by snake tongs. The Great Basin rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Idaho.
Collecting a blood sample from a rattlesnake
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker uses a syringe to collect blood from a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The blood’s ribonucleic acid, or RNA will be analyzed to track genetic change in the snake from habitat disturbances. RNA, along with deoxyribonucleic acid – or DNA, are the molecules that carry genetic information.
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker uses a syringe to collect blood from a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The blood’s ribonucleic acid, or RNA will be analyzed to track genetic change in the snake from habitat disturbances. RNA, along with deoxyribonucleic acid – or DNA, are the molecules that carry genetic information.
Truck sprays herbicide in Idaho as part of a restoration effort.
Bureau of Land Management truck sprays herbicide in southwestern Idaho as part of a restoration effort.
An examination of long-term data for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management finds that land treatments in the southwestern United States are increasingly large, expensive and related to fire and invasive species control.
Bureau of Land Management truck sprays herbicide in southwestern Idaho as part of a restoration effort.
An examination of long-term data for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management finds that land treatments in the southwestern United States are increasingly large, expensive and related to fire and invasive species control.
Science Themes of the FRESC Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team are highlighted below.
Filter Total Items: 21
Project ROAM
USGS is identifying, testing, and verifying rapid methods for rangeland assessment and restoration monitoring. Our methods complement existing monitoring frameworks, providing land management agencies with timely information that can be used to determine if restoration investments are successful, and why. Standardization, validation, repeatability, data management, and training are at the core of...
Proof of concept airborne eDNA testing to detect invasive species in shipping containers
Shipping containers that are transported by water vessels traveling between islands and the mainland or other islands can act as a vector for invasive species that are accidentally transported with the cargo. If the vessel carries a lot of cargo, or cargo has areas for different species to hide, inspections can be difficult, time consuming, and expensive, or in the case of non-agricultural...
Fuel Break Science in the Great Basin
Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey are developing a strategic framework for assessing and monitoring the impacts of fuel breaks in sagebrush ecosystems of the western U.S. Fuel breaks are increasingly being used to reduce the threat of wildfire, but more information on their efficacy and impacts on wildlife habitat and exotic annual grass invasion is needed.
Systematic Review and Analysis of Seeding and Herbicide Treatment in the Sagebrush Steppe
Seeding and herbicide treatments are a key aspect of the strategy used to break the annual grass-fire cycle in sagebrush steppe. However, past studies report considerable variability in the effectiveness of seeding and herbicide treatments. To generate a more consistent interpretation of post-fire herbicide and seeding effects, we are compiling, reviewing, and synthesizing findings from past...
Using Pollinator Environmental DNA to Assess the Ecological Resilience of America’s Grasslands
Scientists from six USGS science centers are collaborating with USDA, university, and Tribal partners, and Department of the Interior land managers, to assess the status of pollinator communities and the distribution of species of conservation concern using environmental DNA. These methods will be used to improve assessments of habitat quality and pollinator responses to restoration, including...
By
Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory
Using Artificial Flowers to Survey for Pollinators
Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are critical for the success of agriculture and must have suitable habitat to thrive. Planting pollinator-friendly plants under and around solar panels has the potential to benefit pollinators and nearby agriculture while contributing to renewable energy production.
Dakota Skipper Surveillance, Monitoring, and Assessment
The Dakota Skipper is a small butterfly that once lived throughout the grasslands of the north-central U.S. and south-central Canada but is now listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Wildland Fire Trends Tool
The Wildland Fire Trends Tool (WFTT) is a data visualization and analysis tool that calculates and displays wildfire trends and patterns for the western U.S. based on user-defined regions of interest, time periods, and ecosystem types. Users can use the tool to easily generate a variety of maps, graphs, and tabular data products that are informative for all levels of expertise. The WFTT provides...
