Images

Interactive game cards help fifth grade students identify the geology and biology found in the deep sea, Waimea, HI.

‘What do deep sea scientists study?’ USGS Scientists lead an interactive discussion with fifth grade students at Kanu o Ka ʻĀina New Century Public Charter School.

A generalized adaptation planning process depicting the stages at which various tools can be applied. For simplicity, recursive steps are not shown.

Chief Scientist Kira Mizell discusses manganese module formation with honors high school students at Punahou College Preparatory School, Oahu, HI

Scientists share USGS deep-sea research and manganese nodule samples at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center’s fourth annual ʻIkuwā Festival, Hilo, HI

Gaudineer Knob in eastern West Virginia is home to one of the few remaining old-growth red spruce forests in the region, sitting as a unique reminder of what red spruce forests once looked like across the central and southern Appalachians. 

Roughly 32% of the ~5570 bee species native to the US are pollen specialists, making them an important part of ecosystems.

Credit: Ben Slyngstad, ORISE, National CASC

The Kansas squash bee aids in pollinating squash flowers.

Credit: Ben Slyngstad, ORISE, National CASC

The Cranesbill miner bee helps pollinate many wild geraniums throughout woodlands and the eastern US.

Credit: Ben Slyngstad, ORISE, National CASC

The Blue calamintha bee is endemic to Florida and is typically found around sandy scrub habitats.

Credit: Ben Slyngstad, ORISE, National CASC

America’s diverse ecosystems are an asset to current and future generations by supporting economically and recreationally important fish, wildlife, and lands. Healthy ecosystems support people and nature, fostering prosperity and enjoyment for all. 

America’s diverse ecosystems are an asset to current and future generations by supporting economically and recreationally important fish, wildlife, and lands. Healthy ecosystems support people and nature, fostering prosperity and enjoyment for all. 

The Prairie Pothole Wetlands:

• Provide critical habitat for many migratory bird species;
• Provide recreation opportunities;
• Hold large amounts of carbon, mitigating the effects of climate change;
• Store water and slow runoff following extreme precipitation events, reducing damage from floods.

John Tull, Assistant Regional Administrator for the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Sarah Groves, data scientist with the National Climate Adaptation Science Center.

A fisher retrieving his nets in the Rio Madre de Dios in Bolivia. Previously, fishers in the area reported abundant catches but nowadays it increasingly common for fishers to return home empty-handed because of impacts from dams and gold mining. (Photo credit: Gretchen Stokes)

Five colorfully pink Chinook Salmon swim upstream over pebbles and rocks to spawn in Alaska.

While it’s easy to assume there’s not much going on in deserts and other types of drylands, the opposite is true! Come with us to learn more about these underappreciated ecosystems; once you get to know them, we are sure you will love drylands as much as we do!

A scent detection dog used in a National CASC supported project to locate winter ticks. Public Domain; from the publication: Koser, T., Hurt, A., Thompson, L., Courtemanch, A., Wise, B., & P. Cross.

Anne Kinsinger, USGS Associate Director for the Ecosystems Mission Area, gave NCASC Senior Administrator Doug Beard the CASC Founders Award as part of the CASC Futures Forum meeting in November 2024. 

Emily Fort, Shawn Carter, and Elda Varela-Minder received awards for their roles in founding the CASC network and serving the centers over the past 15 years.