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Explore the Fort Collins Science Center Research Portfolio

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FORT researchers produce cutting edge tools for monitoring and conserving sage-grouse

Learn more about all of our sage-grouse research projects

FORT scientists publish a synthesis of science on the effects of noise from oil and gas development on ungulates and small mammals

This synthesis is the first in a series of a new type of science product: Science Syntheses to Inform National Environmental Policy Act Analyses

Read more about this project and find the synthesis here

FORT economists and social scientists investigate the complex relationship between nature and humans

Research includes studies of visitor impacts on parks, wildfire risk assessments, and economic impacts of invasive grasses.

Learn more about social and economic analysis research at FORT

FORT scientists produce tools and research for better management of invasive species

From pythons in the Everglades, to annual grasses invading the western United States, FORT invasive species research spans a wide range of taxonomic groups and landscapes.

Learn more about our Invasive Species research

FORT researchers improve methods for monitoring, management, and conservation of wildlife.

Learn more about FORT's work in wildlife management and conservation.

Fort Collins Science Center

Welcome to the Fort Collins Science Center (FORT) located in Fort Collins, Colorado, just east of the Rocky Mountains. At FORT we develop and disseminate research-based information and tools needed to understand the nation’s biological resources in support of effective decision making.

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North American Bat Monitoring Program

Little Brown Bat and Indiana Bats

The North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) is an international interagency program designed to monitor bat distributions and abundances on public and private lands, and provide trend data at the state, provincial, tribal, regional, and range-wide scales. 

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Burmese Pythons Invade the Everglades

The Florida Everglades encompass a vast subtropical ecosystem. Billions of dollars have been committed to the long-term restoration of this ecosystem, but burgeoning populations of introduced and invasive reptiles threaten prospects for restoration.

Invasives Species

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FORT Research Economist Aaron Enriquez to present research on salmon economics in a meeting at the University of Alaska Anchorage

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FORT scientists develop density-habitat relationships and density distribution maps to guide management of 11 songbird species in the Intermountain West

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FORT geneticist Scott Cornman uses data mining to gain new insights into a mysterious virus infecting honey bees

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Publications

Data mining reveals tissue-specific expression and host lineage-associated forms of Apis mellifera filamentous virus

Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) is a large double-stranded DNA virus of uncertain phylogenetic position that infects honey bees (Apis mellifera). Little is known about AmFV evolution or molecular aspects of infection. Accurate annotation of open-reading frames (ORFs) is challenged by weak homology to other known viruses. This study was undertaken to evaluate ORFs (including coding-frame co
Authors
Robert S. Cornman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Living on the edge: Predicting songbird response to management and environmental changes across an ecotone

Effective wildlife management requires robust information regarding population status, habitat requirements, and likely responses to changing resource conditions. Single-species management may inadequately conserve communities and result in undesired effects to non-target species. Thus, management can benefit from understanding habitat relationships for multiple species. Pinyon pine and juniper (P
Authors
Nicholas J. Van Lanen, Adrian P. Monroe, Cameron L. Aldridge
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Rethinking cost-share programs in consideration of economic equity: A case study of wildfire risk mitigation assistance for private landowners

Public agencies and organizations often deliver financial assistance through cost sharing, in which recipients contribute some portion toward total costs. However, cost sharing might raise equity concerns if it reduces participation among populations with lower incomes. Here, we revisit a past study using a richer dataset (n=1,689) to assess whether stated income levels affect survey respondents'
Authors
James Meldrum, Patricia A. Champ, Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Christopher M. Barth, Abby Elizabeth McConnell, Carolyn Wagner, Colleen Donovan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center
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Science

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A mule deer buck stands in grey, icy shrubs, grey rocks in the background

Modeling chronic wasting disease prevalence through time to investigate mechanisms of spread in deer and elk in Wyoming

Diseases are challenging to manage in wild ungulate populations, particularly when there are many ways the disease can spread. Wildlife management agencies often need to take action to control disease spread, but it is unclear which actions are most effective in constraining disease because the importance of different spread mechanisms is not fully understood. This project will aid state wildlife...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Modeling chronic wasting disease prevalence through time to investigate mechanisms of spread in deer and elk in Wyoming

Diseases are challenging to manage in wild ungulate populations, particularly when there are many ways the disease can spread. Wildlife management agencies often need to take action to control disease spread, but it is unclear which actions are most effective in constraining disease because the importance of different spread mechanisms is not fully understood. This project will aid state wildlife...
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photo of dirt road cutting through sagebrush habitat, blue partly cloudy skies above

Gunnison Sage-grouse Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)

In partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners, scientists from USGS Fort Collins Science Center are working to create a suite of prioritization scenarios that will inform adaptive management for Gunnison sage-grouse.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Wildland Fire Science
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Gunnison Sage-grouse Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)

In partnership with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners, scientists from USGS Fort Collins Science Center are working to create a suite of prioritization scenarios that will inform adaptive management for Gunnison sage-grouse.
Learn More
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close-up of cheatgrass stalk in a field of cheatgrass

Predicting the phenology of invasive grasses under a changing climate to inform mapping and management

Cheatgrass, an invasive annual grass, reduces ecosystem productivity, negatively impacts biodiversity, and is increasingly problematic in higher elevation ecosystems with climate change. Cheatgrass phenology (that is, the timing of yearly growth and lifespan) varies greatly with elevation, climate, and weather from year to year, which can make management planning difficult and reduce the ability...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Predicting the phenology of invasive grasses under a changing climate to inform mapping and management

Cheatgrass, an invasive annual grass, reduces ecosystem productivity, negatively impacts biodiversity, and is increasingly problematic in higher elevation ecosystems with climate change. Cheatgrass phenology (that is, the timing of yearly growth and lifespan) varies greatly with elevation, climate, and weather from year to year, which can make management planning difficult and reduce the ability...
Learn More
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