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See our science through the images below.

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rain falling from dark storm clouds over a field of sagebrush and grasses
Storm over sagebrush steppe in Montana
Storm over sagebrush steppe in Montana
Storm over sagebrush steppe in Montana

A storm rolls in during field work at the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. Crews were measuring plant cover and other site characteristics. Sagebrush and yellow sweet clover are visible.

A storm rolls in during field work at the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. Crews were measuring plant cover and other site characteristics. Sagebrush and yellow sweet clover are visible.

Deer and elk using mineral lick
Deer and elk using natural mineral lick
Deer and elk using natural mineral lick
Deer and elk using natural mineral lick

In the same day, a female mule deer (left image), an elk (middle image), and finally a buck mule deer (right image) visited the same mineral lick in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The USGS is investigating how the aggregation of multiple individuals and species in mineral lick locations can influence wildlife disease transmission.  

In the same day, a female mule deer (left image), an elk (middle image), and finally a buck mule deer (right image) visited the same mineral lick in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The USGS is investigating how the aggregation of multiple individuals and species in mineral lick locations can influence wildlife disease transmission.  

Wind turbines with one black blade
Wind turbines with one black blade
Wind turbines with one black blade
Wind turbines with one black blade

Wind turbines in Wyoming with one blade painted black. These turbines are part of a study in collaboration with PacifiCorp to assess if the contrasting colors of turbine blades can reduce bird fatalities at wind turbines. 

Wind turbines in Wyoming with one blade painted black. These turbines are part of a study in collaboration with PacifiCorp to assess if the contrasting colors of turbine blades can reduce bird fatalities at wind turbines. 

Cyanobacteria bloom, Fox River, Wisconsin
Cyanobacteria bloom near the shoreline of North Bar Lake in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
Cyanobacteria bloom near the shoreline of North Bar Lake in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
A clearing of nearly bare dirt surrounded by low, green vegetation. A person wearing a hat is crouched down touching a plant
ROAM field data collection
ROAM field data collection
ROAM field data collection

A five-person USGS crew collecting Rapid and Other Assessment and Monitoring (ROAM) density data in southwest Idaho. One person is inspecting a plant in the foreground, while the rest of the team are identifying and counting individual plants during a radial density belt. 

A five-person USGS crew collecting Rapid and Other Assessment and Monitoring (ROAM) density data in southwest Idaho. One person is inspecting a plant in the foreground, while the rest of the team are identifying and counting individual plants during a radial density belt. 

The new building of the Columbia River Research Laboratory
USGS WFRC Columbia River Research Laboratory
USGS WFRC Columbia River Research Laboratory
USGS WFRC Columbia River Research Laboratory

This is a photo of the new USGS Western Fisheries Research Center Columbia River Research Laboratory building.

a white plastic pole and tape mark the location of a sampling plot. The ground is mostly bare dirt with a few small sagebrush
Downward facing photo within a ROAM plot
Downward facing photo within a ROAM plot
Downward facing photo within a ROAM plot

A downward-facing photo taken on a Rapid and Other Methods for Assessment and Monitoring (ROAM) plot that is within a fuel break. The photo includes a lot of gravel and bare ground, with intermixed small grasses, forbs, and shrubs. 

A downward-facing photo taken on a Rapid and Other Methods for Assessment and Monitoring (ROAM) plot that is within a fuel break. The photo includes a lot of gravel and bare ground, with intermixed small grasses, forbs, and shrubs. 

A small fluffy light brown chick with dark speckles is held in hand.
Poplar Island Chick in Hand
Poplar Island Chick in Hand
Poplar Island Chick in Hand

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

Five scientists in hats and bright green safety vests stand on the sand near two pick-up trucks.
Poplar Island Scientists 2
Poplar Island Scientists 2
Poplar Island Scientists 2

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

Two white birds with black on the tops of their heads and orange beaks with long tails stand side-by-side in scrubby grass.
Poplar Island Two Terns
Poplar Island Two Terns
Poplar Island Two Terns

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

Two scientists in hats and bright green safety vests survey white birds flying around them.
PoplarIslandScientists
PoplarIslandScientists
PoplarIslandScientists

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

Three light brown eggs with dark brown  sit on a shallow nest of scrub and sand.
Poplar Island Tern Nest
Poplar Island Tern Nest
Poplar Island Tern Nest

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

This Prosser Lab project aims to understand the factors driving breeding success of multiple waterbird species, with special emphasis on Least and Common Terns (two species of concern) on Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project.

wildfire temperatures
How Hot Are Wildfires?
How Hot Are Wildfires?
How Hot Are Wildfires?

