Southwest Biological Science Center
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The Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) conducts quality, objective research on the lands and aquatic systems of the Southwest. This research can assist those who manage, conserve, and rehabilitate the arid regions of the nation. Click on SCIENCE in the sidebar to the left to explore SBSC science in more detail.
Terrestrial Dryland Ecology Branch
The Terrestrial Dryland Ecology (TDE) Branch of the SBSC studies the biology, ecology,and processes of semi-arid and arid lands (known as drylands). TDE researchers study plant-soil-water relationships and the wildlife found in drylands.
TDE ScienceRiver Ecosystem Science Branch & GCMRC
The River Ecosystem Science (RES) Branch of the SBSC, which includes the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC), studies the biology, ecology, and processes of rivers in the western United States, with an emphasis on the Southwest.
GCMRC & RES ScienceSBSC Quick Links
Learn more about what we do by using the links below.
Airborne Remote Sensing in Grand Canyon
Restoration Assessment & Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS)
SBSC Outreach & Education Products
A Field Guide to Biological Soil Crusts of Western U.S. Drylands (PDF)
SBSC ScienceNews
New Report Highlights Declining Sagebrush Ecosystem, Provides Foundation for Next Generation of Conservation and Management
Fort Collins, CO – Considered one of the most imperiled ecosystems in the world and home to mule deer, pronghorn, sage-grouse, pygmy rabbits and more than 350 other species of conservation concern, the sagebrush ecosystem continues to shrink rapidly due to a host of growing threats, according to a new scientific report.
RAMPS NEWSLETTER - Winter 2021 Edition
Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS)
A Program of the Southwest Biological Science Center & Ecosystems Mission Area
To subscribe to our newsletter, please visit: https://listserv.usgs.gov/mailman/listinfo/ramps
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Friday's Findings - December 4 2020
The Smart Energy Webtool: Providing Relevant and Accessible Information to Support Energy Development and Management
Date: December 4, 2020 from 2-2:30 p.m. eastern time
Speaker: Mike Duniway, Research Ecologist/Soil Scientist, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center
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Publications
The demographic and ecological factors shaping diversification among rare Astragalus species
AimEvolutionary radiations are central to the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, yet we rarely understand how they are jointly shaped by demography and ecological opportunity. Astragalus is the largest plant genus in the world and is disproportionately comprised of rare species restricted to narrow geographic and ecological regions...
Jones, Matthew Richard; Winkler, Daniel E.; Massatti, Robert Sharing knowledge to improve ecological restoration outcomes
Ecological restoration efforts are likely to be more successful when project components are informed by relevant stakeholders. However, key stakeholders are often not included in restoration design and deployment. This is largely driven by a lack of practitioner knowledge of and experience with stakeholder relations. However, inclusion of...
Gornish, Elise S; Mccormick, Molly; Begay, Marquel; Nsikani, Mlungele M Half of global methane emissions come from highly variable aquatic ecosystem sources
Atmospheric methane is a potent greenhouse gas that plays a major role in controlling the Earth’s climate. The causes of the renewed increase of methane concentration since 2007 are uncertain given the multiple sources and complex biogeochemistry. Here, we present a metadata analysis of methane fluxes from all major natural, impacted and human-...
Rosentreter, Judith A.; Borges, Alberto V.; Deemer, Bridget; Holgerson, Meredith A.; Liu, Shaoda; Song, Chunlin; Melack, John M.; Raymond, Peter A.; Duarte, Carlos M.; Allen, George H.; Olefeldt, David; Poulter, Benjamin; Batin, Tom I.; Eyre, Bradley D.