READI-Net: Providing Tools for the Early Detection and Management of Aquatic Invasive Species
The USGS has developed the Rapid environmental (e)DNA Assessment and Deployment Initiative & Network (READI-Net) to accelerate the implementation of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis as a best practice for the early detection of aquatic biological threats. READI-Net provides tools and a strategy to collect and deliver early detection data for natural resource managers and public health protection...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, New York Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments
The Wildfire Trends Tool: A data visualization and analysis tool to meet land management needs and facilitate scientific inquiry
Fighting wildfires and reducing their negative effects on natural resources costs billions of dollars annually in the U.S. We will develop the Wildfire Trends Tool (WTT), a data visualization and analysis tool that will calculate and display wildfire trends and patterns for the western U.S. based on user-defined regions of interest, time periods, and ecosystem types. The WTT will be...
GIS Clipping and Summarization Tool for Points, Lines, Polygons, and Rasters
Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses are an essential part of natural resource management and research. Calculating and summarizing data within intersecting GIS layers is common practice for analysts and researchers. However, the various tools and steps required to complete this process are slow and tedious, requiring many tools iterating over hundreds, or even thousands of...
Contributions to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy
USGS scientists are contributing to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy, a strategy intended to provide guidance so that efforts to conserve the iconic greater sage-grouse can be expanded to the entire sagebrush biome to benefit the people and wildlife that depend on it.
Reptile species richness and its predicted geographic change
The climate-niche distribution--or the areas with suitable climate for survival--were mapped 130 reptile species in the recent time period and predicted for the late-century time period under the RCP 8.5 climate scenario. The RCP 8.5 scenario assumes carbon emissions continue at their current levels.
The climate-niche distribution--or the areas with suitable climate for survival--were mapped 130 reptile species in the recent time period and predicted for the late-century time period under the RCP 8.5 climate scenario. The RCP 8.5 scenario assumes carbon emissions continue at their current levels.
Artificial Flower Designed for Environmental DNA Collection
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory designed artificial flowers to attract pollinators. DNA left behind on the flowers can be collected and analyzed as a non-invasive way to survey for pollinator species diversity and abundance.
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest Environmental DNA Laboratory designed artificial flowers to attract pollinators. DNA left behind on the flowers can be collected and analyzed as a non-invasive way to survey for pollinator species diversity and abundance.
Carrying a tubed rattlesnake
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker carries a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The snake’s head is enclosed in a plastic tube to allow her to safely handle it during the biological sample collection process.
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker carries a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The snake’s head is enclosed in a plastic tube to allow her to safely handle it during the biological sample collection process.
Tubing a rattlesnake
A Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) is coaxed into a plastic tube. This plastic tube allows researchers to safely handle the rattlesnake during biological sample collection.
A Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) is coaxed into a plastic tube. This plastic tube allows researchers to safely handle the rattlesnake during biological sample collection.
Catching a rattlesnake with snake tongs
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker and a volunteer use snake tongs to catch and hold down a rattlesnake.
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker and a volunteer use snake tongs to catch and hold down a rattlesnake.
Great Basin rattlesnake held by snake tongs
Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) held by snake tongs. The Great Basin rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Idaho.
Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus) held by snake tongs. The Great Basin rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Idaho.
Collecting a blood sample from a rattlesnake
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker uses a syringe to collect blood from a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The blood’s ribonucleic acid, or RNA will be analyzed to track genetic change in the snake from habitat disturbances. RNA, along with deoxyribonucleic acid – or DNA, are the molecules that carry genetic information.
Boise State University Master’s student Kristina Parker uses a syringe to collect blood from a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus). The blood’s ribonucleic acid, or RNA will be analyzed to track genetic change in the snake from habitat disturbances. RNA, along with deoxyribonucleic acid – or DNA, are the molecules that carry genetic information.
Truck sprays herbicide in Idaho as part of a restoration effort.
Bureau of Land Management truck sprays herbicide in southwestern Idaho as part of a restoration effort.
An examination of long-term data for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management finds that land treatments in the southwestern United States are increasingly large, expensive and related to fire and invasive species control.
Bureau of Land Management truck sprays herbicide in southwestern Idaho as part of a restoration effort.
An examination of long-term data for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management finds that land treatments in the southwestern United States are increasingly large, expensive and related to fire and invasive species control.