Species Biology
Species Biology
USGS WARC science plays a critical role in informing the management of federally protected species. Our science provides insight into the life history, population dynamics, and resource needs of species considered at risk or of management concern, including aquatic mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, bats, and fishes.
Filter Total Items: 107
Tracking Non-breeding Habitat Use by Dunlin, Pectoral Sandpipers, and Other Migratory Shorebirds in the Mississippi Delta
USGS researchers and heir partners are capturing and banding birds that use man-made habitats to gather data on species occurrence, abundance, and energetic condition during autumn migration.
Population Ecology of Florida Manatees
USGS is working with partners to understand how the federally protected Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris) population changes over time and responds to threats.
Tracking and Modeling the Population of the Louisiana Black Bear Using “BearTRAK”
"BearTrak" is an app that provides a central repository for Louisiana black bear tracking data, allowing managers to access information more quickly and reliably. USGS science was used in the decision to delist the species from the Endangered Species Act in 2016. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries continues to monitor the Louisiana black bear population.
Manatee Health Assessment and Biomedical Studies
A multi-agency effort assesses the health of manatees and provides baseline information on their health, reproductive status, and nutritional condition.
Use of Portable Radar to Monitor Flying Animals in the Offshore Environment
USGS will deploy a small, portable radar aboard a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel to measure the abundance, geographic distribution, and flight altitude of birds migrating across the continental shelf of the northern Gulf.
Management of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Using Coastal Habitats
USGS researchers are conducting research on St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge and throughout coastal habitat in Northwest Florida to inform future management decisions in the Refuge and contribute to the growing knowledge of the ecology of gopher tortoises using coastal habitats.
Ecology of the Diamondback Terrapin: Demographics, Movements, and Habitat Use
In response to declining populations, researchers at WARC are collecting data on demographics, movement patterns and habitat use, ecological niche and foraging ecology, and nesting ecology of diamondback terrapins.
Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities: Coral Propagation Technique (CPT) Development Project
Through a collaborative effort with other federal agencies and academic and research institutions, the USGS is working to inform and enhance the protection and management of coral communities in mesophotic and deep benthic areas of the Gulf.
Monitoring Effects of Barrier Island Restoration on Piping Plovers in Louisiana
The federally threatened piping plover relies on sand-beach habitat year-round for nesting, foraging, and roosting, habitat that is particularly vulnerable to loss and degradation from coastal development, recreation activities, erosion, and sea-level rise.
Distribution and Density of Sea Turtles in the Gulf: Gulf of America Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoAMAPPS)
The over-arching goal of GoAMAPPS is to collect broad-scale survey data for seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles to determine distribution and abundance in the Gulf.
Sturgeon Occurrence and Behavior in the Outer Continental Shelf
A new study aims to collect information on sturgeon temporal and spatial distribution to inform offshore wind energy and sand leasing operations.
Beach Compaction and the Impacts of Tilling on Nesting Sea Turtles and Foraging Shorebirds
Researchers are investigating beach compaction, the incubation environment for turtle nests, and shorebird nest abundance at beaches throughout the southeastern United States to better understand the impacts of beach compaction to nesting turtles and foraging seabirds.