Ecosystems Science at USGS
USGS Landscape Science Strategy
Science informing decision making on public lands and across all of our Nation’s landscapes.
Science informing decision making on public lands and across all of our Nation’s landscapes.
USGS Wildland Fire Science
USGS science helps understand the causes, consequences, and benefits of wildfire and helps prevent and manage larger, catastrophic events.
USGS science helps understand the causes, consequences, and benefits of wildfire and helps prevent and manage larger, catastrophic events.
Ecosystems Mission Area
The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area provides science to help America achieve sustainable management and conservation of biological resources in wild and urban spaces, and places in between.
Newsletter - EcoNews
Newsletter - EcoNews
This quarterly newsletter highlights ecosystems science and activities coming out of our Science Centers and Cooperative Research Units across the Nation.
Webinar - Friday's Findings
Webinar - Friday's Findings
A public webinar series meant to offer our audience an opportunity to discover the Ecosystems science capacity within the USGS.
Where's our Science?
Where's our Science?
Find out where Ecosystems Science Centers, Field Stations, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, and Cooperative Research Units are located.
News
To protect coastal communities from hurricanes, call the... coral reef veterinarian?
To protect coastal communities from hurricanes, call the... coral reef veterinarian?
New USGS data-driven tools can aid restoration of mine lands across America
New USGS data-driven tools can aid restoration of mine lands across America
The 2024 Southern Sea Otter Census and Statistical Model Development
The 2024 Southern Sea Otter Census and Statistical Model Development
Publications
True metabolizable energy of foods consumed by lesser scaup (Aythya affinis)
The energy derived from available foods is an important factor used in conservation planning for migratory species. Estimating true metabolizable energy (TME) of available foods has become a common method for resource managers to increase reliability in energetic carrying-capacity estimates. Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis; hereafter scaup), have experienced a population decline concurrent with suspe
Projected sea-level rise and high tide flooding at San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico
IntroductionNational parks and preserves in the South Atlantic-Gulf Region contain valuable coastal habitats such as tidal wetlands and mangrove forests, as well as irreplaceable historic buildings and archeological sites located in low-lying areas. These natural and cultural resources are vulnerable to accelerated sea-level rise and escalating high tide flooding events. Through a Natural Resource
Lead exposure of a fossorial rodent varies with the use of ammunition across the landscape
Exposure to heavy metals has been documented in a wide range of wildlife species, but infrequently in ground squirrels. This is despite their tendency to be targets of recreational shooters and the accumulation of lead ammunition in the soil environments they inhabit. We analyzed lead and copper concentrations in liver (nPb = 116, nCu = 101) and femur (nPb = 116, nCu = 116) of Piute ground squirre
Science
Newly-introduced fringe-toed lizard species found in Ventura County, California
A fringe-toed lizard ( Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus ) not native to California was discovered in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023. This is the first documented occurrence of the species outside its home range (Kraus 2009; Kraus, pers. Comm.). While the source of its introduction is yet to be confirmed, it’s suspected that it has been introduced to Ventura County via the pet trade.
Developing a Process for Listing Injurious Wildlife Species
This project will develop a transparent process for prioritizing species for listing as injurious, likely to cause damage or harm, under the Lacey Act. Building upon previously developed "horizon scan" and "watchlist" products, this process will identify potentially invasive species that present the greatest risk to lands, waters, and other assets managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
California Sea Otter Surveys and Research
WERC collaborates with other research scientists to conduct annual population surveys of the southern sea otter -- a federally listed threatened species. In coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other institutions, ongoing surveys and research continues to inform the southern sea otter recovery plan for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and contributes to our...