Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon
Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand CanyonBebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.
Plants
Species We Study: Native Plants
Securing the Nation's Need for Native Seed
Trees in cities are beyond shady
The science that transformed a dry streambed in an oasis
Plant Detectives
A portable lab speeds the detection of pathogens responsible for disease affecting a keystone tree species in Hawai’i.
A portable lab speeds the detection of pathogens responsible for disease affecting a keystone tree species in Hawai’i.
Sagebrush Habitat
The sagebrush ecosystem faces major challenges including an increasing risk of wildfire and invasive grasses. USGS is a leader in sagebrush ecosystem research to meet the priority science needs of management agencies.
The sagebrush ecosystem faces major challenges including an increasing risk of wildfire and invasive grasses. USGS is a leader in sagebrush ecosystem research to meet the priority science needs of management agencies.
U.S. Register of Introduced & Invasive Species
The USGS developed a national inventory for non-native and invasive species currently established within all 50 states.
The USGS developed a national inventory for non-native and invasive species currently established within all 50 states.
Where would we be without plants? They are the basis of the food chain and producers of oxygen - and so much more. From marsh grasses to mangroves, from sagebrush to sunflowers, getting to the root of the biology and ecology of plants is a critical component of USGS research.
An Integral Part of Life on Earth
Life as we know it wouldn’t be possible without plants. Plants maintain the atmosphere by producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, help keep our waterways clean, and provide us with food, shelter, and medicine. Plant communities are influenced by soil, terrain, climate, animals, and human activities, so different groups and types of plants are found in different regions of the country. Grassland plants such as the western prairie fringed orchid are found in the Great Plains, while desert plants such as the saguaro cactus are found in the Southwest. Approximately 391,000 species of vascular plants are currently known to science. Explore examples of USGS science on different plant types below.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Science to Support Healthy Ecosystems
Healthy plants are the foundation of healthy ecosystems. In an era of global change, our Nation’s forests, grasslands, wetlands, and other critical habitats are facing multiple threats that challenge our ability to maintain these ecosystems and the species that depend on them. USGS science provides the information needed to address these challenges and support healthy, thriving plant communities across the country.
Threats to Plants
Understanding, monitoring, and predicting threats to plants contributes to the USGS goal of providing science to support the protection, conservation, and enhancement of the Nation’s biodiversity. Through activities such as identifying strategies for controlling invasive cheatgrass, using novel techniques to identify the presence of disease-causing plant pathogens, and informing recovery plans for at-risk species, USGS science is tackling some of the biggest threats facing plants today.
Land Use Change
The single biggest threat facing plants today is habitat loss. Changes in land use, such as the encroachment of agriculture or urban development into areas that were once covered by natural vegetation, reduce plant population sizes and alter the ecosystems that plants, animals, and humans rely on. Changes in land use can cause species extinctions, destabilize soil, increase erosion, and reduce water quality. USGS scientists are monitoring changes in land use to understand how they are affecting the plants and wildlife that depend on them. Explore examples of our science below:
- Monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of habitat management projects in southwest Wyoming, a 19-million-acre region that supports some of the highest quality wildlife habitats in the Intermountain West, as well as agriculture and energy production. Learn more>>
- Identifying the effects of wind turbines and associated infrastructure on vegetation and how wildlife use these landscapes. Learn more>>
- Understanding how agricultural drainage systems affect wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region. Learn more>>
- Using satellite imagery to monitor changes in vegetation across the country. Learn more>>
Invasive Plants
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Every plant and animal species has a native range where it evolved. When a species exists in a location beyond its natural range, it is considered a “non-native” species in that area. When a non-native species establishes in a new habitat, causing harm to the environment or humans, it becomes “invasive”. The annual estimated economic and health-related costs of invasive species in the U.S. have been reported at more than \$21 billion and adversely affect every state in the country. Invasive plants represent a major threat to global and local biodiversity while also having negative socio-economic and human health impacts. Invasive plants displace native plants, prevent native plant growth, reduce agricultural production, and induce allergies.
