Welcome to the Southwest Biological Science Center
Terrestrial Systems: Ecology, Biology, and Restoration
Southwest Biological Science Center
Welcome to the Southwest Biological Science Center! We conduct quality, objective research on the terrestrial and aquatic systems of the Colorado Plateau, Colorado River and its tributaries, drylands across the larger Southwest US, and beyond.
Terrestrial Dryland Ecology (TDE)
Terrestrial Dryland Ecology (TDE)
The Terrestrial Dryland Ecology (TDE) Branch of the SBSC studies the biology, ecology,and processes of semi-arid and arid lands (known as drylands). TDE researchers study plant-soil-water relationships and the wildlife found in drylands.
GCMRC, River Ecosystem Science & Lake Powell Research
GCMRC, River Ecosystem Science & Lake Powell Research
The River Ecosystem Science (RES) Branch of the SBSC, which includes the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC), studies the biology, ecology, and processes of rivers in the western United States, with an emphasis on the Southwest.
Quick Links
Quick Links
- GCMRC modeling used in decision-making process for new Glen Canyon Dam Environm…
- Research supporting native plant restoration across the Colorado Plateau & beyo…
- Restoration Assessment & Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS)
- SBSC Tribal Partnerships
- The Southwest Repeat Photography Collection
- Colorado River Basin Science across the USGS and beyond
News
Predicting Wildlife and Plant Responses to Solar Energy Development in the Desert Southwest
Predicting Wildlife and Plant Responses to Solar Energy Development in the Desert Southwest
New breeding habitat discovered for rare Yellow-billed Cuckoos
New breeding habitat discovered for rare Yellow-billed Cuckoos
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
Hydrodynamic model of the Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
The U.S. Geological Survey constructed a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model that was applied to a 15.8-mile tailwater reach of the Colorado River in Glen Canyon that begins 0.25 mile downstream from Glen Canyon Dam and extends to Lees Ferry in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona. The model used the Flow and Sediment Transport with Morphological Evolution of Channels (FaSTMECH) solver in
Intraspecific trait variability in wild populations predicts neither variability nor performance in a common garden
Dryland restoration requires plant materials capable of performing well despite difficult growing conditions. Selecting plant materials with higher intraspecific trait variability (ITV) may support successful outcomes by enhancing the performance of those materials in restoration settings. However, maintaining ITV from wild populations is not well understood and requires further investigation if I
Lidar estimation of storage capacity for managed water resources used by Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana) at Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona
In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center employed ground-based light detection and ranging (lidar) during February 2022 to help meet two resource management objectives at the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge (CPNWR), Arizona. The two objectives are (1) characterize the water storage capacity for one developed and t
Science
Smallmouth bass expansion downstream of Glen Canyon Dam
In the Upper Colorado River Basin, smallmouth bass ( Micropterus dolomieu ) are considered the greatest threat to native fishes and have been linked to declines in federally protected humpback chub ( Gila cypha ), including one population that was rapidly extirpated in the past. Long-term management efforts have been underway to remove smallmouth bass from rivers in the Upper Basin, but smallmouth...
Plant responses to drought and climate change in the southwestern United States
Land managers face tremendous challenges in the future as drought and climate change alter the abundance, distribution, and interactions of plant species. These challenges will be especially daunting in the southwestern US, which is already experiencing elevated temperatures and prolonged droughts, resulting in reduced soil moisture in an already water-limited environment.
Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Research
The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo (hereafter referred to as the Rio Grande) in the Big Bend region of Texas, USA, and Chihuahua and Coahuila, Mexico, has substantially narrowed since the early 1900s. This narrowing has been caused by the construction and operation of dams and irrigation diversions in upstream reaches of the Rio Grande in the U.S. and the Rio Conchos in Mexico that has reduced flows without...
