Wildlife and Plants
Wildlife and Plants
Wildlife and plants face many threats from climate change, including increased competition from invasive species, loss of access to freshwater, and shifting air and water temperatures. The CASCs study how fish, wildlife, and plants are responding to climate change and how resource managers can promote species' adaptation and resilience in the face of shifting conditions. Browse our projects.
Filter Total Items: 530
Rapid Assessment of Reptile and Amphibian Introductions in U.S. Pacific Islands to Improve Biosecurity Procedures
Project Overview Islands across the tropical Pacific are facing threats from invasive species and other climate stressors, and recent detections of new invasive species highlight gaps in current biosecurity efforts. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will work with local governments, federal agencies, and regional partners to conduct rapid bioassessments, train...
Science for management of America’s iconic wild horses and burros
Wild horses and burros are iconic wildlife of the western USA as well as a complicated management issue on tribal, state, and federal lands. Due to their history as domesticated animals, these wild equids – also called “free-roaming” or “feral” equids – can reproduce quickly, and have few natural predators, allowing their populations to grow rapidly if not managed. When populations are too large...
USGS Sagebrush Science: Supporting Public Safety and Economic Decision Making Across the West
The sagebrush biome is one of the largest ecosystems in North America. Encompassing nearly one-third of the continental U.S., it provides critical resources for millions of Americans and a home for hundreds of plants and animal species in the West. Natural resource management in sagebrush ecosystems can be complex, and science can support management decisions by providing knowledge and tools to...
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Core Science Systems Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Cooperative Research Units, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Assessing Genomic Diversity and Clonality in Tape Seagrass in Guam and Surrounding Pacific Islands to Inform Climate Resilient Restoration
Project Overview Seagrass meadows support island communities by sustaining fisheries and protecting shorelines. However, some species, such as tape grass, may lack the genetic variation needed to survive and adapt to warmer, saltier ocean waters. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will sequence the tape grass genome and assess genetic variation across Micronesia...
Developing science syntheses to facilitate climate-informed land management decisions and NEPA analyses on rangelands in the sagebrush biome
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal public land managers to assess potential environmental impacts of proposed actions. The USGS, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado State University, and North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center are working together to develop science syntheses that can facilitate considerations of climate change in...
Forecasting Tools to Inform the Management of Native Fishes and Their Habitats in a Drought Sensitive Terminal Lake System
Project Overview Terminal lake systems, water sources that are confined to streams, wetlands, and seasonal lakes that do not flow into the ocean, are greatly impacted by climate effects such as drought, reduced snowpack and increased wildfire activity. As a result, managers are faced with a lack of resources to study these aquatic habitats and the residing native fish. Researchers...
Assessment of Habitat Restoration and Adaptation Successes and Opportunities in the Mississippi River’s National Park Post-Emerald Ash Borer Infestation
Project Overview Minnesota’s forests are being impacted by the effects of numerous climate related disturbances, such as invasive species, increased temperatures and flooding, and severe weather. While managers are working to ensure the longevity of these forests, they are facing a lack of information on how forests are responding to these effects and which strategies prove most...
Habitat Evaluation Framework for Eastern Hellbender Recovery in Western North Carolina Post-Hurricane Helene
Project Overview: Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and wildlife habitat in western North Carolina. Resulting disruptions to stream ecosystems have threatened species like the eastern hellbender, a fully aquatic salamander and key indicator of stream health. Scientists supported by this Southeast CASC project will compile and evaluate pre-storm habitat...
The Combined Impacts of Climate Change and Intensive Agriculture on Wild Rice, a Culturally Critical Resource and Relative for Indigenous Communities
Project Overview Wild Rice is an important piece of Indigenous culture for tribal communities in the Upper Midwest. However, given the high vulnerability of this aquatic plant to climate change, tribal communities have seen a significant decline of Wild Rice in the past century. Despite the expansion of monitoring and restoration efforts, intensified agriculture has also contributed to...
Adding Fuel to the Fire: Determining Vegetation-Specific Drought Timescales That Enhance Fuel Flammability and Fire Potential
Project Overview Increasing severe drought events occurring across the Colorado Plateau can harm vegetation and create drier and more flammable fuel for wildfire. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will analyze drought indices and satellite data to show how quickly after drought begins that different types of vegetation across the region show signs of health declines...
After the Dams: Fire Impacts and Restoration Opportunities for a Culturally Important Klamath River Willow
Project Overview The sandbar willow of the Klamath River is used within the Karuk Tribe’s ongoing cultural practices of basketweaving. The willow has been threatened by intensifying fire and dams, but restoration and the recent historical dam removals provide an opportunity to increase the quantity, quality, and access to this important resource. Researchers supported by this Southwest...
Building Climate-Resilient Rangelands Amidst Fire, Grazing, and Ecological Invasion in California
Rangelands in California face significant challenges from climate change, wildfires, and invasive species, threatening their productivity and the benefits they provide to local communities. Researchers supported by this Southwest CASC project will develop a management framework for restoring climate-resilient rangelands in California by examining interactions between fire, grazing, and...