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A USGS Biologist stands in front of tanks holding large fish. She holds an enormous, bright red, 80-pound bighead carp
USGS Biologist Amanda Milde with 80-lb bighead carp
USGS Biologist Amanda Milde with 80-lb bighead carp
Mountain goat standing next to frozen lake
Mountain goat in Glacier National park
Mountain goat in Glacier National park
Mountain goat in Glacier National park

Mountain goat standing next to a mostly frozen, high-elevation lake in Glacier National Park, Montana. 

Field sampling soil cores
Soil cores are collected and sectioned to characterize soil properties, abundance of metals, and fallout radionuclides.
Soil cores are collected and sectioned to characterize soil properties, abundance of metals, and fallout radionuclides.
Wendy Turner
Wendy Turner
Wendy Turner
Wendy Turner

Dr. Turner received graduate degrees from University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and University of California, Berkeley. She was an NSF International Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oslo, Norway, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Albany, State University of New York before joining the Wisconsin Unit in 2020. Dr.

Dr. Turner received graduate degrees from University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and University of California, Berkeley. She was an NSF International Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oslo, Norway, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Albany, State University of New York before joining the Wisconsin Unit in 2020. Dr.

Colored pencil illustration of a spiral showing the stages of mineral production lifecycle
Mineral production lifecycle from exploration through reclamation
Mineral production lifecycle from exploration through reclamation
Mineral production lifecycle from exploration through reclamation

Artistic rendition of the mineral lifecycle from a natural state through to exploration, permitting, mining, and reclamation. Designed for the Minerals Lifecycle Integrated Science Team to depict one aspect of their science focus.

Artistic rendition of the mineral lifecycle from a natural state through to exploration, permitting, mining, and reclamation. Designed for the Minerals Lifecycle Integrated Science Team to depict one aspect of their science focus.

Diagram showing potential sources of contaminants in food processing waste
Contaminant releases can be associated with all steps of the food production process.
Contaminant releases can be associated with all steps of the food production process.
Contaminant releases can be associated with all steps of the food production process.

Contaminant releases can be associated with all steps of the food production process. The Food IST answers questions about what contaminants are released, if wildlife and humans are exposed, and if there are health hazards associated with exposure to wildlife

Contaminant releases can be associated with all steps of the food production process. The Food IST answers questions about what contaminants are released, if wildlife and humans are exposed, and if there are health hazards associated with exposure to wildlife

Women monitors a site in the Sonoran Desert
RestoreNet Monitor
RestoreNet Monitor
RestoreNet Monitor

Starting in 2017, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers and land managers are co-producing a network of restoration field trial sites on Department of Interior (DOI) and surrounding lands in the southwestern U.S. The network systematically tests restoration treatments across a broad range of landscape, soil, and climate conditions.

Starting in 2017, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers and land managers are co-producing a network of restoration field trial sites on Department of Interior (DOI) and surrounding lands in the southwestern U.S. The network systematically tests restoration treatments across a broad range of landscape, soil, and climate conditions.

A comparison of copper vs. lead bullets before and after impact with their target.
Copper and lead ammunition comparison
Copper and lead ammunition comparison
Copper and lead ammunition comparison

Non-lead ammunition, such as those made from copper, tend to remain intact after impact with their target, while lead ammunition can fragment into many small pieces.

Non-lead ammunition, such as those made from copper, tend to remain intact after impact with their target, while lead ammunition can fragment into many small pieces.

Movement of a lesser scaup infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza
Movement of a Lesser Scaup Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Movement of a Lesser Scaup Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Movement of a Lesser Scaup Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

USGS map showing the movement of a lesser scaup infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (red line) compared to four lesser scaup not infected (maroon, yellow, blue and black lines). Movement was recorded January 23 to 26, 2022. The black dot identifies where the birds were captured and released in Maryland.

USGS map showing the movement of a lesser scaup infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (red line) compared to four lesser scaup not infected (maroon, yellow, blue and black lines). Movement was recorded January 23 to 26, 2022. The black dot identifies where the birds were captured and released in Maryland.

Scientist examines sediment layers with pegs marking parts of the layers
Jeff Pigati collecting pollen at White Sands site
Jeff Pigati collecting pollen at White Sands site
Jeff Pigati collecting pollen at White Sands site

USGS scientist Jeff Pigati collects pollen for radiocarbon dating at the site where human footprints were found in order to estimate the age of the footprints. Pollen also provides a picture of what kind of vegetation existed at the time that the footprints were made.

USGS scientist Jeff Pigati collects pollen for radiocarbon dating at the site where human footprints were found in order to estimate the age of the footprints. Pollen also provides a picture of what kind of vegetation existed at the time that the footprints were made.

Volcanologist coloring page
Volcanologist coloring page
Volcanologist coloring page
Volcanologist coloring page

This is a coloring page for the USGS I Am A... career series depicting a Volcanologist.

Graphic showing potential benefits of RestoreNet treatments, including seeding, live topsoil inoculation, livestock grazing, seed balls, and soil pits.
Graphic showing potential benefits of RestoreNet 2.0 treatments, including seeding, live topsoil inoculation, livestock grazing, seed balls, and soil pits
Graphic showing potential benefits of RestoreNet 2.0 treatments, including seeding, live topsoil inoculation, livestock grazing, seed balls, and soil pits
Graphic showing potential benefits of RestoreNet 2.0 treatments, including seeding, live topsoil inoculation, livestock grazing, seed balls, and soil pits

Graphic showing potential benefits of RestoreNet 2.0 treatments, including seeding, live topsoil inoculation, livestock grazing, seed balls, and soil pits

Illustration of the levels of participatory science in the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area.
Illustration of Participatory Science in the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area
Illustration of Participatory Science in the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area
Illustration of Participatory Science in the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area

The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) is encouraging participatory science with its partners. EMA is a leader in participatory science activities and this guidance emphasizes support for this research design model that encourages research projects, as appropriate, to engage in enhanced forms of participatory science.

The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) is encouraging participatory science with its partners. EMA is a leader in participatory science activities and this guidance emphasizes support for this research design model that encourages research projects, as appropriate, to engage in enhanced forms of participatory science.

Male and female bighorn sheep
Male and female bighorn sheep
Male and female bighorn sheep
Male and female bighorn sheep

Male (ram - left) and female (ewe) bighorn sheep outside of Yellowstone National Park. 

graduate student wearing black wet suit holds an orange life saving buoy and standing near water
Nikola Rodriguez exits the water after a successful sampling effort along the west coast of Hawai’i Island
Nikola Rodriguez exits the water after a successful sampling effort along the west coast of Hawai’i Island
Nikola Rodriguez exits the water after a successful sampling effort along the west coast of Hawai’i Island

Nikola Rodriguez exits the water after a successful sampling effort along the west coast of Hawai’i Island in September 2021. The fish will be processed and tested for the presence of ciguatoxins.

Tegus surviving in snow
Argentine black and white tegus can survive the winter
Argentine black and white tegus can survive the winter
Argentine black and white tegus can survive the winter

Argentine black and white tegus (Salvator merianae) can survive the winter under semi-natural conditions well beyond their current invasive range.

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