Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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The Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) is a USGS Ecosystems Mission Area operation serving primarily California and Nevada. WERC scientists work closely with Federal, State, academic, and other collaborators to address a diverse array of high-profile topics. Topics include research on effects of wildfire, sea level rise, drought, energy development and more on federal Trust species.
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Check out our most up-to-date data, events and science.
News
Annual Southern Sea Otter Census Cancelled Due to Health and Safety Concerns
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the USGS and partners at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have decided to cancel this year's annual rangewide southern sea otter census.
Remembering Philip Anthony Medica, Desert Tortoise Researcher and USGS Scientist Emeritus
Philip (Phil) Anthony Medica, USGS Scientist Emeritus, passed away on May 3. He is remembered as a dear friend and colleague and as a scientist who made substantial contributions to desert tortoise research and conservation.
California Red-legged Frogs Reintroduced to Historic Range in Southern California
In a historic and exciting first, the federally threatened California red-legged frog, the inspiration for Mark Twain’s short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," has been successfully reintroduced to southern California by USGS scientists and collaborators.
Publications
A global parasite conservation plan
Metazoan parasites are among the most diverse, threatened, and under-protected animals on Earth, making it increasingly important to ask how and when we should prevent parasite extinctions. However, parasite conservation remains mostly based in theory, without clear goals and priorities, and with few practical guidelines. In this document, a...
Carlson, Colin J.; Hopkins, Skylar R.; Bell, Kayce C; Doña, Jorge; Godfrey, Stephanie S; Kwak, Mackenzie L; Lafferty, Kevin D.; Moir, Melinda L; Speer, Kelly A; Strona, Giovanni; Torchin, Mark; Wood, Chelsea L.
Biotelemetry data for Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) captured in coastal southern California, February 2017–December 2019
Because of a lack of clarity about the status of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in coastal southern California, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, and San Diego Management and Monitoring Program, began a multi-year survey and...
Tracey, Jeff A.; Madden, Melanie C.; Molden, James C.; Sebes, Jeremy B.; Bloom, Peter H.; Fisher, Robert N.
Establishing Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) nesting sites at pond A16 using social attraction for the South Bay Salt Pond restoration project
Forster’s terns (Sterna forsteri), historically one of the most numerous colonial-breeding waterbirds in South San Francisco Bay, California, have experienced recent decreases in the number of nesting colonies and overall breeding population size. The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project aims to restore 50–90 percent of former salt evaporation...
Hartman, C. Alex; Ackerman, Joshua T.; Herzog, Mark P.; Wang, Yiwei; Strong, Cheryl