Invasive plants such as cheatgrass and buffelgrass have increased fire vulnerability and diminished grazing value across the western U.S. Aquatic invasive plants such as the weed hydrilla and giant fern salvinia are clogging waterways. To help combat these invaders, USGS scientists are using new tools to model the potential spread of high impact invasive species and to support the early detection and rapid response of invasive species before they are able to spread and cause harm. If an invasive plant is already established, USGS science is helping land managers reverse and mitigate the negative impacts these invasions are causing. Explore examples of our science to understand and reduce the threat of invasive plants below:
- Understanding how invasive plants affect wildfire patterns. Learn more>>
- Developing the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Alert Risk Mapper: A tool to characterize waterbodies at risk of invasion from new non-native species. Learn more>>
- Using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to track the spread of Salvinia molesta, a non-native aquatic species that reduces light and oxygen levels in water, making it unsuitable for fish and other aquatic life. Learn more>>
- Identifying strategies for controlling invasive cheatgrass in the western U.S. Learn more>>
Visit our Invasive Species webpage to learn more about USGS activities to monitor and respond to the threat of invasive species across the country.
Disease
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
USGS research is addressing numerous diseases in both plants and animals and leading development efforts in advanced tools such as environmental DNA (eDNA) to assist in prevention and early detection. Explore examples of our science on plant diseases and pathogens below:
- Using new environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to identify the presence of pathogens known to cause the decline of eelgrass, which provides important habitat for birds, fish, and invertebrates in southwestern Alaska. Learn more>>
- Deploying a portable lab to speed detection of pathogens responsible for Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD), a rapidly spreading disease affecting a keystone tree species in Hawai’i. Learn more>>
- Using decades of Landsat satellite imagery to map bark beetle outbreaks, which have devastated certain species of evergreen trees in the Rocky Mountains. Learn more>>
Climate Change
Climate helps shape ecosystems. Things like average temperatures, humidity, and rainfall determine where plants and animals lives. If a region’s climate changes, the ecosystem changes as well. Climate change poses one of the biggest threats to plants, leading to an increased spread of invasive species, increased vulnerability to insect pests, the loss of native plant species and changes in their distribution. USGS scientists are leading efforts to understand the current and future impacts of climate change on plants. This information helps management agencies identify adaptation strategies and actions that can help support vulnerable plant species in the face of a changing climate. Explore examples of our science below:
- Monitoring the conversion of tidal freshwater wetlands in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic to “Ghost Forests”—forests in which trees have died due to increases in salinity as sea levels rise and push saltier water upstream. Learn more>>
- Identifying how changes in the amount and timing of precipitation affect big sagebrush in the Great Basin. Learn more>>
- Investigating the effects of drought and warming temperatures on plants in the southwestern U.S. Learn more>>
- Exploring the effects of estimated future sea-level rise on mangrove forests in Micronesia. Learn more>>
- Using satellite data to monitor changes in phenology, or the study of animal and plant life cycles, a powerful tool for understanding life cycle trends and the impacts of climate change on ecosystems. Learn more>>
Species at Risk
As a result of threats such as the spread of invasive species, disease, and climate and land use change, some plant species are in decline or in danger of extinction. The USGS provides management agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency and National Park Service with scientific information to support conservation decisions for at-risk plant species. Explore examples of our science below:
Media
USGS scientists are studying how rare plants across California’s Channel Islands and in the Great Lakes region are affected by invasive plants and changes in climate and land use. These activities support the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency, and conservation organizations in building recovery plans for at-risk plants.
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Media
The critically endangered succulent Portulaca sclerocarpa is found only on the Island of Hawai‘i and on a small islet off the coast of Lāna‘i. USGS scientists are working with the National Park Service to identify threats to the plant and what habitats might be best for planting success.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
In the Mojave Desert, plants are able to survive extreme conditions. Yet changes in climate, wildfire patterns, and visitor use on dunes are impacting rare and at-risk plants. USGS scientists are studying the effects of these stressors on plants such as primrose, Eureka Valley dune grass, and the Joshua tree to inform management of these species.
