Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
Home
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.
WERC Quick Links
Check out our most up-to-date data, events and science.
News
What’s it like to be a tree in California today? WERC forest ecologist weighs in (Mashable)
Dr. Nate Stephenson says the rules are changing for Sierra Nevada trees
WERC scientist unites research, restoration, and education on the California Channel Islands (Inside Science)
For Dr. Kathryn McEachern, research and outreach go hand in hand
WERC scientists find that threatened snakes depend on agriculture (TWS Wildlife News)
SACRAMENTO – A new study shows how giant gartersnakes use Central Valley rice fields
Publications
A mosaic of estuarine habitat types with prey resources from multiple environmental strata supports a diversified foraging portfolio for juvenile Chinook salmon
Estuaries provide vital nursery habitat for threatened Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) by promoting an ecological portfolio effect, whereby multiple habitat types and environmental strata maximize foraging opportunities for out-migrating salmon by varying the abundance and composition of prey through space and time. To study this...
Woo, Isa; Davis, Melanie J.; Ellings, Christopher S.; Hodgson, Sayre; Takekawa, John Y.; Nakai, Glynnis; De La Cruz, Susan E. W. Demographic factors affecting population growth in giant gartersnakes
Demographic models provide insight into which vital rates and life stages contribute most to population growth. Integral projection models (IPMs) offer flexibility in matching model structure to a species’ demography. For many rare species, data are lacking for key vital rates, and uncertainty might dissuade researchers from attempting to build a...
Rose, Jonathan P.; Ersan, Julia; Wylie, Glenn D.; Casazza, Michael L.; Halstead, Brian J.
Monitoring breeding and survival of ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in the Sacramento Valley, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and Klamath Basin, northern California—Five-year summary, 2013–17
The U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center, Pheasants Forever, Mandeville Island Duck Club, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife collaborated in a reconnaissance study to monitor populations of ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) using radio-telemetry in the Sacramento Valley, Sacramento-San Joaquin River...
Dwight, Ian A.; Coates, Peter S.; Vogt, Jessica H.; Atkinson, Joseph L.; Fleskes, Joseph P.; Connelly, Daniel P.; Meshriy, Matt G.; Gardner, Scott C.; Stoute, Simone T.; Pitesky, Maurice E.