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Below are images, video and podcasts associated with SBSC's science and staff. Images appear according to the year they were taken. To search, click 'View All,' and type a keyword or select a year from the dropdown menu. Or, click through the pages using the arrows at the bottom of the page. 

Images

A researcher holds up a 1900s historic photograph with the same landscape in view in a repeat photography study
Repeat photography matching in action
Repeat photography matching in action
Repeat photography matching in action

An example of repeat photography in action - A researcher, Jim Malusa of the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment, holds a clipboard with a historic photograph captured right at the spot where the image was originally taken in the 1900s, with the same mountain landscape in view.

An example of repeat photography in action - A researcher, Jim Malusa of the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment, holds a clipboard with a historic photograph captured right at the spot where the image was originally taken in the 1900s, with the same mountain landscape in view.

Staff profile photo of Rebecca Finger-Higgens, wearing a backpack in Canyonlands, UT during fieldwork
Rebecca Finger-Higgens staff photo
Rebecca Finger-Higgens staff photo
Rebecca Finger-Higgens staff photo

Rebecca Finger-Higgens is a USGS scientist at the Southwest Biological Science Center. Here she is conducting fieldwork in the southwest US, Utah.

Rebecca Finger-Higgens is a USGS scientist at the Southwest Biological Science Center. Here she is conducting fieldwork in the southwest US, Utah.

Staff profile photo of Shannon Sartain, wearing a USGS cap
Shannon Sartain staff profile photo
Shannon Sartain staff profile photo
Shannon Sartain staff profile photo

Photo of Shannon Sartain, hydrologist at the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center. 

Photo of Shannon Sartain, hydrologist at the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center. 

Screenshot of a frame in Mapping biocrust with UAS technology in Moab, Utah USGS video that shows biocrusts
Screenshot of "Mapping biocrust with UAS technology in Moab, Utah" USGS video
Screenshot of "Mapping biocrust with UAS technology in Moab, Utah" USGS video
Screenshot of "Mapping biocrust with UAS technology in Moab, Utah" USGS video

A screenshot of a frame in the USGS b-roll video "Mapping biocrust with UAS technology in Moab, Utah". USGS researchers teamed up for a biological soil crust (biocrust) remote sensing and field data campaign near Moab, Utah in February of 2022.

A screenshot of a frame in the USGS b-roll video "Mapping biocrust with UAS technology in Moab, Utah". USGS researchers teamed up for a biological soil crust (biocrust) remote sensing and field data campaign near Moab, Utah in February of 2022.

Two women biologists conduct fieldwork at the Gemini solar site
Two biologists conduct fieldwork at the Gemini solar site
Two biologists conduct fieldwork at the Gemini solar site
Two biologists conduct fieldwork at the Gemini solar site

Two biologists conduct fieldwork research at the Gemini solar array energy and storage project in the Mojave Desert, Nevada. They are collecting data on plant identification and soil sampling. Photo by Claire Karban, USGS, SBSC.

Two biologists conduct fieldwork research at the Gemini solar array energy and storage project in the Mojave Desert, Nevada. They are collecting data on plant identification and soil sampling. Photo by Claire Karban, USGS, SBSC.

A staff profile photo of Gregor Siegmund
Gregor-Fausto Siegmund staff profile photo
Gregor-Fausto Siegmund staff profile photo
Gregor-Fausto Siegmund staff profile photo

As an ecologist with the US Geological Survey’s Southwest Biological Science Center, Gregor works to understand the environmental variables that influence plant regeneration in the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau.

As an ecologist with the US Geological Survey’s Southwest Biological Science Center, Gregor works to understand the environmental variables that influence plant regeneration in the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau.

Videos

B-Roll of Lees Ferry
B-Roll of Lees Ferry
B-Roll of Lees Ferry

A collection of video for use in products related to the USGS's streamgage at Lees Ferry. The USGS installed the Lees Ferry gauge 100 years ago, and the data collected since have become critical to monitoring water availability in the West.

Shot List:

A collection of video for use in products related to the USGS's streamgage at Lees Ferry. The USGS installed the Lees Ferry gauge 100 years ago, and the data collected since have become critical to monitoring water availability in the West.

Shot List:

Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Gray Fox
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Gray Fox
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Gray Fox

There were two documented gray fox visits at the burrows, making them the third most documented predator. Gray foxes are implicated predators of various life stages of desert tortoises, but it is difficult to catch them in the act. In this case, a gray fox approaches a burrow, and thoroughly investigates the burrow mouth.

There were two documented gray fox visits at the burrows, making them the third most documented predator. Gray foxes are implicated predators of various life stages of desert tortoises, but it is difficult to catch them in the act. In this case, a gray fox approaches a burrow, and thoroughly investigates the burrow mouth.

Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Western Spotted Skunk
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Western Spotted Skunk
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Western Spotted Skunk

There was one documented skunk event captured on camera - the least documented predator. Here, a western spotted skunk is thoroughly investigating the burrow of one of the marked female tortoises in the study population. Western spotted skunks are known predators of turtle eggs.

There was one documented skunk event captured on camera - the least documented predator. Here, a western spotted skunk is thoroughly investigating the burrow of one of the marked female tortoises in the study population. Western spotted skunks are known predators of turtle eggs.

Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Bobcat
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Bobcat
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Bobcat

In this video, a bobcat approached a desert tortoise (a marked female in the study population) that was sleeping on the apron of her burrow. Bobcats are known predators of various life stages of the desert tortoise. In this case, the bobcat bent down to sniff the tortoise, and then touched its paw to the top of the tortoise's shell.

In this video, a bobcat approached a desert tortoise (a marked female in the study population) that was sleeping on the apron of her burrow. Bobcats are known predators of various life stages of the desert tortoise. In this case, the bobcat bent down to sniff the tortoise, and then touched its paw to the top of the tortoise's shell.

Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – American Black Bear
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – American Black Bear
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – American Black Bear

This American black bear and cub duo was seen simply investigating a tortoise burrow, and although it is surprising to see a black bear so low in elevation, it isn't impossible. The study site, Mesa, sits at the intersection of multiple ecosystems (Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert, montane, and coastal sage scrub).

This American black bear and cub duo was seen simply investigating a tortoise burrow, and although it is surprising to see a black bear so low in elevation, it isn't impossible. The study site, Mesa, sits at the intersection of multiple ecosystems (Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert, montane, and coastal sage scrub).

Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Coyotes
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Coyotes
Animal Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities – Coyotes

Coyotes were the second most frequently observed mammalian predator on the trail cameras. Coyotes are considered one of the primary predators of desert tortoises. In this instance, a coyote is passing by a burrow when it suddenly has a change in attention as it is passing by.

Coyotes were the second most frequently observed mammalian predator on the trail cameras. Coyotes are considered one of the primary predators of desert tortoises. In this instance, a coyote is passing by a burrow when it suddenly has a change in attention as it is passing by.

Audio

Outstanding in the Field - Episode 9 artwork. Scientist in the field studying biocrusts.
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 9 artwork
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 9 artwork
USGS Outstanding in the Field: Biocrusts (Ep. 9)
USGS Outstanding in the Field: Biocrusts (Ep. 9)
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 9 artwork. Scientist in the field studying biocrusts.
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 9 artwork
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 9 artwork
USGS Outstanding in the Field: Biocrusts (Ep. 9)

Welcome to another episode of Outstanding in the Field, the U.S. Geological Survey’s podcast series produced by the Ecosystems Mission Area. We highlight our fun and fascinating fieldwork studying ecosystems across the country. Today we’ll be discussing tiny communities that are found on the surface of the soil in the harsh environments of cold and hot deserts.

Welcome to another episode of Outstanding in the Field, the U.S. Geological Survey’s podcast series produced by the Ecosystems Mission Area. We highlight our fun and fascinating fieldwork studying ecosystems across the country. Today we’ll be discussing tiny communities that are found on the surface of the soil in the harsh environments of cold and hot deserts.

Outstanding in the Field - Episode 6 artwork
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 6 artwork
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 6 artwork
USGS Outstanding in the Field - Not Enough Beaches in Grand Canyon?
USGS Outstanding in the Field - Not Enough Beaches in Grand Canyon?
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 6 artwork
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 6 artwork
Outstanding in the Field - Episode 6 artwork
USGS Outstanding in the Field - Not Enough Beaches in Grand Canyon?

In this episode of Outstanding in the Field, we are talking about beaches in a place that most people probably would not think of—the Grand Canyon.

In this episode of Outstanding in the Field, we are talking about beaches in a place that most people probably would not think of—the Grand Canyon.

Ecosystems Podcast Series Episode 5 artwork
Ecosystems Podcast Series Episode 5 artwork
Ecosystems Podcast Series Episode 5 artwork
Outstanding in the Field (Ep 5): Fish in the Grand Canyon
Outstanding in the Field (Ep 5): Fish in the Grand Canyon
Ecosystems Podcast Series Episode 5 artwork
Ecosystems Podcast Series Episode 5 artwork
Ecosystems Podcast Series Episode 5 artwork
Outstanding in the Field (Ep 5): Fish in the Grand Canyon

The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area brings you Outstanding in the Field, a series of stories about our science, our adventures, and our efforts to better understand our fish and wildlife and the ecosystems that support them. In this episode we describe some of the one-of-a-kind native fish species that call the Grand Canyon segment of the Colorado River home.

The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area brings you Outstanding in the Field, a series of stories about our science, our adventures, and our efforts to better understand our fish and wildlife and the ecosystems that support them. In this episode we describe some of the one-of-a-kind native fish species that call the Grand Canyon segment of the Colorado River home.

Outstanding in the field podcast album art
Outstanding in the Field - Podcast Album Art
Outstanding in the Field - Podcast Album Art
Outstanding in the Field (Ep 2): Citizen Science—Your Data in Action
Outstanding in the Field (Ep 2): Citizen Science—Your Data in Action
Outstanding in the field podcast album art
Outstanding in the Field - Podcast Album Art
Outstanding in the Field - Podcast Album Art
Outstanding in the Field (Ep 2): Citizen Science—Your Data in Action

The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area brings you Outstanding in the Field, a series of stories about our science, our adventures, and our efforts to better understand our fish and wildlife and the ecosystems that support them.

The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area brings you Outstanding in the Field, a series of stories about our science, our adventures, and our efforts to better understand our fish and wildlife and the ecosystems that support them.