Western Ecological Research Center
Data and Tools
Below, you can find our stand alone data releases. For contemporary articles and their associated data, please visit our publications tab. We include tools that were developed to streamline analysis using different mediums. For further information, please contact authors.
Climate Distance Mapper
Climate Distance Mapper is a spatial decision-support tool designed to help land managers match seed sources with restoration sites. Plant populations are commonly adapted to local climate gradients and frequently exhibit a home-site advantage.
web applicationAnnual California sea otter stranding data
The California Sea Otter Stranding Network is part of the USGS effort to monitor southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) and provide data to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Data
Microsatellite genotypes for desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) from scat (2016-2018)
These data show the multilocus genotypes, as well as extraction and sample genotype quality assessments for desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) scat samples.
San Francisco Bay Tidal Marsh Avian Predator Surveys, 2010
This dataset contains avian survey observations across four tidal marsh areas around San Francisco Bay. Multiple surveys were conducted around both high and low tides during the winter of 2010/11. Each survey alternated between scan and focals. During scans, all observable birds were counted. During focals, the behavior of a single, randomly selected bird was observed. Water level data was...
Mercury Contamination of Red-legged Kittiwakes in the Western Subarctic Pacific Ocean
This dataset contains mercury concentrations and locations of wintering red-legged kittiwakes in the western subartic Pacific Ocean.
Least Bell's Vireo Habitat Suitability Model for California (2019)
This habitat model was developed to identify suitable habitat for the federally-endangered least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) across its current and historic range in California. The vireo disappeared from most of its range by the 1980s, remaining only in small populations in southern California. Habitat protection and management since the mid-1980s has led to an increase in...
Invasive plant cover in the Mojave Desert, 2009 - 2013
We assessed the impacts of co-occurring invasive plant species on fire regimes and postfire native communities in the Mojave Desert, western USA by analyzing the distribution and co-occurrence patterns of three invasive annual grasses known to alter fuel conditions and community structure: Red Brome (Bromus rubens), Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and Mediterranean grass (Schismus spp.:...
LEAN-Corrected Collier County DEM for wetlands
Lidar-derived digital elevation models often contain a vertical bias due to vegetation. In areas with tidal influence the amount of bias can be ecologically significant, for example, by decreasing the expected inundation frequency. We generated a corrected digital elevation model (DEM) for wetlands throughout Collier county using a modification of the Lidar Elevation Adjustment with NDVI (...
Annual California Sea Otter Census: 2018 Extra Limit Observations Shapefile
The GIS shapefile "Extra limit counts of southern sea otters 2018" is a point layer representing the locations of sea otter sightings that fall outside the officially recognized range of the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) in mainland California. These data were collected during the spring 2018 range-wide census. The USGS range-wide sea otter census has been undertaken each year...
Annual California Sea Otter Census—2018 Spring Census Summary
The spring 2018 mainland sea otter count began on April 26, and was completed by May 24, 2018. Overall viewing conditions this year were good and rounded off to the same conditions experienced during the 2017 spring census (View Score 2.4, where 0=poor, 1=fair, 2=good, 3=very good, and 4=excellent). The surface canopies of kelp (Macrocystis sp.) were considered by most participants to be above...
Annual California Sea Otter Census: 2018 Range Extent Shapefile
The GIS shapefile "Range extent of southern sea otters 2018" is a simple polyline representing the geographic distribution of the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) in mainland California, based on data collected during the spring 2018 range-wide census. The USGS range-wide sea otter census has been undertaken each year since 1982, using consistent methodology involving both ground-...
Annual California Sea Otter Census: 2019 Census Summary Shapefile
The GIS shapefile Census_sum_2019 provides a standardized tool for examining spatial patterns in abundance and demographic trends of the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis), based on data collected during the spring 2019 range-wide census. The USGS spring range-wide sea otter census has been undertaken each year since 1982, using consistent methodology involving both ground-based and...
Annual California sea otter census - 2019 spring census summary
The spring 2019 mainland sea otter count began on May 1 and was completed by July 9. Overall viewing conditions this year were very good, better than those encountered during the 2018 spring census (View Score = 3.0 this year compared to 2.4 last year, where 0=poor, 1=fair, 2=good, 3=very good, and 4=excellent). The surface canopies of kelp (predominantly Macrocystis pyrifera) were...
Annual California Sea Otter Census: 2018 Census Summary Shapefile
The GIS shapefile "Census summary of southern sea otter 2018" provides a standardized tool for examining spatial patterns in abundance and demographic trends of the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis), based on data collected during the spring 2018 range-wide census. The USGS spring range-wide sea otter census has been undertaken each year since 1982, using consistent methodology...