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See our science through the images below.

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WorldCat holdings, OCLC, USGS Pubs Warehouse, Public Domain, Biodiversity Heritage Library
A student volunteer scans historic USGS library material
A student volunteer scans historic USGS library material
A student volunteer scans historic USGS library material

Student volunteers are trained to scan historic library materials. The materials can be complex, consisting of multiple parts.

Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK
Tufted Puffin, near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Tufted Puffin, near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Tufted Puffin, near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Tufted Puffin, the species most affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Two sea otters floating on their backs in water.
Sea Otters
Sea Otters
Sea Otters

Three of the nine wild sea otter populations in the U.S. are federally listed as threatened. In California, USGS biologists have lead an annual population census to assess the local populations' recovery, working closely with state agencies and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Three of the nine wild sea otter populations in the U.S. are federally listed as threatened. In California, USGS biologists have lead an annual population census to assess the local populations' recovery, working closely with state agencies and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Using radio telemetry to track a federally threatened Oregon spotted frog
Using radio telemetry
Using radio telemetry
Using radio telemetry

Don Ashton uses radio telemetry to track a federally threatened Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa). Data provide information on resource use, movement patterns, and overwintering

Don Ashton uses radio telemetry to track a federally threatened Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa). Data provide information on resource use, movement patterns, and overwintering

Photo of Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

Photo of USGS scientist Sasha Reed studying outdoor biocrust testing sites
USGS scientist Sasha Reed studys outdoor biocrust testing sites
USGS scientist Sasha Reed studys outdoor biocrust testing sites
USGS scientist Sasha Reed studys outdoor biocrust testing sites

USGS scientist Sasha Reed studies sites where different climate conditions are being mimicked to determine effect on biocrusts.

Photo of outdoor testing plots where biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.
Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots
Biocrust outdoor testing plots

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

Photo of biocrust outdoor testing plots.
Biocrust outdoor testing plots.
Biocrust outdoor testing plots.
Biocrust outdoor testing plots.

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

USGS scientists created outdoor testing plots where large squares of biocrusts were exposed to different warming and precipitation factors over time.

two scientists setting up an experiment in an area dominated by cheatgrass
Setting up a bacterial control experiment on cheatgrass
Setting up a bacterial control experiment on cheatgrass
Setting up a bacterial control experiment on cheatgrass

Scientists are studying several weed suppressive bacteria to see if they can be used as a biological control on invasive exotic grasses, such as cheatgrass.

USGS personnel maintaining weather station on glacier
USGS personnel maintaining weather station on glacier
USGS personnel maintaining weather station on glacier
Beached boats and bare trees in Hurricane Hole
Irma leaves beached boats and broken trees in Huricane Hole
Irma leaves beached boats and broken trees in Huricane Hole
Irma leaves beached boats and broken trees in Huricane Hole

Boat owners sought protection for their vessels in sheltered Hurricane Hole, but Hurricane Irma sunk and beached many boats, likely damaging corals. Photo: Caroline Rogers, USGS, 2017

Fog on Yukon River
Fog on Yukon River
Fog on Yukon River
Fog on Yukon River

Fog along the Yukon River showing a Black Spruce dominated forest in the foreground, which is prone to wildfire.  Photo by Bruce Wylie, USGS

Fog along the Yukon River showing a Black Spruce dominated forest in the foreground, which is prone to wildfire.  Photo by Bruce Wylie, USGS

Horned Puffin, one of the species affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK
Horned Puffin, near Chisik Island in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
Horned Puffin, near Chisik Island in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska
Horned Puffin, near Chisik Island in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska

Horned Puffin, one of the species affected by a recent seabird die-off in the Pribilof Islands, AK. Near Chisik Island in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska

English Sole
English Sole
English Sole
English Sole

English Sole - Scuba divers from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Fisheries Research Center, Washington Sea Grant, EPA and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe collected data and images from a long-term study of the Elwha River dam removals and the resulting effects on the nearshore ecosystem.

English Sole - Scuba divers from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Fisheries Research Center, Washington Sea Grant, EPA and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe collected data and images from a long-term study of the Elwha River dam removals and the resulting effects on the nearshore ecosystem.

Blooming flowers in a Pollinator Plot
Established pollinator plot at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
Established pollinator plot at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
Established pollinator plot at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.

Prairie coneflower, Blanket flower, and Phacelia bloom in an established Pollinator Plot at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota. 

Grand Canyon Map
Grand Canyon Base Map
Grand Canyon Base Map
Grand Canyon Base Map

Screen capture of Grand Canyon shaded relief base map used by the USGS's Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center.

Screen capture of Grand Canyon shaded relief base map used by the USGS's Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center.

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