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Click on the articles below to read about the latest WERC scientific discoveries.

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Research Spotlight: Vegetation Type Conversion in the Southwest -- Observations and Management Takeaways

Research Spotlight: Vegetation Type Conversion in the Southwest -- Observations and Management Takeaways

Two new publications describe how forests, shrublands, and grasslands are being transformed into different ecosystem types in response to severe and...

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Revisiting a Marine Mammal Mystery, with the Help of New Data and Powerful Statistics

Revisiting a Marine Mammal Mystery, with the Help of New Data and Powerful Statistics

New techniques and a massive dataset have helped USGS scientists and partners determine why sea otter populations in southwest Alaska collapsed in the...

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Emeritus and Distinguished Alumni Profile: Jim Estes Explains How Sea Otters Run the world

Emeritus and Distinguished Alumni Profile: Jim Estes Explains How Sea Otters Run the world

Over a decades-long career as a federal scientist, Jim Estes’s groundbreaking work on sea otters has shown just how much these fuzzy animals can teach...

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In Blue Water: Tracking Animals in the Open Ocean

In Blue Water: Tracking Animals in the Open Ocean

Scientists are attaching tracking tags to marine animals at Palmyra Atoll to learn how marine protected areas can best serve diverse species. 

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Water-Starved Shrubs Likely Intensified Recent Wildfires in Southern California

Water-Starved Shrubs Likely Intensified Recent Wildfires in Southern California

Researchers link shrubs that died during a severe drought to recent large fires.  

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Remembering Jan van Wagtendonk, who shaped fire and recreation management in the iconic Yosemite National Park

Remembering Jan van Wagtendonk, who shaped fire and recreation management in the iconic Yosemite National Park

Former USGS scientist Jan van Wagtendonk passed away in July 2022, following a 50-year career as a federal scientist. Management strategies based on...

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Diverse Aging Rates in Ectotherms Provide Insights for the Evolution of Aging and Longevity

Diverse Aging Rates in Ectotherms Provide Insights for the Evolution of Aging and Longevity

Amphibians and reptiles, particularly turtles and tortoises, are well-known examples of animals with long lifespans. A team of international...

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USGS Scientist Kathryn McEachern Honored as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champion

USGS Scientist Kathryn McEachern Honored as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champion

Dr. McEachern received the award for her role in rare plant conservation on the California Channel Islands.

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Bird Mortality at Renewable Energy Facilities have Population-Level Effects

Bird Mortality at Renewable Energy Facilities have Population-Level Effects

A recent study shows nearly half of bird species studied were vulnerable to population-level effects from fatalities at renewable energy facilities. 

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6 Migratory Birds USGS is Following

6 Migratory Birds USGS is Following

You might follow a lot of accounts on Twitter or Instagram, but at the USGS we follow the birds. With the help of lightweight GPS-transmitters to...

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They Do That, Too? Relatable Experiences for Mommas (and Momma-figures) of All Species

They Do That, Too? Relatable Experiences for Mommas (and Momma-figures) of All Species

Becoming a mother makes you do surprising (and sometimes gross) things. Don’t worry – you're not alone! Here are a few ways that motherhood creates...

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What's in a Sea Otter's Microbiome?

What's in a Sea Otter's Microbiome?

Sea otters are well-known for their soft, furry outsides—but have you ever stopped to think about a sea otter’s insides? In a recent paper, USGS...

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