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See our science through the images below.

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scientist sitting near a soil monitoring station with mountains in background
Soil Monitoring Station in Elk Mountains, Colorado
Soil Monitoring Station in Elk Mountains, Colorado
Soil Monitoring Station in Elk Mountains, Colorado

A USGS scientist preparing a soil monitoring station for winter, with a view of Mt. Baldy in the Colorado Elk Mountains.

a person reaches into a hold and pounds a stake into the soil with a rubber mallet
Extracting a bulk density soil sample
Extracting a bulk density soil sample
Extracting a bulk density soil sample

A scientist carefully collects a soil sample to determine soil density. Accurate soil density measurements are required for scaling soil carbon from the plot to the landscape. 

A scientist carefully collects a soil sample to determine soil density. Accurate soil density measurements are required for scaling soil carbon from the plot to the landscape. 

A group of scientists sit on the ground, working by headlamp light to get ready to measure a bat
Field crew prepares to measure and tag a bat
Field crew prepares to measure and tag a bat
Field crew prepares to measure and tag a bat

A team of biologists prepares to measure, weigh, and tag a captured bats. On the left, USGS biologist Gabe Reyes has a bat in a bag, used to separate and calm the bats. USGS biologist Julia Ersan is holding some alcohol used to ensure clean instruments and work surfaces, and USGS biologist Austin Waag is getting something out of a backpack.

A team of biologists prepares to measure, weigh, and tag a captured bats. On the left, USGS biologist Gabe Reyes has a bat in a bag, used to separate and calm the bats. USGS biologist Julia Ersan is holding some alcohol used to ensure clean instruments and work surfaces, and USGS biologist Austin Waag is getting something out of a backpack.

screenshot of an model that simulates the wind direction and speed during a wildfire. Colored arrows symbolize the wind velocity and direction.
Modeling to Support Proactive Approaches to Wildland Fire
Modeling to Support Proactive Approaches to Wildland Fire
Modeling to Support Proactive Approaches to Wildland Fire

Screen shot visualization of wind direction and velocity from a coupled/fire atmosphere model run of a wildfire (Dude Fire).

a view of Gothic Mountain in Colorado
Gothic Mountain, Colorado
Gothic Mountain, Colorado
Gothic Mountain, Colorado

A scenic view of Gothic Mountain in the Elk Mountains of Colorado. USGS scientists captured this photo while collecting soil sample data in the area.

A scenic view of Gothic Mountain in the Elk Mountains of Colorado. USGS scientists captured this photo while collecting soil sample data in the area.

A pale orange river and dark orange deposits on river bank.
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River, Noatak National Preserve, Alaska

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

photo of creek flowing through mixed grass and shrubland. Small hill and cloudy sky in background.
MuddyCreekChannel.jpg
MuddyCreekChannel.jpg
MuddyCreekChannel.jpg

Vegetation growth is assisting the Muddy Creek channel in becoming deeper and narrower (Carbon County, Wyoming).  Photo by Patrick Anderson (USGS)

Vegetation growth is assisting the Muddy Creek channel in becoming deeper and narrower (Carbon County, Wyoming).  Photo by Patrick Anderson (USGS)

Frogs in containers in riparian area
Mountain yellow-legged frogs in containers
Mountain yellow-legged frogs in containers
Mountain yellow-legged frogs in containers

Mountain yellow-legged frogs (Rana muscosa) in their transport containers being acclimated to their new habitat, Los Angeles County.

Mountain Yellow Legged Frog
Newly released mountain yellow-legged frogs
Newly released mountain yellow-legged frogs
Newly released mountain yellow-legged frogs

Newly released mountain yellow-legged frogs (Rana muscosa), Los Angeles County. Mountain yellow-legged frogs were bread and captivity then released.

A small herd of bison congregate around a truck in a rural landscape
Bison by sampler parking area
Bison by sampler parking area
Bison by sampler parking area

Bison waiting by field technician's truck after a sample collection in Montana.  

Bison waiting by field technician's truck after a sample collection in Montana.  

A graphic depiction of the six components of READI-Net each represented by an interlocking hexagon,
READI-Net infographic_white
READI-Net infographic_white
READI-Net infographic_white

The 6 components that comprise READI-Net are each represented by an interlocking hexagon, illustrating the multi-dimensional aspect of the project including: Autonomous eDNA samplers, Broad spectrum surveillance, Where & when to sample, Lab analysis standards, Information framework, and Communication. 

The 6 components that comprise READI-Net are each represented by an interlocking hexagon, illustrating the multi-dimensional aspect of the project including: Autonomous eDNA samplers, Broad spectrum surveillance, Where & when to sample, Lab analysis standards, Information framework, and Communication. 

A graphic depiction of the six components of READI-Net each represented by an interlocking hexagon
READI-Net infographic_6 polygon
READI-Net infographic_6 polygon
READI-Net infographic_6 polygon

The 6 components that comprise READI-Net are each represented by an interlocking hexagon, illustrating the multi-dimensional aspect of the project including: Autonomous eDNA samplers, Broad spectrum surveillance, Where & when to sample, Lab analysis standards, Information framework, and Communication. 

The 6 components that comprise READI-Net are each represented by an interlocking hexagon, illustrating the multi-dimensional aspect of the project including: Autonomous eDNA samplers, Broad spectrum surveillance, Where & when to sample, Lab analysis standards, Information framework, and Communication. 

filtered microplastics
Filtered plastics from surface water in Madison, WI.
Filtered plastics from surface water in Madison, WI.
Filtered plastics from surface water in Madison, WI.

Filtered plastics from surface water in Madison, WI. This photo was taken at UMID for microplastic analysis and method development.

A small dry streambed in a wooded area
PI_06.5 Dry streambed
PI_06.5 Dry streambed
PI_06.5 Dry streambed

A still image taken from a USGS Flow Photo Explorer camera (Pl_06.5) shows drying in a small stream in Shenandoah National Park.

A still image taken from a USGS Flow Photo Explorer camera (Pl_06.5) shows drying in a small stream in Shenandoah National Park.

Green dye lights up water in a stream around fallen tree trunks.
Water tracing dye injected into a stream in Leadville, Colorado.
Water tracing dye injected into a stream in Leadville, Colorado.
Water tracing dye injected into a stream in Leadville, Colorado.

Water tracing dye was injected into a stream in Leadville, Colorado, to identify locations of metal loading and to guide geophysical measurements.

Round white filter paper is imprinted with muddy star shape where turbid water was pulled through the filter to extract eDNA.
eDNA sampler filter with turbid sample
eDNA sampler filter with turbid sample
eDNA sampler filter with turbid sample

A filter from the Smith-Root sampler that collects eDNA when water is pushed through. This pattern is indicative of turbid water passing through the filter.

A filter from the Smith-Root sampler that collects eDNA when water is pushed through. This pattern is indicative of turbid water passing through the filter.

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