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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

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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

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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

EcoNews | Winter 2026 - Vol. 7 | Issue 1

EcoNews | Winter 2026 - Vol. 7 | Issue 1

National Conservation Lands: A hub for scientific discovery

National Conservation Lands: A hub for scientific discovery

Tackling Invasive Mussels with Science and Strategy

Tackling Invasive Mussels with Science and Strategy

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Publications

Decreased water transparency of nearshore Laurentian Great Lakes habitats is driven by increased dissolved organic carbon. Decreased water transparency of nearshore Laurentian Great Lakes habitats is driven by increased dissolved organic carbon.

Little is understood of lake browning (due to increased dissolved organic carbon; DOC) in large lakes such as the Laurentian Great Lakes. Lake browning can alter whole lake ecosystems, including decreasing exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) which is strongly and selectively attenuated by DOC more so than photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). We compared the changes in...
Authors
Nicole Lynn Berry, David B. Bunnell, Thomas J. Fisher, Erin P. Overholt, Elizabeth M. Mette, Todd Howell, Craig E. Williamson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Great Lakes Science Center

Rising atmospheric CO2 intensifies nitrogen limitation in boreal forests Rising atmospheric CO2 intensifies nitrogen limitation in boreal forests

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) pollution has been emphasized as a cause of eutrophication globally. However, several recent datasets have suggested widespread oligotrophication may be occurring in some ecosystems, which is suggested to be a response to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2). Plant δ15N chronologies have served as primary evidence for oligotrophication, however, there has...
Authors
Kelley R. Bassett, Stefan F. Hupperts, Sandra Jämtgård, Lars Östlund, Jonas Fridman, Steven S. Perakis, Michael J. Gundale
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

Genomics reveals extensive population structure and undescribed phylogenetic relationships in the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae) Genomics reveals extensive population structure and undescribed phylogenetic relationships in the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae)

Aim Aims of the study are to examine patterns of range-wide genetic differentiation and population structure in a headwater obligate salamander living in a geologically rich region, to identify genetically distinct populations and areas of gene flow between them.Location Oregon and Washington in the Pacific Northwest, United States of America.Time Period Tissue samples were collected in...
Authors
Christopher D Cousins, Deanna H Olson, Lindsay S Millward, Michael J. Adams, Christopher Pearl, Jennifer Rowe, Tiffany S Garcia
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
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Science

view of shrubs leading into the ocean, blue skys

Where Land Meets Sea: USGS Science for Resilient Coastal Habitats

USGS coastal science plays a critical role in supporting the effective, science-based management of coastal ecosystems, where the biodiversity of land and sea meet. It provides managers with the information they need to make sound decisions. Through cutting-edge research, predictive modeling, and decision-support tools, USGS empowers resource managers to make informed, science-based choices. From...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, California Water Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Fisheries Research Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Where Land Meets Sea: USGS Science for Resilient Coastal Habitats

Where Land Meets Sea: USGS Science for Resilient Coastal Habitats

USGS coastal science plays a critical role in supporting the effective, science-based management of coastal ecosystems, where the biodiversity of land and sea meet. It provides managers with the information they need to make sound decisions. Through cutting-edge research, predictive modeling, and decision-support tools, USGS empowers resource managers to make informed, science-based choices. From...
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A small blue, black and white songbird perched on a single branch.

USGS Bird Science by Flyway—Winter 2026 Highlights

Connecting state agencies and biologists to the breadth of partner-driven science that USGS supports in your flyway.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program
USGS Bird Science by Flyway—Winter 2026 Highlights

USGS Bird Science by Flyway—Winter 2026 Highlights

Connecting state agencies and biologists to the breadth of partner-driven science that USGS supports in your flyway.
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panoramic shot of sagebrush with mesas and canyon landscape in the background

AI-driven science synthesis tools for resource managers

The scientific literature is abundant on drought-related topics in the western United States, including areas of the Colorado River Basin and the sagebrush biome. Scientists, resource managers, and decision makers use this science to assess, predict, and respond to the effects of drought on people and the environment. However, it can be difficult to quickly synthesize large amounts of research. To...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Colorado River Basin: Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology, Drought
AI-driven science synthesis tools for resource managers

AI-driven science synthesis tools for resource managers

The scientific literature is abundant on drought-related topics in the western United States, including areas of the Colorado River Basin and the sagebrush biome. Scientists, resource managers, and decision makers use this science to assess, predict, and respond to the effects of drought on people and the environment. However, it can be difficult to quickly synthesize large amounts of research. To...
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