Welcome to the Southwest Biological Science Center
Terrestrial Systems: Ecology, Biology, and Restoration
High-Flow Experiments on the Colorado River
SBSC Tribal Partnerships
Southwest Biological Science Center
Welcome to the Southwest Biological Science Center! We conduct quality, objective research on the terrestrial and aquatic systems of the Colorado Plateau, Colorado River and its tributaries, drylands across the larger Southwest US, and beyond.
Terrestrial Dryland Ecology (TDE)
Terrestrial Dryland Ecology (TDE)
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.
GCMRC, River Ecosystem Science & Lake Powell Research
GCMRC, River Ecosystem Science & Lake Powell Research
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.
Quick Links
Quick Links
- New Tools for Modern Land Management Decisions
- Research supporting native plant restoration across the Colorado Plateau & beyo…
- Restoration Assessment & Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS)
- SBSC Tribal Partnerships
- The Southwest Repeat Photography Collection
- GCMRC Modeling Research used in Decision-making Process for New Glen Canyon Dam…
- Colorado River Basin Science across the USGS and beyond
News
USGS Friday's Findings - September 13th, 2024
USGS Friday's Findings - September 13th, 2024
A global study reveals a surprise: The driest places have the highest diversity of plant traits
A global study reveals a surprise: The driest places have the highest diversity of plant traits
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps joins USGS for Grand Canyon Research Expedition
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps joins USGS for Grand Canyon Research Expedition
Publications
Aspects of the demography of a relict population of southwestern pond turtles (Actinemys pallida) in a West Mojave Desert stream in California
We studied Actinemys pallida (Southwestern Pond Turtle) in Amargosa Creek, near Palmdale, CA, from 1997 to 2023. The population in the upper creek was the focus of a mark–recapture study from 1997 to 2003 during monitoring required by a road-construction project. An estimated 193 (95% CI = 142–256) turtles were present in 1997 or recruited to the upper creek population between 1997 and 2003. Total
Postfire sediment mobilization and its downstream implications across California, 1984 – 2021
Fire facilitates erosion through changes in vegetation and soil, with major postfire erosion commonly occurring even with moderate rainfall. As climate warms, the western United States (U.S.) is experiencing an intensifying fire regime and increasing frequency of extreme rain. We evaluated whether these hydroclimatic changes are evident in patterns of postfire erosion by modeling hillslope erosion
Community for Data Integration 2020 project report
The U.S. Geological Survey Community for Data Integration annually funds small projects focusing on data integration for interdisciplinary research, innovative data management, and demonstration of new technologies. This report provides a summary of the 12 projects funded in fiscal year 2020, outlining their goals, activities, and accomplishments.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program, Community for Data Integration (CDI), Fort Collins Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Science
Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Research
The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo (hereafter referred to as the Rio Grande) in the Big Bend region of Texas, USA, and Chihuahua and Coahuila, Mexico, has substantially narrowed since the early 1900s. This narrowing has been caused by the construction and operation of dams and irrigation diversions in upstream reaches of the Rio Grande in the U.S. and the Rio Conchos in Mexico that has reduced flows without...
River Geomorphology and Geomorphic Change
River channels and their adjacent floodplains are ever evolving in form and composition in response to changing patterns of streamflow, the quantity and size of supplied sediment, and feedbacks with the riparian and aquatic ecosystems. Changes in channel form affect aquatic and riparian habitats, which are important for plants, animals, and insects. Erosion and deposition of river channels and...
Partners in Science
Partners in Science is a collaborative effort between Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Grand Canyon Youth, and the National Park Service to provide opportunities for youth to engage in scientific field research in Grand Canyon. This partnership connects youth from diverse backgrounds with the Nation’s natural and cultural resources on 2-3 river-based expeditions on the Colorado River...
