Images

These live Asian swamp eels were imported from southeast Asia and sold in an urban food market in the U.S. Raw or undercooked Asian swamp eels could transmit a parasitic infection called gnathostomiasis to consumers, and wild eels could become widespread in some U.S. waters.

This image shows an Upper Mississippi River marina covered by excessive duckweed.

Photomicrograph depicting the siliceous frustules of fifty species of diatoms arranged within a circular shape. Diatoms form the base of many marine and aquatic food chains and upon death, their glassy frustules form sediments known as diatomaceous earth.

Photomicrograph depicting the siliceous frustulesof fifty species of diatoms arranged within a circular shape. Diatoms form the base of many marine and aquatic food chains and upon death, their glassy frustules form sediments known as diatomaceous earth.

A photomicrograph depicting the siliceous tests of ten species of marine radiolarians. This image has been inverted to bring out details. Upon death, their tests can form siliceous marine sediments known as radiolarian ooze.

Erik Hofmeister, NWHC veterinarian and research scientist, holds a zebra finch, a species which serves as a laboratory model for study of avian diseases.

When looking for a place to set up a trapping location, scientists look for existing bear sign such as scratches on trees and bear scat. Sometimes traps are set in areas that have no obvious bear sign to determine if indeed bears are present.

IGBST researchers are very careful to keep the bear under shade and protected from the elements while they collect biological data.

The kerchief over the bear's eyes protects it from dust and debris and reduces visual stimulation. The small tubing in its nose, known as a nasal cannula, delivers oxygen to the animal while it is tranquilized.

Researchers with IGBST measure the bear's girth as part of body fitness data collection.

Once a bear is radio collared, researchers can track its movements with telemetry.

A flock of wintering northern pintail ducks takes flight in Northern Honshu, Japan.

Scientists at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center view young freshwater mussels through miscroscopes. During laboratory tests, USGS scientists and partners found that the heart and growth rates of some species of young freshwater mussels declined as a result of elevated water temperatures, and many died.

During laboratory tests, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center scientists and partners found that the heart and growth rates of some species of young freshwater mussels declined as a result of elevated water temperatures, and many died.

The grey, coiled seashell of Olivella semistriata with the aperture (shell opening) facing up. Photograph taken 2002 or earlier.

Colorful and coiled seashells of Olivella semistriata with the apertures (shell openings) facing up. Photograph taken 2002 or earlier.

Suzanne Nicholson, USGS, collecting soil at one of the sites in New Jersey, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just south of Atlantic City.

Back-lit photographs of wings of White-nose Syndrome (WNS)-positive little brown bats, one with subtle circular and irregular pale areas (arrows) indicating areas of fungal infection (A) and another bat (B) with areas of relatively normal tone and elasticity (black arrow), compared to a WNS affected area that looks like crumpled tissue paper with loss of elasticity,

Hibernating little brown bat with white muzzle typical of White-nose syndrome.

An invasive species, the spiny water flea, is likely a primary driver of changes in Lake Huron's food web over the past decade.

The U.S.