Sonoran Desert Wildflowers and Invasive Species

Ecosystems are changing at a rapid pace. It can be difficult to determine if a landscape is in need of restoration. In this photo of the spring wildflower bloom in the Sonoran desert, an invasive annual grass, Bromus rubens (red brome), is pervasive. Land managers have to make decisions about when, where, and how to intervene in a system. Does this grass pose a threat to biota and natural processes? Would attempts to remove the grass create unwanted consequences, like invasion by other non-native species? Through better understanding of the long-term results of land treatments, the USGS RAMPS program is helping land managers make these tough decisions about the public lands they manage.