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Ecosystem Restoration
Ecosystem restoration is the act of rehabilitating a degraded or lost ecosystems through activities such as planting native trees and shrubs and controlling invasive species. To do this, land managers need tools to help get the right plants, in the right place, at the right time for successful restoration. The USGS develops strategies and techniques to understand and facilitate the restoration of native species and habitats that have deteriorated due to threats such as invasive species and climate change. Explore examples of our science below:
Media
The Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS) helps land management agencies develop successful techniques for improving land condition in dryland ecosystems of the Southwest. RAMPS has created a hub for information and tools to help managers identify strategies to restore degraded lands.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
California’s Channel Islands were once home to cloud forests, lush groves of pines and oaks and shrubs, covered in moss and lichens, but this unique ecosystem was lost to overgrazing. USGS scientists are restoring these cloud forests by rebuilding three key components: soil, water, and plants.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Restoring drylands across the western U.S. is notoriously challenging due to highly variable and unpredictable precipitation. USGS scientists are using genetics to identify native plant seeds that are best adapted to survive and thrive in this harsh landscape.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Science
Fostering greater use of habitat models for managing rare and invasive plants on public lands
Habitat models can provide critical information on the current and potential distribution of plant species, as well as help target and support conservation efforts. Despite their potential utility in public land management, model use may be constrained by a variety of factors including staff access to and trust in models. In this project, we seek to bring together model users and model developers...
Riparian Vegetation in Grand Canyon: An Overview
Riparian plant communities, associated with rivers and streams, are ecologically and culturally important areas in the southwestern U.S. Despite covering less than 2% of the land area in the southwest, the resources provided by these communities make them valuable to wildlife, the public, scientists, and resource managers.
Spatiotemporal conditions of vegetation and invasive plant species on mine lands.
To support the Department of Interior's bureaus, states, and local communities, we are developing 1) a document highlighting remote sensing approaches that can be leveraged for site prioritization, recovery design, and long-term assessments of recovery trends, and 2) data products of vegetation conditions, change, recovery potential, and risk of exotic plant invasion on mine lands. We will...
Invasive Phragmites Science: Using Microbial Interactions to Foster the Restoration of Great Lakes Wetlands
The USGS is developing innovative Phragmites control measures to keep this rapidly spreading invasive plant from further expanding its range into new wetland habitats and to aid in the development of successful restoration strategies. Scientists are conducting studies and field tests to determine (1) if microbes (i.e., fungi and bacteria) that live within and around Phragmites are enabling the...
Multimedia
Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon
Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon
Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand CanyonBebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.
Plant Metrics
USGS wetland scientists (GLSC; Ann Arbor, Michigan) collecting plant growth data during an invasive Phragmites australis control experiment. Photo credit: Spenser Widin, USGS.
USGS wetland scientists (GLSC; Ann Arbor, Michigan) collecting plant growth data during an invasive Phragmites australis control experiment. Photo credit: Spenser Widin, USGS.
USGS Director David Applegate and Others Learn About Invasive Phragmites australis
USGS Director David Applegate and Others Learn About Invasive Phragmites australisUSGS Director David Applegate along with Associate Director Anne Kinsinger and Dr. Kurt Kowalski listen to Dr. Wes Bickford describe invasive Phragmites australis and the research being done at the Great Lakes Science Center to control it. Photo Credit: Josh Miller (USGS)
USGS Director David Applegate and Others Learn About Invasive Phragmites australis
USGS Director David Applegate and Others Learn About Invasive Phragmites australisUSGS Director David Applegate along with Associate Director Anne Kinsinger and Dr. Kurt Kowalski listen to Dr. Wes Bickford describe invasive Phragmites australis and the research being done at the Great Lakes Science Center to control it. Photo Credit: Josh Miller (USGS)
Planting the pollinator garden at the Conte Lab
Sam Droege (fore) arrived from Patuxent with plants for the Conte Lab's new pollinator garden. Sam Parker (back) assists with the planting.
Sam Droege (fore) arrived from Patuxent with plants for the Conte Lab's new pollinator garden. Sam Parker (back) assists with the planting.
American Beachgrass Planted on a beach in Aquinnah, Massachusetts
American Beachgrass Planted on a beach in Aquinnah, MassachusettsAmerican Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) is planted on a beach in the town of Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts for stabilization.
