Biological Threats Research Program
Biological Threats Research Program
Biological threats to wildlife can come from diseases, parasites, or invasive species, and can cause sweeping changes across important ecosystems. WERC scientists lead studies that investigate the source and effects of biological threats to environments across California, Nevada, and Pacific islands. Our projects include informing the restoration of ecosystems, for example by investigating effects and control of invasive plant or animal species concurrent with understanding factors that enhance native species, or discerning the role of natural predators in complex food webs that can control parasites infections in wildlife and humans. Click on the projects below to learn more.
Filter Total Items: 15
Reptile Biodiversity in the Pacific Basin Islands
Dr. Robert Fisher and his colleagues have teamed up with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and multiple universities to conduct several types of studies that will address high priority issues related to reptiles in the Pacific Basin Islands. These studies will provide new information about species diversity, endemicity, biology and demography of reptile fauna and will lay the...
Supporting Informed Responses to Sea-Level Rise
To facilitate communication and outreach of sea level rise research results and implications, Dr. Karen Thorne and members of USGS WERC are hosting in-person workshops along the Pacific coast at different sites in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Monitoring Mercury's Risk to Wildlife in California Lakes
USGS scientists sampled grebes in California lakes to compare mercury levels in these predators versus the small fish they prey on—developing a new tool for water quality monitoring.