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See our science through the images below.

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Student holds an invasive swamp eel
Technician is holding an invasive swamp eel in Central Florida
Technician is holding an invasive swamp eel in Central Florida
Technician is holding an invasive swamp eel in Central Florida

Invasive swamp eel (Monopterus albus) collected in central Florida. Swamp eels are used as bait and in live food markets and have the potential to impact the ecology and economics of a waterbody. 

Invasive swamp eel (Monopterus albus) collected in central Florida. Swamp eels are used as bait and in live food markets and have the potential to impact the ecology and economics of a waterbody. 

Boat trailer with invasive species
Boat trailer is carrying invasive aquatic plants
Boat trailer is carrying invasive aquatic plants
Boat trailer is carrying invasive aquatic plants

Boats and trailers can move invasive plants and animals between lakes. Aquatic invasive species are bad news and they need a plan for early detection and fast response.

Boats and trailers can move invasive plants and animals between lakes. Aquatic invasive species are bad news and they need a plan for early detection and fast response.

Map showing current distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus detections in wild birds in the United States.
Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 and H5N1 in North America, 2021-2025
Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 and H5N1 in North America, 2021-2025
Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 and H5N1 in North America, 2021-2025

Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 and H5N1 in wild birds the United States, by county, 2021-2025. Updated February 10, 2025.

Map of the Southwest showing level 3 ecoregions and black dots representing the locations of 23 RestoreNet sites in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado
RestoreNet Map
RestoreNet Map
RestoreNet Map

RestoreNet is a networked ecological restoration experiment spanning drylands of the American Southwest. It is engaging diverse partners to develop methods for successful revegetation projects that mitigate the effects of drought, invasion by non-native species, and land use practices.

RestoreNet is a networked ecological restoration experiment spanning drylands of the American Southwest. It is engaging diverse partners to develop methods for successful revegetation projects that mitigate the effects of drought, invasion by non-native species, and land use practices.

A fisher retrieving a fishing net.
Fisher_Bolivia.jpeg
Fisher_Bolivia.jpeg
Fisher_Bolivia.jpeg

A fisher retrieving his nets in the Rio Madre de Dios in Bolivia. Previously, fishers in the area reported abundant catches but nowadays it increasingly common for fishers to return home empty-handed because of impacts from dams and gold mining. (Photo credit: Gretchen Stokes)

A fisher retrieving his nets in the Rio Madre de Dios in Bolivia. Previously, fishers in the area reported abundant catches but nowadays it increasingly common for fishers to return home empty-handed because of impacts from dams and gold mining. (Photo credit: Gretchen Stokes)

A bulldozed fire break in vegetation in steep, hilly terrain
Dozer Line through Repaired Habitat Supervised by SPARCS Fireline Resource Advisors during the Palisades Fire
Dozer Line through Repaired Habitat Supervised by SPARCS Fireline Resource Advisors during the Palisades Fire
Dozer Line through Repaired Habitat Supervised by SPARCS Fireline Resource Advisors during the Palisades Fire

Bulldozer lines create breaks in vegetation and are commonly used when fighting wildfires.  This dozer line was created during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California in January 2025.

A graphical depiction of an SIR (susceptible - infected - recovered) model design
Conceptual diagram of a potential SIR (susceptible - infected - recovered) model
Conceptual diagram of a potential SIR (susceptible - infected - recovered) model
Conceptual diagram of a potential SIR (susceptible - infected - recovered) model

A conceptual box-and-arrow diagram of avian influenza transmission. In each box, the first letter indicates low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) infection status (susceptible, infected, recovered) and the second indicates highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection status.

A conceptual box-and-arrow diagram of avian influenza transmission. In each box, the first letter indicates low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) infection status (susceptible, infected, recovered) and the second indicates highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection status.

NWHC modernization
NWHC modernization
NWHC modernization
NWHC modernization

The front elevation showcases a combination of glass and metal elements, reflecting a contemporary aesthetic. WHC will be a single, integrated, multistory, state-of-the-art building that will include offices, laboratories (BSL-2 and BSL-3), and vivarium
Picture provide by :Julia Lankton
Deputy Center Director

The front elevation showcases a combination of glass and metal elements, reflecting a contemporary aesthetic. WHC will be a single, integrated, multistory, state-of-the-art building that will include offices, laboratories (BSL-2 and BSL-3), and vivarium
Picture provide by :Julia Lankton
Deputy Center Director

Conceptual illustration of the future USGS National Wildlife Health Center, courtesy of Flad Architects
Conceptual illustration of the future USGS National Wildlife Health Center, courtesy of Flad Architects
Conceptual illustration of the future USGS National Wildlife Health Center, courtesy of Flad Architects
Conceptual illustration of the future USGS National Wildlife Health Center, courtesy of Flad Architects

NWHC modernization overhead view, The image showcases an overhead view of the NWHC modernization project for the microsite homepage. Its highlighting the contemporary structures integrated into a vibrant landscape. Provided by: Lankton, Julia

Five cattle graze on experimental RestoreNet plots in a southern Utah landscape
RestoreNet livestock treatments
RestoreNet livestock treatments
RestoreNet livestock treatments

Cattle inside a grazing enclosure at Canyonlands Research Center (The Nature Conservancy) in southern Utah.

