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Powering Progress

How Science Can Fuel the Energy Resources Life Cycle

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USGS Wildland Fire Science

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

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USGS Drought Science

Helping managers understand the interactions that determine the magnitude and impact of drought on water availability and ecosystems across the Nation

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Ecosystems Science at USGS

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The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area

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EcoNews

A USGS Ecosystems Mission Area Newsletter

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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

A pronghorn stands in front of oil and gas development infrastructure, Vernal, Utah

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

Knowing what's at stake: USGS maps wildfire risk on the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona

Knowing what's at stake: USGS maps wildfire risk on the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona

Experts Gather at Lake Tahoe to Reimagine the Future of Recreational Fishing

Experts Gather at Lake Tahoe to Reimagine the Future of Recreational Fishing

NOROCK Research in Support of Native Amphibians

NOROCK Research in Support of Native Amphibians

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Publications

Distribution, abundance, breeding activities, and restoration efforts for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California—2025 Annual Report Distribution, abundance, breeding activities, and restoration efforts for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California—2025 Annual Report

Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to provide the Marine Corps with an annual summary of the distribution, abundance, and breeding activity of the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher) and to present results of management actions implemented to attract flycatchers and enhance flycatcher habitat at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton...
Authors
Suellen Lynn, Scarlett L. Howell, Barbara E. Kus
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Practical guidance for engaging end-users and experts in developing scientific tools Practical guidance for engaging end-users and experts in developing scientific tools

This report provides actionable guidance for scientists developing scientific tools that inform on-the-ground decision making. Scientific tools, in the context of this report, are technology or protocols that help practitioners collect and analyze their own data, and information products and web tools that practitioners could use to inform decisions. Engaging end-users and fellow experts...
Authors
Kaylin R. Clements, James J. English, Emily J. Wilkins, Megan A. Moore, Rudy Schuster
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Variability and consistency in wildfire susceptibility: Insights from a national compilation Variability and consistency in wildfire susceptibility: Insights from a national compilation

Background Wildfire risk in the United States is rising and remains a land management priority. The quantitative wildfire risk assessment (QWRA) framework integrates fuels, topography, weather and values at risk to estimate the potential change in value from wildfire. Within this, response functions (RFs) represent how values respond to fire intensity. These are often based on expert...
Authors
Aaron Daniel Russell, Lucas Bair, James R. Meldrum, Todd Hawbaker
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center
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Science

map of the US with color gradient, white dots, and red polygon; a key in the upper right corner explains features

Web application development to support decision making and deliver actionable science

FORT web applications support management decisions in the Department of the Interior (DOI) related to management of public lands, invasive species, outdoor recreation, and fish and wildlife health. These applications are developed in partnership with resource managers from Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, industry, and nongovernmental organizations, empowering local and rural...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center
Web application development to support decision making and deliver actionable science

Web application development to support decision making and deliver actionable science

FORT web applications support management decisions in the Department of the Interior (DOI) related to management of public lands, invasive species, outdoor recreation, and fish and wildlife health. These applications are developed in partnership with resource managers from Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, industry, and nongovernmental organizations, empowering local and rural...
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Polar bear mother and two cubs on the Beaufort Sea ice.

Polar Bear Research

Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Polar Bear Research

Polar Bear Research

Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) are one of 4 marine mammal species managed by the U.S. Department of Interior. The USGS Alaska Science Center leads long–term research on polar bears to inform local, state, national and international policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Our studies, ongoing since 1985, are focused on population dynamics, health and energetics...
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Caribou roaming the Arctic Coastal Plain

Terrestrial Mammal Research

Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Terrestrial Mammal Research

Terrestrial Mammal Research

Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.
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