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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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Friday's Findings

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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

Exclusive: Artificial Light and Salmon

Exclusive: Artificial Light and Salmon

FORT Updates: From Plains to Peaks - Vol. 4 | Issue 3

FORT Updates: From Plains to Peaks - Vol. 4 | Issue 3

FORT Science in Action 2026, Part 18: Ecological research supporting wild horse and burro management

FORT Science in Action 2026, Part 18: Ecological research supporting wild horse and burro management

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Publications

Diet and trophic ecology of invasive Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus in an eastern shore tributary of the Chesapeake Bay Diet and trophic ecology of invasive Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus in an eastern shore tributary of the Chesapeake Bay

Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus were first introduced to Virginia tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s and have greatly expanded in population size and distribution, prompting ecological and economic concerns. This study investigates the diet and trophic ecology of invasive Blue Catfish in tidal, low-salinity reaches of the Nanticoke River and Marshyhope Creek, on the...
Authors
Zachary Crum, Clayton D. Raines, Christine Densmore, Regina Trott, Rodney T. Richardson, Christina Bradley, Corbin David Hilling, Noah R. Bressman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Great Lakes Science Center

Characterization of the native freshwater mussel assemblage across a reach of the Rappahannock River, Virginia Characterization of the native freshwater mussel assemblage across a reach of the Rappahannock River, Virginia

Native freshwater mussels occur in rivers of all sizes, yet much of the literature focuses on small- to medium-sized rivers, likely because of logistic challenges of sampling deep, fast, and turbid large rivers. As large-river surveys become more common, the information resulting from a systematic sampling design can provide baseline data on population sizes to inform decision making by...
Authors
Traci P. DuBose, Jason J. Rohweder, Catherine M Gatenby, Brian Watson, Teresa J. Newton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Range-wide population trend analysis for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)—Updated 1960–2025 Range-wide population trend analysis for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)—Updated 1960–2025

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 analysis provides State and Federal land and wildlife managers with the best available science to help guide...
Authors
Brian G. Prochazka, Peter S. Coates, Cameron L. Aldridge, Michael S. O’Donnell, Adrian P. Monroe, Steve E. Hanser, John C. Tull, Lief A. Wiechman, Michael P. Chenaille, Michael T. Atamian, Kathy A. Griffin, Heather F. Harris, Jesse L. Kolar, Katherine S. Miller, Michael A. Schroeder, Justin R. Small, Alex J. Solem, Jennifer L. Struthers, Heather L. Talley, Skyler T. Vold
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)
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Science

Greater sage-grouse sunrise lek flight

Data Harmonization for Greater Sage-Grouse Populations

Long-term wildlife monitoring is imperative for understanding population changes that can inform managers. However, working with population data collected by different organizations across multiple jurisdictions and over long time periods can be challenging due to varying data management approaches and organizational priorities. Through this project, we aimed to collaborate with eleven state...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
Data Harmonization for Greater Sage-Grouse Populations

Data Harmonization for Greater Sage-Grouse Populations

Long-term wildlife monitoring is imperative for understanding population changes that can inform managers. However, working with population data collected by different organizations across multiple jurisdictions and over long time periods can be challenging due to varying data management approaches and organizational priorities. Through this project, we aimed to collaborate with eleven state...
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a field of purple flowers in front of an ocean coastline and cliffs

Actionable science for managing public lands

Our team of biologists, ecologists, and social scientists focuses on coproducing actionable science products to support natural resource planning and management. Broadly, our research involves working to better understand and bridge the research-management gap through a variety of mechanisms, including coproduction and relationship-building, science synthesis and summary, and identification of...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
Actionable science for managing public lands

Actionable science for managing public lands

Our team of biologists, ecologists, and social scientists focuses on coproducing actionable science products to support natural resource planning and management. Broadly, our research involves working to better understand and bridge the research-management gap through a variety of mechanisms, including coproduction and relationship-building, science synthesis and summary, and identification of...
Learn More
Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey logo

Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey

Alaska provides breeding habitat for more than 140 regularly occurring species of landbirds, half of which breed predominantly north of the U.S.–Canada border. The road-based North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provides some data on population trends in Alaska, but most northern species are inadequately monitored by that continental program because of a paucity of roads. Boreal Partners in...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey

Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey

Alaska provides breeding habitat for more than 140 regularly occurring species of landbirds, half of which breed predominantly north of the U.S.–Canada border. The road-based North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provides some data on population trends in Alaska, but most northern species are inadequately monitored by that continental program because of a paucity of roads. Boreal Partners in...
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