A Sonoran Desert landscape with a blue sky, saguaro cactus in the background, and shrubs, cacti, and grasses in the foreground
A Sonoran Desert RestoreNet site
A Sonoran Desert RestoreNet site
A Sonoran Desert RestoreNet site

A RestoreNet Field Trial Network restoration experiment site in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona, in spring 2024. Photo by Laura Shriver (USGS).

A RestoreNet Field Trial Network restoration experiment site in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona, in spring 2024. Photo by Laura Shriver (USGS).

Scenic view of red rock mesas surrounding Canyonlands Research Center in Southern Utah
Canyonlands Research Center
Canyonlands Research Center
Canyonlands Research Center

Scenic view of the red rock mesas surrounding Canyonlands Research Center (The Nature Conservancy) in southern Utah.

Scenic view of the red rock mesas surrounding Canyonlands Research Center (The Nature Conservancy) in southern Utah.

Submerged temperature logger mounted to cobble on riverbed.
Temperature logger in Santiam River basin, Oregon
Temperature logger in Santiam River basin, Oregon
Temperature logger in Santiam River basin, Oregon

Temperature logger attached to submerged cobble in Quartzville Creek, OR. This logger was placed as part of an ongoing effort to retrieve continuous temperature data from rivers and tributaries within the Willamette River basin, OR.

Temperature logger attached to submerged cobble in Quartzville Creek, OR. This logger was placed as part of an ongoing effort to retrieve continuous temperature data from rivers and tributaries within the Willamette River basin, OR.

Covers of the Plant Conservation Alliance National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023 (left) and the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration (right).
Covers of the National Seed Strategy and National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023
Covers of the National Seed Strategy and National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023
Covers of the National Seed Strategy and National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023

Covers of the Plant Conservation Alliance National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023 (left) and the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration (right).

Critical elements used for environmental research
Multidisciplinary approach to prioritize critical elements for environmental research.
Multidisciplinary approach to prioritize critical elements for environmental research.
A cartoon style infographic describing the benefits of dryland carbon.
Dryland Carbon
Dryland Carbon
Dryland Carbon

While it’s easy to assume there’s not much going on in deserts and other types of drylands, the opposite is true! Come with us to learn more about these underappreciated ecosystems; once you get to know them, we are sure you will love drylands as much as we do!

While it’s easy to assume there’s not much going on in deserts and other types of drylands, the opposite is true! Come with us to learn more about these underappreciated ecosystems; once you get to know them, we are sure you will love drylands as much as we do!

Ecosystems Mission Area Locations
Ecosystems Mission Area Locations
Ecosystems Mission Area Locations
Ecosystems Mission Area Locations

Map of locations of Ecosystems Mission Area locations across the U.S. This map includes the USGS Regions and Department of Interior Unified Regions.  

Map of locations of Ecosystems Mission Area locations across the U.S. This map includes the USGS Regions and Department of Interior Unified Regions.  

Winter elk range land holdings around National Elk Refuge
Winter elk range land holdings around National Elk Refuge-Cropped
Winter elk range land holdings around National Elk Refuge-Cropped
Winter elk range land holdings around National Elk Refuge-Cropped

Map showing federal, state, and private land holdings of core winter elk range around the National Elk Refuge (labeled as the FWS unit). Map was generated by the USGS. 

Jackson elk migrations near the National Elk Refuge
Jackson elk migrations near the National Elk Refuge-cropped
Jackson elk migrations near the National Elk Refuge-cropped
Jackson elk migrations near the National Elk Refuge-cropped

Jackson elk herd migrations around the National Elk Refuge are shown in dark blue (short-distant migrants) and light blue (long-distant migrants). Elk migrations cross federal, state, and public lands. The map was generated by the USGS using data from the USGS Data Release Kauffman and others, 2020

Jackson elk herd migrations around the National Elk Refuge are shown in dark blue (short-distant migrants) and light blue (long-distant migrants). Elk migrations cross federal, state, and public lands. The map was generated by the USGS using data from the USGS Data Release Kauffman and others, 2020

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