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Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Scientists from the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center capitalize on their diverse expertise to answer scientific questions shaped by the environments of the western United States. We collaborate with each other and with partners to provide rigorous, objective, and timely information and guidance to support management, conservation, and restoration of the Nation's natural resources.

News

New research estimates the effectiveness of sagebrush restoration treatments across the sagebrush biome

New research estimates the effectiveness of sagebrush restoration treatments across the sagebrush biome

Climate futures for lizards and snakes

Climate futures for lizards and snakes

Special Issue of Rangeland Ecology and Management features USGS science in support of the Sagebrush Conservation Design

Special Issue of Rangeland Ecology and Management features USGS science in support of the Sagebrush Conservation Design

Publications

Annual grass invasions and wildfire deplete ecosystem carbon storage by >50% to resistant base levels

Ecological disturbance can affect carbon storage and stability and is a key consideration for managing lands to preserve or increase ecosystem carbon to ameliorate the global greenhouse gas problem. Dryland soils are massive carbon reservoirs that are increasingly impacted by species invasions and altered fire regimes, including the exotic-grass-fire cycle in the extensive sagebrush steppe of Nort
Authors
Toby Matthew Maxwell, Harold E. Quicke, Samuel J. Price, Matthew Germino

Riparian methylmercury production increases riverine mercury flux and food web concentrations

The production and uptake of toxic methylmercury (MeHg) impacts aquatic ecosystems globally. Rivers can be dynamic and difficult systems to study for MeHg production and bioaccumulation, hence identifying sources of MeHg to these systems is both challenging and important for resource management within rivers and main-stem reservoirs. Riparian zones, which are known biogeochemical hotspots for MeHg
Authors
Virginia Krause, Austin K. Baldwin, Benjamin D. Peterson, David P. Krabbenhoft, Sarah E. Janssen, James Willacker, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Brett A. Poulin

Edge effects along roadside fuel treatments in sagebrush steppe

Increasing wildfire has motivated the construction of fuel breaks on many rangelands to improve prospects for wildfire suppression. However, the linear shape of fuel breaks greatly increases treatment perimeter: area and thus increased potential for edge effects, e.g., invasions by exotic plants. Potential for edge effects are further increased by the disturbances associated with fuel-break implem
Authors
Samuel J. Price, Matthew Germino, Chloe Rose Watt

Science

Impacts of Exotic Annual Grass Invasion, Wildfire, and Restoration on Carbon Storage in the Sagebrush Steppe

USGS is investigating the impact of the annual grass-fire cycle-- and restoration land treatments aimed at slowing that cycle-- on carbon storage in dryland soils.
link

Impacts of Exotic Annual Grass Invasion, Wildfire, and Restoration on Carbon Storage in the Sagebrush Steppe

USGS is investigating the impact of the annual grass-fire cycle-- and restoration land treatments aimed at slowing that cycle-- on carbon storage in dryland soils.
Learn More

Improving fatality estimates at wind energy facilities

The density-weighted proportion--or dwp--R software package improves estimates of total bird and bat fatalities at wind energy facilities by accounting for the fraction of carcasses that fall outside the searched area.
link

Improving fatality estimates at wind energy facilities

The density-weighted proportion--or dwp--R software package improves estimates of total bird and bat fatalities at wind energy facilities by accounting for the fraction of carcasses that fall outside the searched area.
Learn More

Project ROAM

USGS is identifying, testing, and verifying rapid methods for rangeland assessment and restoration monitoring. Our methods complement existing monitoring frameworks, providing land management agencies with timely information that can be used to determine if restoration investments are successful, and why. Standardization, validation, repeatability, data management, and training are at the core of...
link

Project ROAM

USGS is identifying, testing, and verifying rapid methods for rangeland assessment and restoration monitoring. Our methods complement existing monitoring frameworks, providing land management agencies with timely information that can be used to determine if restoration investments are successful, and why. Standardization, validation, repeatability, data management, and training are at the core of...
Learn More
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