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See our science through the images below.
Panther Creek was severely damaged by heavy metals released from mining and milling activities at the former Blackbird Mine. USGS and other scientists compiled a 30-year record of recovery of the stream’s fish and macroinvertebrate populations.
Panther Creek was severely damaged by heavy metals released from mining and milling activities at the former Blackbird Mine. USGS and other scientists compiled a 30-year record of recovery of the stream’s fish and macroinvertebrate populations.
A rainbow trout rests among cobble substrate in Panther Creek downstream of Big Deer Creek, central Idaho. Panther Creek was severely damaged by heavy metals released from mining and milling activities at the former Blackbird Mine, and water quality in this section of the stream was acutely lethal to fish as late as 1985.
A rainbow trout rests among cobble substrate in Panther Creek downstream of Big Deer Creek, central Idaho. Panther Creek was severely damaged by heavy metals released from mining and milling activities at the former Blackbird Mine, and water quality in this section of the stream was acutely lethal to fish as late as 1985.
A green frog blends in well in a grassy wetland. ARMI photo by Mark Roth. Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Wisconsin
A green frog blends in well in a grassy wetland. ARMI photo by Mark Roth. Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Wisconsin
View of trees in the Auwahi reforestation area with glimpses of the invasive grassland in the distance.
View of trees in the Auwahi reforestation area with glimpses of the invasive grassland in the distance.
View of the Auwahi reforestation area fence line with native species on the left and invasive grassland on the right.
View of the Auwahi reforestation area fence line with native species on the left and invasive grassland on the right.
River lamprey (L. Ayresii) ammoceote tail pattern.
River lamprey (L. Ayresii) ammoceote tail pattern.
An Agassiz's desert tortoise hides in a burrow; a radio transmitter is attached to its shell as part of a USGS study.
An Agassiz's desert tortoise hides in a burrow; a radio transmitter is attached to its shell as part of a USGS study.
Photograph of sandbar about 45 miles downstream from Lees Ferry, Arizona showing river party camping on large sandbar deposited by the 2008 high-flow experiment (left) and again in August 2011 (right) when the size of the sandbar and campsite was much smaller. USGS photos, public domain.
Photograph of sandbar about 45 miles downstream from Lees Ferry, Arizona showing river party camping on large sandbar deposited by the 2008 high-flow experiment (left) and again in August 2011 (right) when the size of the sandbar and campsite was much smaller. USGS photos, public domain.
Eyed juvenile river lamprey (Lampetra ayresii) caught in Skagit River smolt trap, 2011.
Eyed juvenile river lamprey (Lampetra ayresii) caught in Skagit River smolt trap, 2011.
Collected in the Lower Missouri River on May 20, 2011, near Arrow Rock, Missouri, this larval sturgeon is estimated to be one day old.
Collected in the Lower Missouri River on May 20, 2011, near Arrow Rock, Missouri, this larval sturgeon is estimated to be one day old.
Ten minutes of larval sampling in the Missouri River on May 24, 2011, resulted in this mass of organic debris and fish eggs.
Ten minutes of larval sampling in the Missouri River on May 24, 2011, resulted in this mass of organic debris and fish eggs.
A rare occurrence in the Missouri River, this Branchiopod known as a fairy shrimp was caught during larval sampling efforts near Arrow Rock, MO, on May 24, 2011.
A rare occurrence in the Missouri River, this Branchiopod known as a fairy shrimp was caught during larval sampling efforts near Arrow Rock, MO, on May 24, 2011.
A Green sea turtle fitted with a USGS satellite tag on Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Fl, USGS. Note: All marine turtle images taken in Florida were obtained with the approval of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Marine Turtle Permit 176 issued to K.M.
A Green sea turtle fitted with a USGS satellite tag on Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Fl, USGS. Note: All marine turtle images taken in Florida were obtained with the approval of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Marine Turtle Permit 176 issued to K.M.
The contents of the net are flushed into the cod end, or the trailing end of the net where the fish are finally caught. The cod is then emptied into black bowls for sorting.
The contents of the net are flushed into the cod end, or the trailing end of the net where the fish are finally caught. The cod is then emptied into black bowls for sorting.
The Colorado River basin supports one of the most distinctive fish communities in North America, including the federally endangered humpback chub (Gila cypha). One of only six remaining populations of this fish is found in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. USGS scientists and their cooperators are responsible for monitoring the Grand Canyon population.
The Colorado River basin supports one of the most distinctive fish communities in North America, including the federally endangered humpback chub (Gila cypha). One of only six remaining populations of this fish is found in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. USGS scientists and their cooperators are responsible for monitoring the Grand Canyon population.
Greater sage-grouse male, in flight.
A skier stand next to avalanche debris in Glacier National Park, 5/5/2011.
A skier stand next to avalanche debris in Glacier National Park, 5/5/2011.
USGS avalanche researcher evaluates avalanche debris in Glacier National Park, Montana.
USGS avalanche researcher evaluates avalanche debris in Glacier National Park, Montana.
Ticks spread the widest variety of diseases that are harmful to humans, including Lyme disease. This image shows a female blacklegged tick, or deer tick (species Ixodes scapularis).
Ticks spread the widest variety of diseases that are harmful to humans, including Lyme disease. This image shows a female blacklegged tick, or deer tick (species Ixodes scapularis).
Shorebirds feeding on a diked-off area of former intertidal mudflats at a reclamation project in Bohai Bay, Yellow Sea, China. The substrate the birds are feeding on is mud and sand that has been pumped into the impoundment from beyond the levee (dredge in background).
Shorebirds feeding on a diked-off area of former intertidal mudflats at a reclamation project in Bohai Bay, Yellow Sea, China. The substrate the birds are feeding on is mud and sand that has been pumped into the impoundment from beyond the levee (dredge in background).
Pacific lamprey, Hamma-Hamma River, dwarf adult.
Pacific lamprey, Hamma-Hamma River, dwarf adult.