Images

USGS Researcher Calin Tatu sampling a spring in a Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) village in Romania. Samples of water are tested for the presence of toxic organic compounds that are linked to BEN.

USGS researcher examining bass for abnormalities in the field.

Researchers implant a radio transmitter in a 16-foot, 155-pound female Burmese python (Python molurus) at the South Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park. Radio-tracking builds understanding of where pythons spend their time and therefore where they can be controlled in practice. Photo courtesy of Lori Oberhofer, National Park Service.

Wright Todd applies light-sensitive color solution to a base sheet on a photo lab whirler. This method was used for generating color-composite proofing of map separate registration.

Some of the larger wind energy facilities in North America are composed of hundreds of wind turbines dispersed across tens of thousands of acres, like this one in Colorado.

USGS topographic field party, circa 1925, with a Wye level on a tripod and two stadia rods.

USGS topographic mapping field camp in the early 1900s. Note the USGS "pick and hammer" flag flying below the United States flag. It was common practice to fly both flags in USGS field camps. Also note the "US" on the tents. Much of the USGS field gear was obtained from army surplus.

A closeup of the Fosheim Peninsula on central Ellesmere Island where the wolf, Brutus, was radio-tagged.

A couple of hours after being immobilized for collaring, Brutus, a wolf being studied by USGS scientists, appears to have fully recovered. He returns to his pack mates and demonstrates dominance behavior over a younger male wolf. Note that Brutus has a stiff, aggressive stance and upright tail, while the younger male cowers.

Reflection of autumn cedars (green and orange needles) in a calm pond with downed woody debris. Taken in the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Sunlight through an autumn fern (with spores structures) in front of a downed old-growth cedar tree.

A scientist from the North Carolina Aquarium removes an invasive red lionfish (Pterois volitans) found in coastal North Carolina's hard bottom habitat, to prevent ecological impacts due to its predation and competition with native fishes.

Sample collected from Madison Springs Hut in the White Mountains (~ 5,000 ft above sea level).

Accessing a release site for salmonids implanted with radio transmitters. Behavior and movement of salmon are monitored as they migrate through the Toutle River.

Returning via jet boat from a juvenile salmon fish release after a warm rain.

Water levels are critical to the life cycle of alligators. Part of the Everglades restoration plan is to determine what historical water levels and flow rates supported healthy alligator populations.

Hoffsteadt Creek is one of the salmon release sights after being radio tagged. This picture is taken just downstream from the release sight after a fish release.

Matanuska Glacier, Alaska

Climax Molybdenum Mine, near Breckenridge, Colorado

Ed Pfeifer of the USGS Southwest Geographic Science Team collecting water samples during field work for a study of Dall sheep habitat in Denali National Park, Alaska.

Picture of Moraine Lake taken from the south face of South Sister in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area.