Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
See our science through the images below.
Close up of Sonoran Desert flowers, including California poppy, lupines, and purple owl's clover. Photo by Laura Shriver.
Close up of Sonoran Desert flowers, including California poppy, lupines, and purple owl's clover. Photo by Laura Shriver.
Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center scientist examining a snow sample while standing in a snow pit to better understand snowpack characteristics that lead to avalanches.
Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center scientist examining a snow sample while standing in a snow pit to better understand snowpack characteristics that lead to avalanches.
Biologists from RAMPS and McDowell Sonoran Preserve monitor a RestoreNet restoration site in the Sonoran Desert. Photo by Laura Shriver.
Biologists from RAMPS and McDowell Sonoran Preserve monitor a RestoreNet restoration site in the Sonoran Desert. Photo by Laura Shriver.
Sphaeralcea ambigua, a native plant seeded during RestoreNet experiments, thriving at the Lake Pleasant RestoreNet site in the Sonoran Desert. Photo by Laura Shriver.
Sphaeralcea ambigua, a native plant seeded during RestoreNet experiments, thriving at the Lake Pleasant RestoreNet site in the Sonoran Desert. Photo by Laura Shriver.
The RestoreNet plot at McDowell Sonoran Preserve was surrounded by blooming native wildflowers, including purple owl's clover (Castillejia exserta). Photo by Laura Shriver.
The RestoreNet plot at McDowell Sonoran Preserve was surrounded by blooming native wildflowers, including purple owl's clover (Castillejia exserta). Photo by Laura Shriver.
Image of numerous bottles of water used increasingly as an alternative drinking water source.
Image of numerous bottles of water used increasingly as an alternative drinking water source.
A graphic created for the 2023 National Invasive Species Awareness Week social media campaign
A graphic created for the 2023 National Invasive Species Awareness Week social media campaign
An overview of the effects of climate change on the spread of avian malaria and its subsequent impacts on Hawaiian forest birds.
An overview of the effects of climate change on the spread of avian malaria and its subsequent impacts on Hawaiian forest birds.
Word cloud of science keywords from the USGS Ecosystems Land Change Science Program. Larger words were submitted more often and from multiple projects whereas smaller words were submitted less frequently. Words in the word cloud, listed in order from largest (used most often) to smallest (used least often) and the number of times each were submitted are below:
Word cloud of science keywords from the USGS Ecosystems Land Change Science Program. Larger words were submitted more often and from multiple projects whereas smaller words were submitted less frequently. Words in the word cloud, listed in order from largest (used most often) to smallest (used least often) and the number of times each were submitted are below:
Word cloud of science keywords from the USGS Ecosystems Land Change Science Program. Larger words were submitted more often and from multiple projects whereas smaller words were submitted less frequently. Words in the word cloud, listed in order from largest (used most often) to smallest (used least often) and the number of times each were submitted are below:
Word cloud of science keywords from the USGS Ecosystems Land Change Science Program. Larger words were submitted more often and from multiple projects whereas smaller words were submitted less frequently. Words in the word cloud, listed in order from largest (used most often) to smallest (used least often) and the number of times each were submitted are below:
A Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) sitting on a nest. Piping Plovers breeding in the northern Great Plains, listed as Threatened since 1985, have been managed as a metapopulation consisting of four separate breeding groups with assumed infrequent movements among groups.
A Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) sitting on a nest. Piping Plovers breeding in the northern Great Plains, listed as Threatened since 1985, have been managed as a metapopulation consisting of four separate breeding groups with assumed infrequent movements among groups.
USGS scientist Andres Fritts holding a telemetered invasive bighead carp on the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa.
USGS scientist Andres Fritts holding a telemetered invasive bighead carp on the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa.
In 2022, we piloted RestoreNet V2.0 testing soil inoculation from undegraded reference sites, seed balls (white balls in photo), and pitting treatments (small indentions). Soil inoculation with healthy soils is expected to increase beneficial microbes at the degraded restoration site. Soil microbes can help reduce water stress in plants. Photo by Hannah Farrell.
In 2022, we piloted RestoreNet V2.0 testing soil inoculation from undegraded reference sites, seed balls (white balls in photo), and pitting treatments (small indentions). Soil inoculation with healthy soils is expected to increase beneficial microbes at the degraded restoration site. Soil microbes can help reduce water stress in plants. Photo by Hannah Farrell.
What can you do to conserve the birds and the bees, even in the face of climate change? In some cases, small actions, such as maintaining a pollinator garden or avoiding pesticides can be important. Take the rusty patched bumble bee, once one of the most common pollinators in eastern North America.
What can you do to conserve the birds and the bees, even in the face of climate change? In some cases, small actions, such as maintaining a pollinator garden or avoiding pesticides can be important. Take the rusty patched bumble bee, once one of the most common pollinators in eastern North America.
A group of controlled Culex mosquito eggs are viewed under a microscope in a California laboratory as part of an effort to mitigate avian malaria throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Image by Mia Takai
A group of controlled Culex mosquito eggs are viewed under a microscope in a California laboratory as part of an effort to mitigate avian malaria throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Image by Mia Takai
High Mesa Grassland Wilderness Study Area in Colorado with purple and orange wildflowers, Credit: Bob Wick, BLM.
High Mesa Grassland Wilderness Study Area in Colorado with purple and orange wildflowers, Credit: Bob Wick, BLM.
Monthly realizations of the spatial random field for the continental United States, with brighter colors indicating locations within a month with relatively greater avian influenza virus prevalence. Originally published in Kent et al.
Monthly realizations of the spatial random field for the continental United States, with brighter colors indicating locations within a month with relatively greater avian influenza virus prevalence. Originally published in Kent et al.
This research effort is an interagency partnership between U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to model the social-ecological system that encompasses chronic wasting disease management in the United States.
This research effort is an interagency partnership between U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to model the social-ecological system that encompasses chronic wasting disease management in the United States.
This USGS map shows the number of PFAS detected in tap water samples from select sites across the nation. The findings are based on a USGS study of samples taken between 2016 and 2021 from private and public supplies at 716 locations. The map does not represent the only locations in the U.S. with PFAS.
This USGS map shows the number of PFAS detected in tap water samples from select sites across the nation. The findings are based on a USGS study of samples taken between 2016 and 2021 from private and public supplies at 716 locations. The map does not represent the only locations in the U.S. with PFAS.
Donovan Maude, University of Idaho graduate student, capturing white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), Snake River, Idaho. White Sturgeon is an important species, unfortunately, little is known about their population ecology and whether current monitoring metrics are adequate for evaluating management and conservation success. We are working with the U.S.
Donovan Maude, University of Idaho graduate student, capturing white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), Snake River, Idaho. White Sturgeon is an important species, unfortunately, little is known about their population ecology and whether current monitoring metrics are adequate for evaluating management and conservation success. We are working with the U.S.
Diverse plants growing in a connectivity modified (ConMod) treatment in the Sonoran Desert. Photo by Molly McCormick.
Diverse plants growing in a connectivity modified (ConMod) treatment in the Sonoran Desert. Photo by Molly McCormick.