How hot do wildfires get? 

  • 570 F degrees - TEMPERATURE AT WHICH WOOD WILL BURST INTO FLAMES
  • 2,200 F degrees - TEMPERATURE WILDFIRES COULD REACH IN EXTREME CONDITIONS

How hot do wildfires get? 

  • 570 F degrees - TEMPERATURE AT WHICH WOOD WILL BURST INTO FLAMES
  • 2,200 F degrees - TEMPERATURE WILDFIRES COULD REACH IN EXTREME CONDITIONS
postfire debris flows
Postfire debris flows
Postfire debris flows
Postfire debris flows

Fast-moving, highly destructive debris flows triggered by intense rainfall are one of the most dangerous post-fire hazards. The risk of floods and debris flows after fires increases due to vegetation loss and soil exposure. Cases of sudden and deadly debris flow are well documented along the western United States, particularly in Southern California.

Fast-moving, highly destructive debris flows triggered by intense rainfall are one of the most dangerous post-fire hazards. The risk of floods and debris flows after fires increases due to vegetation loss and soil exposure. Cases of sudden and deadly debris flow are well documented along the western United States, particularly in Southern California.

Pelagic Cormorants on nest on rocky cliffs with white guano. Male has purple and green feathers, white patch lower left side.
Pelagic Cormorants of the St. Matthew Grotto
Pelagic Cormorants of the St. Matthew Grotto
Pelagic Cormorants of the St. Matthew Grotto

Pair of Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus) nest along the sea cliffs of a grotto on St. Matthew Island. The island is home to over 1.6 million nesting seabirds, including murres, kittiwakes, puffins and auklets. 

Pair of Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus) nest along the sea cliffs of a grotto on St. Matthew Island. The island is home to over 1.6 million nesting seabirds, including murres, kittiwakes, puffins and auklets. 

Orange river on a brown landscape and snowy mountains in the background.
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River, Noatak National Preserve in Alaska
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River, Noatak National Preserve in Alaska
An orange tributary of the Kugururok River, Noatak National Preserve in 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.

Photomicrographs from little brown bats, one with square-eared anomaly.
Photomicrographs from little brown bats, one with square-eared anomaly, found dead in Montana, USA.
Photomicrographs from little brown bats, one with square-eared anomaly, found dead in Montana, USA.
Photomicrographs from little brown bats, one with square-eared anomaly, found dead in Montana, USA.

Photomicrographs from an unaffected Little Brown Bat (M. lucifugus; A-B) and Little Brown Bat found dead in Montana, USA with the square-eared anomaly (C-E). Periodic Acid Schiff-Hematoxylin. (A) Pinna of an unaffected Little Brown Bat showing the epidermis (e and arrow), dermis (d) and central elastic cartilage plate (c).

Photomicrographs from an unaffected Little Brown Bat (M. lucifugus; A-B) and Little Brown Bat found dead in Montana, USA with the square-eared anomaly (C-E). Periodic Acid Schiff-Hematoxylin. (A) Pinna of an unaffected Little Brown Bat showing the epidermis (e and arrow), dermis (d) and central elastic cartilage plate (c).

A cartoon style infographic explaining the benefits of coral ecosystems.
Coral Ecosystem Services
Coral Ecosystem Services
Coral Ecosystem Services

Coral reefs provide ample opportunities for recreational activities and fishing and add important cultural value to coastal communities. 

They also bolster biodiversity by giving food and shelter to many species. 

The structure of a reef helps dampen waves and protects coastlines from storms and erosion. 

Coral reefs provide ample opportunities for recreational activities and fishing and add important cultural value to coastal communities. 

They also bolster biodiversity by giving food and shelter to many species. 

The structure of a reef helps dampen waves and protects coastlines from storms and erosion. 

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