Multimedia Gallery

Alicia Torregrosa download data from a phenocam located in Idaho. The phenocam takes a picture daily and that data is used to help track phenological changes (the timing and vigor of seasonal biological events). The data from the phenocam is used (with other data) to gain a better understanding of vegetation changes over the entire ecoregion.

Mara Tongue download data from phenocam located in Idaho. The phenocam takes a picture daily and that data is used to help track phenological changes (the timing and vigor of seasonal biological events). The data from the phenocam is used (with other data) to gain a better understanding of vegetation changes over the entire ecoregion.

Alicia Torregrosa is downloading data from a phenocam on BLM land in Idaho.

USGS and NPS personnel placed a GPS-transmitter on a California Condor at Pinnacles National Monument.  Photo was taken when the bird was released after attaching the transmitter.

Conducting a reconnaissance of a salt marsh-lined tidal creek.

Scientist releases mangrove diamondback terrapins held briefly for tagging.

Scientists set up to measure flow from a mangrove forest.

Scientist raised the engine to navigate a tidal creek at low tide.  Note freeze damage to mangroves in the background.

Employee uses a Flowtracker to measure cross-sectional profile of a rivulet draining a mangrove forest.

Scientist measures the profile of a tidal creek at low tide.  Note main Shark River off to the right side of photo.

Scientist measures the profile of a tidal creek at low tide.  Note mudflat in background.

Scientist displays juvenile tarpon captured in a tidal pond.

Employee holds a sheepshead, a juvenile fish of recreational importance captured in a mangrove-lined tidal creek.

Scientists inspect a raised boardwalk used to access a mangrove forest to sample fish.

Scientists explore mangroves in a beach environment, Cape Sable, FL.

Scientists electrofish low-salinity shorelines, Tarpon Bay, Everglades National Park.

Scientists close off a center bag seine prior to pursing net to recover fish sample.

Scientists clear a lift net to capture intertidal fish in mangrove forest.

Scientists build a boardwalk to access mangrove forest to sample fish.

A radio tracking boat cruises down a flooded Yellowstone River in search of telemetered pallid sturgeon. 

Photo taken from above the Lago Icacos Damsite.

Photo taken before Storm Event at the Laguna Cartagena USFWS Wildlife Refuge.

Photo taken on top of Meteorogical station in El Yunque Forest.

Scientist Joe Svetek pauses to record notes in his dump-truck-turned-mobile-office at one of the many seismic shot hole locations of the 2011 Salton Seismic Imaging Project.

The Coachella Canal is an aqueduct that diverts water from the Colorado River to the Coachella Valley, making possible the extensive agriculture production that drives the economy in this arid region of the United States.

A calm canal flows intensely over the weir into the churning pool below.

An excessive amount of weeds flows down North New River.

While performing a Flowtracker measurement off of a bridge, a curious gator comes to investigate.

A gator relaxes in the shade underneath our station’s dock.

A stream off of the Tamiami Trail in the Everglades.

An endangered Burrowing Owl near a site in Cape Coral, FL.

A reptilian audience watches as a discharge measurement is made.

Dredging the entrance canal to the Caloosahatcee River in Moore Haven, FL.

Ice flow at Sta. 12413000 NF Coeur d’ Alene River at Enaville, ID.

Acipenseriformes (sturgeon and paddlefish) larvae are somewhat easy to spot in the field thanks to their large yolk sac (yellow arrow).  However, a microscope is necessary to differentiate between the two. 

Acoustic receivers detect and process the acoustic signal from the telemetry tags telling the tracking crew which direction to go to find the fish, and even which fish it is.

Biologist Sabrina Davenport tandem tracks the Lower Missouri River during high water on June 2, 2011.  Two boats (note boat out window) tracking in tandem can detect fish effectively across a wider river and can turn to search behind wing dikes and sandbars where sturgeon can hide during higher flows. 

Acoustic telemetry tags have to be fairly small to fit inside a five to fifteen pound pallid sturgeon.  The average tag is about the size of your ring finger (60-90 mm long and 16 mm diameter).  That means the battery that powers the acoustic tag is small, too.  A small battery means that the signal from the tag is relatively weak, or fairly quiet.

Acoustic receivers detect and process the acoustic signal from the telemetry tags telling the tracking crew which direction to go to find the fish, and even which fish it is.

Specialized, directional, underwater microphones, or hydrophones are lowered into the water to “hear” acoustic tags implanted in pallid sturgeon.

Amy George uses a microscope and imaging software to measure larval Acipenseriformes collected in the Missouri River. 

Biologists prepare to tandem track a flooded Missouri River in search of telemetered Pallid Sturgeon.

Launching a cabin boat outfitted with telemetry tracking equipment during high water on the Missouri River from the Hartsburg, Missouri, boat ramp. 

Would you know there is a boat ramp here?  Launching a boat during high water on the muddy Missouri River requires intimate knowledge of boat ramps.  The Glasgow, MO, boat ramp (pictured) is underwater when the local gage is approximately 29 feet. 

Equipped with a multibeam bathymetric system and acoustic Doppler current profiler, the research vessel Lucien Brush was deployed to make comprehensive maps of the potential spawning area.  In order to collect precise location data, a base station is set-up within view of the area to be mapped.  Luckily, a sandbar was still peaking above the river’s surface. 

Weighted, small mesh nets (left and right side of the boat attached to winches) are lowered to the bottom of the river near potential spawning sites.  After a set period of time, the nets are raised and the contents are hand-picked for any Acipenseriformes (sturgeon and paddlefish) larvae.  Samples are preserved for laboratory identification and genetic analysis. 

Research vessel Theodore R. Schmudde anchors in the swift water before lowering the sand cam (metal object suspended to the pulleys at the front of the boat).