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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

Navigating the Climate Adaptation Toolkit

Navigating the Climate Adaptation Toolkit

Congratulations to Chris Pullano for Winning this Issue's Photo Contest!

Congratulations to Chris Pullano for Winning this Issue's Photo Contest!

Recent Accomplishments: The Skagit

Recent Accomplishments: The Skagit

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Publications

Range-wide population trend analysis for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)—Updated 1960–2024 Range-wide population trend analysis for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)—Updated 1960–2024

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) are at the center of State and national land-use policies largely because of their unique life-history traits as an ecological indicator for the health of sagebrush ecosystems. This updated population trend analysis provides State and Federal land and wildlife managers with the best available science to help guide...
Authors
Brian Prochazka, Peter Coates, Cameron Aldridge, Michael O’Donnell, David Edmunds, Adrian P. Monroe, Steve Hanser, Lief Wiechman, Michael Chenaille
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

The effects of carnivory and herbivory on the energy balance of Arctic grizzly bears The effects of carnivory and herbivory on the energy balance of Arctic grizzly bears

Omnivores often face tradeoffs between selecting for spatially dispersed energy-dense vertebrate prey versus densely distributed herbivorous resources that have limited energetic value per unit intake. Arctic grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) are large omnivores within a resource-limited ecosystem that are known to exhibit smaller body masses and occur at lower densities than grizzly bears in...
Authors
Anthony Pagano, Karyn Rode, Kerry Nicholson, William Leacock, Craig Stricker, Charles Robbins
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Potential thiamine deficiency of phytoplankton across a productivity gradient and seasons in Ohio lakes Potential thiamine deficiency of phytoplankton across a productivity gradient and seasons in Ohio lakes

Although nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency of algal blooms have been the focus of substantial attention, organic nutrients can limit algal growth in aquatic systems. Growing evidence indicates thiamine (vitamin B1) can influence the community of primary producers in marine systems, but comparatively little is known about the effect of thiamine on freshwater algal productivity.We...
Authors
Freya Rowland, Michael Vanni, Nicole Hayes, Clifford Kraft
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center
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Science

Reflection on McKinley Lake near Cordova, Alaska

Alaska Science Center Weekly Findings

Recent findings by USGS Alaska Science Center staff and their collaborators.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Alaska Science Center
Alaska Science Center Weekly Findings

Alaska Science Center Weekly Findings

Recent findings by USGS Alaska Science Center staff and their collaborators.
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Walruses resting on an ice floe

Walrus Research

The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts long-term research on the Pacific walrus to provide scientific information to Department of Interior management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners. In addition, the USGS Pacific walrus research program collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native co...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Walrus Research

Walrus Research

The USGS Alaska Science Center conducts long-term research on the Pacific walrus to provide scientific information to Department of Interior management agencies and Alaska Native co-management partners. In addition, the USGS Pacific walrus research program collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Native co...
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a close-up of a bumble bee face, with proboscis in the yellow center of a purple flower

Science for effective pollinator conservation and improved food security

Pollinators, including bees, flies, butterflies, bats, birds, and other animals, are critically important to U.S. ecosystems and agriculture. Recent reports of declines of pollinator species have led to widespread actions to conserve pollinator habitat and recover imperiled species, but resource managers need accurate data and science to support management actions. USGS pollinator research helps...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center
Science for effective pollinator conservation and improved food security

Science for effective pollinator conservation and improved food security

Pollinators, including bees, flies, butterflies, bats, birds, and other animals, are critically important to U.S. ecosystems and agriculture. Recent reports of declines of pollinator species have led to widespread actions to conserve pollinator habitat and recover imperiled species, but resource managers need accurate data and science to support management actions. USGS pollinator research helps...
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