Images

To understand how changes in rainfall and temperature might affect coastal wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico, USGS researchers conducted field studies at 10 estuaries in five states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida). The fieldwork took place in a variety of coastal wetland types, including mangroves, marshes, and salt flats.

Glen Canyon Dam jet tubes releasing water into the Colorado River for a high flow experiment. The increase in flow of the Colorado River downstream of the dam mobilizes sand at the bottom of the river and that sand rebuilds sandbars in Grand Canyon.

This project is designed to assess the feasibility of "rescuing" specific genetic lineages of bull trout from likely extirpation in three imperiled major lake drainages in GNP, through translocation of drainage-specific stocks into lakes located above barrier falls within parental drainages.

Aerial photograph of the mouth of the Elwha River where it meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca during the removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams, Washington State, USA. Aerial assistance by LightHawk and plane piloted by Dr. Hunter Handsfield.

Aerial photograph showing the mouth of the Elwha River, Washington State, USA. Aerial assistance by LightHawk and plane piloted by Dr. Hunter Handsfield.

Aerial photograph of the former Lake Aldwell reservoir and the Elwha River 16 months following the removal of the Elwha Dam, Washington State, USA. Aerial assistance by LightHawk and plane piloted by Dr. Hunter Handsfield.

Aerial photograph of the former Lake Aldwell reservoir and the Elwha River 16 months following the removal of the Elwha Dam, Washington State, USA. Aerial assistance by LightHawk and plane piloted by Dr. Hunter Handsfield.

Lindsay VanSomeren (graduate student at University of Alaska Fairbanks) collects forage samples in the foothills of the Brooks Range off the Dalton Highway, North Slope of Alaska.

Researchers monitoring sandbars on the Colorado River, in Grand Canyon National Park. USGS photo, public domain.

A close up of a female walrus resting after entering the haulout.  Sand from the beach is evident on her tusks.

(Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-3)

Walruses are very social animals and like to be in constant contact with other walruses. Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-3

The coastal walrus haulouts that form during periods of sea ice scarcity in the Chukchi Sea are composed primarily of adult female walruses and young, as well as some adult male walruses.

 (Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-3)

A transmitter tag (left) is being deployed by a USGS Wildlife Biologist (far right).

Thousands of walruses gathered to rest on the shore near the Alaskan coastal community of Point Lay during September of 2013 after sea ice disappeared from their offshore foraging grounds in the eastern Chukchi Sea.

(Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-3)

Thousands of walruses gathered to rest on the shore near the Alaskan coastal community of Point Lay during September of 2013 after sea ice disappeared from their offshore foraging grounds in the eastern Chukchi Sea.

Thousands of walruses gathered to rest on the shore near the Alaskan coastal community of Point Lay during September of 2013 after sea ice disappeared from their offshore foraging grounds in the eastern Chukchi Sea.

(Photo taken during USGS research efforts permitted under US Fish and Wildlife Service Permit No. MA801652-3)

Blueberry plant with berries in fall colors.

Wildlife Biologist Tyrone Donnelly searches the shoreline from a skiff in Izembek Lagoon while conducting avian influenza surveillance. Pacific black brant, seen flocking in the background, stage within the refuge each fall to take advantage of the abundance of eel grass as forage.

Neal Pastick – lead author of the study – investigating erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik. Permafrost-dominated coasts of Alaska have drastically changed as the result of coastal transgression and storm-surge flooding which can result in the loss of cultural sites and damage to infrastructure.  Photo by M.

A spring fed stream in the Two-Medicine drainage of Glacier National Park is one of 2 new locations for the western glacier stonefly (Zapada glacier).

A macrophotography image showing a native bee pollinating a native flower.