The Southwest Biological Science Center:
Providing Unbiased Actionable Science & Information to Support Natural Resource Management Needs of the U.S. & Department of the Interior Priorities
Providing Unbiased Actionable Science & Information to Support Natural Resource Management Needs of the U.S. & Department of the Interior Priorities
Early detection of aquatic threats
eDNA research in the Colorado River ecosystem & Lake Powell
eDNA research in the Colorado River ecosystem & Lake Powell
Supporting energy and mineral development through successful reclamation
Science in service: USGS supports US Navy conservation of rare Island Night Lizard population
A new app to report flash floods and debris flows in Grand Canyon
New backcountry alert system for the Grand Canyon
Visitors can subscribe to the alert system using satellite communication devices
Visitors can subscribe to the alert system using satellite communication devices
The Southwest Fire Innovation Landscape Network
Advanced tools for fuel monitoring and assessment of wildfire risk
Advanced tools for fuel monitoring and assessment of wildfire risk
Southwest Biological Science Center
The SBSC provides sound science, specialized expertise, and objective and timely tools to Federal and State agencies and the public to inform land management decision-making, and support thriving landscapes for the Southwest’s abundant natural resources and vast public lands. This research assists those who manage, conserve, and rehabilitate rivers and arid regions of the nation.
Dryland Ecology and Management Support - the Terrestrial Drylands Ecology (TDE) branch of SBSC
Dryland Ecology and Management Support - the Terrestrial Drylands Ecology (TDE) branch of SBSC
SBSC conducts research in terrestrial drylands to deliver information that aids land & wildlife management to promote productive ecosystems. Our work provides tools used to mitigate impacts of drought, wildfire, and invasive species, as well as science that supports Department of the Interior economic and cultural activities including recreation and ranching.
Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center & Lake Powell research - the River Ecosystems branch of the SBSC
Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center & Lake Powell research - the River Ecosystems branch of the SBSC
The SBSC Rivers branch, which includes the Grand Canyon Monitoring & Research Center, studies the biology, ecology, and processes of rivers, primarily in the SW. We provide the public and decision makers with relevant scientific information about the status and trends of natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, and Lake Powell.
Quick Links
Quick Links
- Learn how SBSC supports DOI priorities
- eDNA research in the Colorado River and Lake Powell
- SBSC initiatives support ecosystems & economies on the Colorado Plateau
- Restoration Assessment & Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS)
- Outstanding in the Field podcasts
- The Southwest Repeat Photography Collection
- Our Staff Directory
News
Science in service: USGS supports US Navy conservation of rare Island Night Lizard population
Science in service: USGS supports US Navy conservation of rare Island Night Lizard population
New project: Early detection of aquatic threats—eDNA research in the Colorado River ecosystem & Lake Powell
New project: Early detection of aquatic threats—eDNA research in the Colorado River ecosystem & Lake Powell
Earth Science Matters - Vol. 21 | Issue 1
Earth Science Matters - Vol. 21 | Issue 1
Publications
Abiotic and biotic controls of non-native perennial plant success in drylands Abiotic and biotic controls of non-native perennial plant success in drylands
Drivers of non-native plant success in drylands are poorly understood. Here we identify functional differences between dryland native and non-native perennial plants and assess how biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors shape the success of the latter. On the basis of plant community and functional trait data from 98 sites across 25 countries, we report a total of 41 non-native plant...
James Buttle Review: A synthesis of riparian plant water use over two decades in North American drylands James Buttle Review: A synthesis of riparian plant water use over two decades in North American drylands
Assessing riparian ecosystem water use, particularly transpiration from vegetation and evaporation from soils (‘plant water use’, hereafter), is key to developing sound water management approaches. In western North America, a multidecadal drought is reducing water availability and increasing the use of detailed water budgets. Questions related to both removal of vegetation for water...
Vegetation cover and composition in environments surrounding uranium mines in the Grand Canyon ecosystem, Northern Arizona Vegetation cover and composition in environments surrounding uranium mines in the Grand Canyon ecosystem, Northern Arizona
Mining uranium from breccia-pipe deposits in the greater Grand Canyon region has occurred since the mid-1900s. However, possible ecosystem contamination with harmful levels of radionuclides may have occurred due to mining activities in the 21st century. In response, a 20-year Federal moratorium on new mining claims in the Grand Canyon watershed was initiated in 2012, to allow time to...
Science
Early detection of aquatic threats: eDNA research in the Colorado River ecosystem & Lake Powell
The USGS and partners are conducting environmental DNA (eDNA) research in the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam and in Lake Powell to detect invasive fish species and other aquatic threats before they become established. eDNA is a cutting-edge technology that makes it possible to identify invasive species before they are visible, even in vast or hard-to-survey environments like rivers...
USGS Sagebrush Science: Supporting Public Safety and Economic Decision Making Across the West
The sagebrush biome is one of the largest ecosystems in North America. Encompassing nearly one-third of the continental U.S., it provides critical resources for millions of Americans and a home for hundreds of plants and animal species in the West. Natural resource management in sagebrush ecosystems can be complex, and science can support management decisions by providing knowledge and tools to...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Cooperative Research Units, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Biological Soil Crust ("Biocrust") Science
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are commonly found on the soil surface in arid and semi-arid ecosystems (collectively called drylands). Biocrusts can consist of mosses, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, and microfungi, and they strongly interact with the soil. These organisms or consortium of disparate organisms, depending on the specific biocrust, are important to the functioning of ecosystems...