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Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) images.

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Austin Parker staff profile photo.
Biologist Austin Parker during a Peregrine Falcon survey
Biologist Austin Parker during a Peregrine Falcon survey
Biologist Austin Parker during a Peregrine Falcon survey

Austin Parker is a wildlife biologist and Resource Advisor for federal wild land fires. Among other certifications, he hold US FWS recovery permits for California gnatcatchers, El Segundo blue butterfly, and Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly.

Austin Parker is a wildlife biologist and Resource Advisor for federal wild land fires. Among other certifications, he hold US FWS recovery permits for California gnatcatchers, El Segundo blue butterfly, and Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly.

A bulldozed fire break in vegetation in steep, hilly terrain
Dozer Line through Repaired Habitat Supervised by SPARCS Fireline Resource Advisors during the Palisades Fire
Dozer Line through Repaired Habitat Supervised by SPARCS Fireline Resource Advisors during the Palisades Fire
Dozer Line through Repaired Habitat Supervised by SPARCS Fireline Resource Advisors during the Palisades Fire

Bulldozer lines create breaks in vegetation and are commonly used when fighting wildfires.  This dozer line was created during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California in January 2025.

a hovercraft sits atop a mudflat with mountains in the background
A hovercraft glides over the surface of Summer Lake, Oregon
A hovercraft glides over the surface of Summer Lake, Oregon
screenshots and graphs of an app through time
Trend estimation calculated from seven nadirs defining six unique periods of complete population oscillation
Trend estimation calculated from seven nadirs defining six unique periods of complete population oscillation
Trend estimation calculated from seven nadirs defining six unique periods of complete population oscillation

Trend estimation calculated from seven nadirs defining six unique periods of complete population oscillation. Purple lines indicate periods of erroneous inference about population trend. Green lines indicate nadir-to-nadir inference and more accurate trend estimation.

screenshots from an application
Web tool trends
Web tool trends
Web tool trends

This gif provides a preview of the output of the trends application and shows how a user can click between tabs in the tool to access the results. The tool allows the user to explore population abundance and growth rates within their area of interest across all population low points. The tool outputs are provided in map, figure, and table formats.

This gif provides a preview of the output of the trends application and shows how a user can click between tabs in the tool to access the results. The tool allows the user to explore population abundance and growth rates within their area of interest across all population low points. The tool outputs are provided in map, figure, and table formats.

a brown lizard with an extremely long tail perched on a gloved hand
Fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus)
Fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus)
Fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus)

The fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) is an introduced species to the United States. It was found in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023. USGS biologists are investigating its distribution and how to eradicate the species most efficiently before it becomes invasive. (Photo: Spencer Williams, USGS) 

The fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) is an introduced species to the United States. It was found in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023. USGS biologists are investigating its distribution and how to eradicate the species most efficiently before it becomes invasive. (Photo: Spencer Williams, USGS) 

A group of scientists sit on the ground, working by headlamp light to get ready to measure a bat
Field crew prepares to measure and tag a bat
Field crew prepares to measure and tag a bat
Field crew prepares to measure and tag a bat

A team of biologists prepares to measure, weigh, and tag a captured bats. On the left, USGS biologist Gabe Reyes has a bat in a bag, used to separate and calm the bats. USGS biologist Julia Ersan is holding some alcohol used to ensure clean instruments and work surfaces, and USGS biologist Austin Waag is getting something out of a backpack.

A team of biologists prepares to measure, weigh, and tag a captured bats. On the left, USGS biologist Gabe Reyes has a bat in a bag, used to separate and calm the bats. USGS biologist Julia Ersan is holding some alcohol used to ensure clean instruments and work surfaces, and USGS biologist Austin Waag is getting something out of a backpack.

Small grey and white phalarope fits in one hand of scientist Andrea Mott.
Wilson's Phalarope
Wilson's Phalarope
Wilson's Phalarope

A female Wilson’s phalarope with 2-gram Sunbird PTT transmitter. Wilson's phalaropes spin around in the water to stir up invertebrates to snack on. Large flocks gather on terminal lakes in the American west before migrating as far as southern most South America.

A female Wilson’s phalarope with 2-gram Sunbird PTT transmitter. Wilson's phalaropes spin around in the water to stir up invertebrates to snack on. Large flocks gather on terminal lakes in the American west before migrating as far as southern most South America.

Mountain Yellow Legged Frog
Newly released mountain yellow-legged frogs
Newly released mountain yellow-legged frogs
Newly released mountain yellow-legged frogs

Newly released mountain yellow-legged frogs (Rana muscosa), Los Angeles County. Mountain yellow-legged frogs were bread and captivity then released.

Frogs in containers in riparian area
Mountain yellow-legged frogs in containers
Mountain yellow-legged frogs in containers
Mountain yellow-legged frogs in containers

Mountain yellow-legged frogs (Rana muscosa) in their transport containers being acclimated to their new habitat, Los Angeles County.

Tools rest on the white salty dry lake bed. Field sheets, caliper, scale, binoculars and others.
Banding station at Lake Abert
Banding station at Lake Abert
Banding station at Lake Abert

Research in the field means making the most of your surroundings! Scientist Andrea Mott set up this work station on the dry lake bed of Lake Abert to get the birds banded with GPS trackers close to where they were captured. 

Research in the field means making the most of your surroundings! Scientist Andrea Mott set up this work station on the dry lake bed of Lake Abert to get the birds banded with GPS trackers close to where they were captured. 

A scientist holds out an antennae with the dramatic cliffs of Yosemite Valley in the background
Radio telemetry at Glacier Point, Yosemite
Radio telemetry at Glacier Point, Yosemite
Radio telemetry at Glacier Point, Yosemite

Austin Waag performing radio-telemetry at Glacier Point with Half Dome in the background, as part of a project tracking bats in Yosemite National Park.

Austin Waag performing radio-telemetry at Glacier Point with Half Dome in the background, as part of a project tracking bats in Yosemite National Park.

Scientists wade in shallow water as they set up a large mist net with the sheer cliffs of Yosemite Valley in the background
A triple-high mist net with El Capitan in the background
A triple-high mist net with El Capitan in the background
A triple-high mist net with El Capitan in the background

Biologists set up a triple-high mist net to capture bats with El Capitan, one of Yosemite's most iconic rock formations, in the background, as part of a study to track bats in Yosemite.

Biologists set up a triple-high mist net to capture bats with El Capitan, one of Yosemite's most iconic rock formations, in the background, as part of a study to track bats in Yosemite.

image of a biocrust (soil) with blurred trees in the background
Biocrust Dominated by Cyanobacteria
Biocrust Dominated by Cyanobacteria
Biocrust Dominated by Cyanobacteria

A community of intact biocrusts dominated by cyanobacteria was spotted during a biocrust and vegetation survey at a horse disturbance plot in Caliente, NV. The pinnacles were ~3-7cm in height.

A community of intact biocrusts dominated by cyanobacteria was spotted during a biocrust and vegetation survey at a horse disturbance plot in Caliente, NV. The pinnacles were ~3-7cm in height.

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