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USGS science helps understand the causes, consequences, and benefits of wildfire and helps prevent and manage larger, catastrophic events.

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Ecosystems Science at USGS

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Ecosystems Mission Area

The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area provides science that directly benefits the health, safety, and prosperity of the American people by providing trusted and timely information to help address the Nation’s toughest management and conservation issues impacting public lands and the surrounding communities that benefit from them. 

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USGS Science for Food & Water Security

A view of a farm field in Iowa

USGS Ecosystems Mission Area science helps ensure safe and abundant domestic food and water supplies, ensuring all Americans access to livelihoods and traditions that connect generations with each other and the outdoors and strengthen America’s self-reliance

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USGS Science for Public Safety & Security

Before and after pictures - Hurricane Rita and Holly Beach, Louisiana, USA

Science within the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area provides a critical advantage in addressing public safety, infrastructure, and security issues surrounding natural disasters and changing landscapes, strengthening America’s ability to be a hazard ready Nation. 

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USGS Science for Economic Growth

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Science provided by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area helps boost America’s economy by providing practical tools to implement cost-effective management and development strategies that supports the Nation’s economic growth and protects our natural heritage.

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News

Eastern Ecological Science Center Marine Research Highlights

Eastern Ecological Science Center Marine Research Highlights

What a Super El Niño could mean for Alaska’s seabirds, salmon, and seas

What a Super El Niño could mean for Alaska’s seabirds, salmon, and seas

Supporting Endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Recovery Efforts

Supporting Endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Recovery Efforts

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Publications

Potential flood events in the lower Missouri River basin over multiple centuries identified using tree-ring based multi-model streamflow reconstructions Potential flood events in the lower Missouri River basin over multiple centuries identified using tree-ring based multi-model streamflow reconstructions

The Missouri River basin (MRB), the largest river basin in the United States, presents major water management challenges due to its complex topology and extensive infrastructure designed to manage high annual flows. Severe hydroclimatic events, particularly floods in 1993, 2011, and 2019, have highlighted vulnerabilities, leading the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enhance flood risk...
Authors
Subhrendu Gangopadhyay, Edward R. Cook, Gregory T. Pederson, Connie A. Woodhouse, Gregory J. McCabe, Matthew P. Dannenberg, Victoria M. Harris, Erika K. Wise, Jeffrey P. Niehaus, Upmanu Lall
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

A genomic tool to tackle cryptic diversity demonstrates the potential for off-target use of GT-seq panels A genomic tool to tackle cryptic diversity demonstrates the potential for off-target use of GT-seq panels

A comprehensive understanding of life history is vital to successful species conservation and management. When different life history stages are accompanied by considerable morphological or cryptic variation, such as the egg and larval phases exhibited by most fishes, genomic tools are essential for identifying species so that early-life ecology questions can be studied. Genotyping-in...
Authors
Amanda Susanne Ackiss, Mark R. Vinson, Ann J. Ropp, Kristen M. Gruenthal, Trevor J. Krabbenhoft, Joseph V. Siegel, Wendylee Stott, Daniel L. Yule, Wesley A. Larson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Great Lakes Science Center

Availability of dark daytime refuge may limit mysid abundance in the Laurentian Great Lakes Availability of dark daytime refuge may limit mysid abundance in the Laurentian Great Lakes

The zooplankton Mysis diluviana is a major component of the Laurentian Great Lakes food web and has recently declined in abundance in both lakes Michigan and Huron. Drivers of these declines are not well understood. Here, we explore the hypothesis that recent increases in water clarity have contributed to the decline of M. diluviana (mysids) by limiting the availability of daytime dark...
Authors
Kayden C. Nasworthy, James M. Watkins, Thomas M. Evans, Hannah B. Blair, Sarah D. Lawhun, Suresh A. Sethi, Timothy P. O’Brien, David M. Warner, Steven A. Pothoven, Anne E. Scofield, Peter C. Esselman, Lars G. Rudstam
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Great Lakes Science Center
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Science

Emperor Goose on the Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta

Tracking Data for Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus)

Available here are tracking data for the Emperor Goose, an endemic waterfowl species to the Bering Sea region that breeds primarily in western Alaska on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and spends the winter in southwestern Alaska and throughout the Aleutian Islands. These data were collected to better understand the migratory patterns, winter habitat use, and annual survival of emperor geese.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center
Tracking Data for Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus)

Tracking Data for Emperor Geese (Anser canagicus)

Available here are tracking data for the Emperor Goose, an endemic waterfowl species to the Bering Sea region that breeds primarily in western Alaska on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and spends the winter in southwestern Alaska and throughout the Aleutian Islands. These data were collected to better understand the migratory patterns, winter habitat use, and annual survival of emperor geese.
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NPPSD illustration

North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database

The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) contains survey transect data designed and conducted by numerous partners primarily to census seabirds at sea. The NPPSD includes more than 486,000 transect segments and includes observations of over 20 million birds of 258 species collected over the span of 50 years (from 1973 to 2022).
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database

North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database

The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (NPPSD) contains survey transect data designed and conducted by numerous partners primarily to census seabirds at sea. The NPPSD includes more than 486,000 transect segments and includes observations of over 20 million birds of 258 species collected over the span of 50 years (from 1973 to 2022).
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Arctic Terns in Cook Inlet, flying over bullwhip kelp on the surface of the water, Alaska

Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins in Alaska Seabirds

Elevated ocean temperatures are linked to the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Toxins from these blooms may pose health threats to marine organisms, including seabirds. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins in Alaska Seabirds

Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins in Alaska Seabirds

Elevated ocean temperatures are linked to the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Toxins from these blooms may pose health threats to marine organisms, including seabirds. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems...
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