American Beachgrass Planted on a beach in Aquinnah, Massachusetts
American Beachgrass Planted on a beach in Aquinnah, MassachusettsAmerican Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) is planted on a beach in the town of Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts for stabilization.
Saguaro flowering, Tucson, AZ
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
Saguaro flowers with a bee, near Tucson, AZ
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Biological Carbon Sequestration
Biological carbon sequestration is the natural ability of life and ecosystems to store carbon. Forests, peat marshes, and coastal wetlands are particularly good as storing carbon. Carbon can be stored in plant tissue, such as long-lived tree bark or in extensive root systems. Microbes break down plant and animal tissue through decomposition.
Biological carbon sequestration is the natural ability of life and ecosystems to store carbon. Forests, peat marshes, and coastal wetlands are particularly good as storing carbon. Carbon can be stored in plant tissue, such as long-lived tree bark or in extensive root systems. Microbes break down plant and animal tissue through decomposition.
Basic overview of the nitrogen cycle
A basic overview of the nitrogen cycle. Red arrows represent the portions of the nitrogen cycle (decomposition and nitrification) that are performed by our laboratory’s microbial culture.
A basic overview of the nitrogen cycle. Red arrows represent the portions of the nitrogen cycle (decomposition and nitrification) that are performed by our laboratory’s microbial culture.
The multimedia items below are a sample of USGS media on plants and do not represent a complete list.
Filter Total Items: 68
Green Tree Frog
This green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) sits on the lip of a pitcher plant in a bog in Alabama. The frog was down in the pitcher plant, but moved up to rest on its edge as the photographer approached.
This green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) sits on the lip of a pitcher plant in a bog in Alabama. The frog was down in the pitcher plant, but moved up to rest on its edge as the photographer approached.
Plant community along river
Plant community along river.
Plant community along river.
Forest ecology fieldwork
USGS scientist Jenny Briggs (foreground) researches beetle-killed pines at a USGS study site near Maxwell Ranch, Colorado, while Colorado State University entomologist Dan West examines the bark of a dead tree.
USGS scientist Jenny Briggs (foreground) researches beetle-killed pines at a USGS study site near Maxwell Ranch, Colorado, while Colorado State University entomologist Dan West examines the bark of a dead tree.
Diagram of the Nitrogen Cycle
This diagram of the nitrogen cycle shows were in the cycle antibiotics could impact the ability of denitrifying bacteria to process nitrates and nitrites in groundwater. The diagram is a modified version of figure 9 from USGS SIR 2004-5144, page 16.
This diagram of the nitrogen cycle shows were in the cycle antibiotics could impact the ability of denitrifying bacteria to process nitrates and nitrites in groundwater. The diagram is a modified version of figure 9 from USGS SIR 2004-5144, page 16.
Conifers and Mountains in Western Canada
Mountains of Western Canada overlooking an extensive coniferous forest and young trees.
Mountains of Western Canada overlooking an extensive coniferous forest and young trees.
2011 Spring Flood
Invasive species Giant Salvinia, Hydrilla, and Water Hyacinth clog one end of Lake Murphy. Lake Murphy is home to these three of Louisiana’s most problematic invasive aquatic plant species. As the record-setting 2011 floodwaters push through the Atchafalaya Basin, USGS crews are monitoring these invasive species to see what effects the water have on them.
Invasive species Giant Salvinia, Hydrilla, and Water Hyacinth clog one end of Lake Murphy. Lake Murphy is home to these three of Louisiana’s most problematic invasive aquatic plant species. As the record-setting 2011 floodwaters push through the Atchafalaya Basin, USGS crews are monitoring these invasive species to see what effects the water have on them.
Denali National Park Landscape
Coniferous trees and grass growing on mountain side.
Coniferous trees and grass growing on mountain side.
Duckweeds, Water Lettuce, and Watermoss
Aquatic plants typical of still waters, ponds, and shallow wetlands: duckweeds, water lettuce, and watermoss.
Aquatic plants typical of still waters, ponds, and shallow wetlands: duckweeds, water lettuce, and watermoss.
