Images

The red-cockaded woodpecker is a federally listed species that declined in the southeastern United States from approximately 1.6 million cooperative breeding groups to less than 3,500 groups due to loss and degradation of habitat and fire suppression.

USGS National Wildlife Health Center laboratory technician preparing avian samples for avian influenza testing.

Left: USGS Employee L. Windham-Myers showing a surface water sample collected in acid-cleaned mason jar (deployed for 24 hours) for a mercury study conducted at the Cosumnes River Nature Preserve (CA).  Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale. Date: 10/29/2014.

An Appalachian Mountain Stream in the Spring. Photographed by Samuel H Austin

USGS Water towers at Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Cannibalistic morph Barred Tiger Salamander Closeup, Jamestown, ND. Perhaps the rarest barred tiger salamander morphotype is the "cannibal" morph. Cannibal morphs are typically larvae and are distinguished by their disproportionally larger heads and  pronounced vomerine teeth.

Cannibal morph Barred Tiger Salamander larvae in a bucket of typical morphs larvae, Kidder County, ND.

Barred Tiger Salamander larva with typical larva in its mouth, Kidder County, ND. 

This image is of invasive tamarisk (salt cedar) growing on the banks of the Colorado River. 

Clark's grebe sitting on a nest at Thermalito Afterbay, California.

Red-breasted Merganser pair in North Slope of Alaska

A mountain bluebird eats a giant mistletoe berry in an ash tree in Sedona, Arizona (Oak Creek).  These bluebirds, and many other types of birds, rely on mistletoe berries for sustenance. As a result, they also help distribute the mistletoe seeds.

Students from Hickman High School’s biology club ask questions during an educational tour at the Columbia Environmental Research Center (Columbia, MO).

A mountain bluebird eats a giant mistletoe berry in an ash tree in Sedona, Arizona (Oak Creek).  These bluebirds, and many other types of birds, rely on mistletoe berries for sustenance. As a result, they also help distribute the mistletoe seeds.

A mountain bluebird eats a giant mistletoe berry in an ash tree in Sedona, Arizona (Oak Creek).  These bluebirds, and many other types of birds, rely on mistletoe berries for sustenance. As a result, they also help distribute the mistletoe seeds.

Dr. Greta Aeby (left), a coral expert with the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawai‘i, and Dr. Thierry Work, wildlife disease specialist for the USGS National Wildlife Health Center exit the water at ‘Anini after more than six hours of documenting and photographing diseased rice corals.

During a research snorkel trip at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Dr. Margaret Hunter comes face to face with a manatee.

Native westslope cutthroat trout swim in the north fork of the Flathead River in northwestern Montana. This region is recognized as a range-wide stronghold for genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout. However, rainbow trout invasion and hybridization threatens these populations. 

Native westslope cutthroat trout swim in the north fork of the Flathead River in northwestern Montana. The region is recognized as a range-wide stronghold for genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout. However, rainbow trout invasion and hybridization threatens these populations. 

School of trout. 

Former Kanab North uranium mine on the edge of Kanab Creek, north of Grand Canyon.