Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Quantitative Modeling

A requirement for managing a species, be it a common native species, a species of conservation concern, or an invasive species, is having some information on its distribution and potential drivers of distribution. Branch scientists have been tackling the question of where these types of species are and where they might be in the future. Focus species are as varied as the invasive tamarisk, Russian olive, Africanized honey bee and nutria to the federally threatened Lesser Prairie chicken and others. These and other species are modeled at a variety of spatial scales, from park or wildlife refuge to global levels. Models use various predictor layers that can include current and future climate layers (near- and long-term projections), remote-sensing derivatives (such as MODIS phenology metrics), land cover, topography, and anthropogenic features.

Filter Total Items: 30
link
A Burmese python coiled in the grass in the Everglades.

Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Everglades

Invasive species are considered to be second only to habitat degradation in terms of negative impacts on the Earth’s ecosystems, and our scientists make up a significant proportion of the global expertise in the rapidly-growing problem of invasive reptiles.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Everglades

Invasive species are considered to be second only to habitat degradation in terms of negative impacts on the Earth’s ecosystems, and our scientists make up a significant proportion of the global expertise in the rapidly-growing problem of invasive reptiles.
Learn More
link
Student Intern Alejandro Grajal-Puche holds an Argentine black and white tegu lizard.

Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida

This project involves ongoing development of tools for the detection and control of invasive reptiles in Florida, with an emphasis on Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) and Black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae). The goals are to reduce the risk of reptile invasions into, and impacts on, high-value resources such as Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida

This project involves ongoing development of tools for the detection and control of invasive reptiles in Florida, with an emphasis on Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) and Black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae). The goals are to reduce the risk of reptile invasions into, and impacts on, high-value resources such as Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the...
Learn More
link
Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

INHABIT: A web-based decision support tool for invasive plant species habitat visualization and assessment across the contiguous United States

Many managers are hampered by the scope of the invasive species problem compared to their available resources. Habitat suitability models of invaders can help fill this resource gap, helping with activities such as watch list compilation and targeted surveillance and eradication efforts.
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

INHABIT: A web-based decision support tool for invasive plant species habitat visualization and assessment across the contiguous United States

Many managers are hampered by the scope of the invasive species problem compared to their available resources. Habitat suitability models of invaders can help fill this resource gap, helping with activities such as watch list compilation and targeted surveillance and eradication efforts.
Learn More
link
Sunset over a mountainous study site in central Oregon, showing sagebrush and western juniper

Optimization of Management Actions for Restoration Success and Wildlife Populations

USGS researchers, in collaboration with the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative and other partners, are developing a statistically based prioritization tool that will aid agencies in their management decisions.
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Optimization of Management Actions for Restoration Success and Wildlife Populations

USGS researchers, in collaboration with the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative and other partners, are developing a statistically based prioritization tool that will aid agencies in their management decisions.
Learn More
link
A small, light purple flower with sage-green leaves set against a brown background.

Understanding and fostering use of habitat models for rare plants in Bureau of Land Management planning and management decisions

The use of rare plant habitat models in land management decisions can be constrained by issues surrounding data access, model quality, and institutional capacity, among other factors. This project seeks to understand challenges associated with using habitat models and explore avenues for addressing these challenges to facilitate greater use of habitat models in public lands decision making.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Understanding and fostering use of habitat models for rare plants in Bureau of Land Management planning and management decisions

The use of rare plant habitat models in land management decisions can be constrained by issues surrounding data access, model quality, and institutional capacity, among other factors. This project seeks to understand challenges associated with using habitat models and explore avenues for addressing these challenges to facilitate greater use of habitat models in public lands decision making.
Learn More
link
Dalton Highway in Alaska, a gravel road winding through forests with large mountains in the background.

Developing a step-by-step process for assessing cumulative effects in the Bureau of Land Management

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess potential impacts of proposed actions as part of their decision-making processes. Assessing potential cumulative effects is a challenging component of NEPA analyses. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to develop a process that staff can use to strengthen cumulative effects analyses.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Developing a step-by-step process for assessing cumulative effects in the Bureau of Land Management

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess potential impacts of proposed actions as part of their decision-making processes. Assessing potential cumulative effects is a challenging component of NEPA analyses. We are working with the Bureau of Land Management to develop a process that staff can use to strengthen cumulative effects analyses.
Learn More
link
Photo of a small snake in Guam

Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Pacific

Research on Guam has led to development and validation of numerous effective control tools, including the advancement of reptile control to support native species recovery.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Pacific

Research on Guam has led to development and validation of numerous effective control tools, including the advancement of reptile control to support native species recovery.
Learn More
link
Image: Sagebrush Landscape

Defining Multi-Scaled Functional Landscape Connectivity for the Sagebrush Biome to Support Management and Conservation Planning of Multiple Species

USGS and Colorado State University scientists are modelling multispecies connectivity through intact and disturbed areas of the sagebrush landscape.
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Defining Multi-Scaled Functional Landscape Connectivity for the Sagebrush Biome to Support Management and Conservation Planning of Multiple Species

USGS and Colorado State University scientists are modelling multispecies connectivity through intact and disturbed areas of the sagebrush landscape.
Learn More
link
Mule deer looking back at camera, standing on grassy slope with blue sky in background

Greater Sage-Grouse and Mule Deer Population Viability Analysis Across Scales

USGS and Colorado State University scientists will use data about sage-grouse and mule deer population data across Wyoming to evaluate the effectiveness of disturbance thresholds and investigate the efficacy of other disturbance metrics.
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Greater Sage-Grouse and Mule Deer Population Viability Analysis Across Scales

USGS and Colorado State University scientists will use data about sage-grouse and mule deer population data across Wyoming to evaluate the effectiveness of disturbance thresholds and investigate the efficacy of other disturbance metrics.
Learn More
link
Big sagebrush near Parawon, UT

Soil-Climate Modeling To Improve Understanding of Pattern and Processes in Sagebrush Ecosystems: A Spatially Explicit Soil Classification

Resistance and resilience concepts provide an important framework for sagebrush habitat management. Existing spatial products have been developed using NRCS soil data; models using new data and methods can improve these products.
By
Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Soil-Climate Modeling To Improve Understanding of Pattern and Processes in Sagebrush Ecosystems: A Spatially Explicit Soil Classification

Resistance and resilience concepts provide an important framework for sagebrush habitat management. Existing spatial products have been developed using NRCS soil data; models using new data and methods can improve these products.
Learn More
link
Wyoming landscape in spring.

Using Long-Term Remote Sensing and an Automated Reference Toolset To Estimate and Predict Post-Development Recovery Potential

USGS scientists are using a time-varying approach to monitor and predict recovery of sagebrush ecosystems following disturbance.
By
Fort Collins Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center
link

Using Long-Term Remote Sensing and an Automated Reference Toolset To Estimate and Predict Post-Development Recovery Potential

USGS scientists are using a time-varying approach to monitor and predict recovery of sagebrush ecosystems following disturbance.
Learn More
link
Greater sage-grouse lek in central Wyoming

Evaluating Trends in Greater Sage-Grouse Populations With Quantile Regression

USGS scientists are evaluating the use of quantile regression to develop models of sage-grouse population changes across the United States.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
link

Evaluating Trends in Greater Sage-Grouse Populations With Quantile Regression

USGS scientists are evaluating the use of quantile regression to develop models of sage-grouse population changes across the United States.
Learn More