Images

Mojave Desert Tortoise found in Piute Valley in Clark County, Nevada, in
2005

Mountain big sagebrush - or Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana - is a sub-species of big sagebrush that is found in primarily at higher elevation and colder, drier sites between the Rocky Mountains and the Cascades and Sierra Nevada.

A Vermont Unit researcher outfits a captured bobcat with a lightweight GPS collar that will record its daily movements.The collar will provide information on bobcat home range size, habitat use, and movements.

A Vermont Unit researcher outfits a captured bobcat with a lightweight GPS collar that will record its daily movements.The collar will provide information on bobcat home range size, habitat use, and movements.

Hermit thrushes are a songbird species that was strongly affected by plant community changes in mountains because of reduced snowpack and cascading ecological effects, according to a USGS Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit study.

Scenic view of a tree on coastal rocks by shore line.

Coastal view showing rocks and coast line.

Shoreline view with snow-topped mountains in background.

Inlet with sandy shore and coastal rock forms.

Waves crashing against rocky shoreline.

Shoreline seen through trees with hills in background.

Waves crashing at sandy inlet surrounded by rocky coast.

Scenic view of light house.

Coastal view showing rocks and coast line.

Scenic view of rock formation and coast line.

Coastal view showing rocks and coast line.

USGS scientists capture and release wild birds while monitoring for West Nile.

A protective snowshed at the confluence of two avalanche paths that start ~3,000' above the shed. This shed is located in southern Glacier National Park and protest part of the railway from avalanches. This is one of many avalanche paths impacting the railway. 

Avalanche debris of snow, soil, and piece of twisted metal deposited on U.S. Highway 2 near Glacier National Park. The avalanche flowed over and around the protective railway shed in the background. 

A photomicrograph depicting the calcium carbonate tests of ten species of marine foraminiferans. Upon death, their tests can form calcareous marine sediments known as foraminiferan ooze.

Photomicrograph depicting the siliceous frustulesof fifty species of diatoms arranged within a circular shape. Diatoms form the base of many marine and aquatic food chains and upon death, their glassy frustules form sediments known as diatomaceous earth.