Images

A forest trail meanders through a grove of Aspen trees in Colorado during early autumn.

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

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

Researchers examine a bat wing while in the process of capturing bats to attach tiny Motus radio tags to track their movements.

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 USGS researcher working with a portable eDNA autosampler located next to a stream in Montana. 

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.

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

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

Mountain yellow-legged frog habitat found in a riparian area of Los Angeles County.

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

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

Michael Tate using the Raman microscope to identify and characterize microplastics at the Upper Midwest Water Science Center

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

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

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

Big Sheep Canyon, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Mountains, southern Montana.

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.