Screwpine Tree (Pandanus sp.) and Beach Naupaka (Scaevola sericea)
Screwpine Tree (Pandanus sp.) and Beach Naupaka (Scaevola sericea)A forest on an old seaside lava flow vegetated almost entirely by just two plant species: Pandanus trees with an understory of Beach naupaka.
Screwpine Tree (Pandanus sp.) and Beach Naupaka (Scaevola sericea)
Screwpine Tree (Pandanus sp.) and Beach Naupaka (Scaevola sericea)A forest on an old seaside lava flow vegetated almost entirely by just two plant species: Pandanus trees with an understory of Beach naupaka.
Burning Sagebrush
This is sagebrush burning at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in association with a management project located 65 miles northeast of Lakeview, OR.
This is sagebrush burning at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in association with a management project located 65 miles northeast of Lakeview, OR.
Invasive Phragmites australis
Phragmites australis invading a Great Lakes coastal wetland. This tall wetland grass was introduced from Europe in the early 19th century and aggressively displaces native vegetation causing plant diversity to decline and critical habitat for fish and other wildlife to be altered.
Phragmites australis invading a Great Lakes coastal wetland. This tall wetland grass was introduced from Europe in the early 19th century and aggressively displaces native vegetation causing plant diversity to decline and critical habitat for fish and other wildlife to be altered.
A Hermit Thrush on the Nest in Arizona
Hermit thrushes are a songbird species that was strongly affected by plant community changes in mountains because of reduced snowpack and cascading ecological effects, according to a USGS Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit study.
Hermit thrushes are a songbird species that was strongly affected by plant community changes in mountains because of reduced snowpack and cascading ecological effects, according to a USGS Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit study.
Sundew Plant Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
A Sundew plant taken at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana
A Sundew plant taken at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana
Pitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Pitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National LakeshorePitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
Pitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Pitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National LakeshorePitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
Monarch Butterfly
Monarch butterfly on a dense blazing star.
Monarch butterfly on a dense blazing star.
Sonoran Desert Landscape Buffelgrass
Figure 1. Examples of (left) a Sonoran Desert landscape showing the characteristic arrangement of patches of native vegetation separated by bare ground; and (right) a Sonoran Desert landscape that has been invaded by buffelgrass, which fills in the open spaces to form a relatively continuous mat of highly flamm
Figure 1. Examples of (left) a Sonoran Desert landscape showing the characteristic arrangement of patches of native vegetation separated by bare ground; and (right) a Sonoran Desert landscape that has been invaded by buffelgrass, which fills in the open spaces to form a relatively continuous mat of highly flamm
Ferns on Forest Floor
Looking down from the boardwalk at Fern Forest, ferns and other plants
prosper.
Looking down from the boardwalk at Fern Forest, ferns and other plants
prosper.
Giant Leather Fern
A giant leather fern along the boardwalk, at Fern Forest.
A giant leather fern along the boardwalk, at Fern Forest.
Pickerelweed flower spike
A violet-blue pickerelweed flower spike, in Big Cypress National Preserve.
A violet-blue pickerelweed flower spike, in Big Cypress National Preserve.
Red mangrove
A red mangrove and its intricate aerial root system in west lake waters.
A red mangrove and its intricate aerial root system in west lake waters.
Spatterdock
Budding spatterdocks are seen floating atop the Taylor Slough waters at
Everglades National Park.
Budding spatterdocks are seen floating atop the Taylor Slough waters at
Everglades National Park.
Where would we be without plants? They are the basis of the food chain and producers of oxygen - and so much more. From marsh grasses to mangroves, from sagebrush to sunflowers, getting to the root of the biology and ecology of plants is a critical component of USGS research.
An Integral Part of Life on Earth
Life as we know it wouldn’t be possible without plants. Plants maintain the atmosphere by producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, help keep our waterways clean, and provide us with food, shelter, and medicine. Plant communities are influenced by soil, terrain, climate, animals, and human activities, so different groups and types of plants are found in different regions of the country. Grassland plants such as the western prairie fringed orchid are found in the Great Plains, while desert plants such as the saguaro cactus are found in the Southwest. Approximately 391,000 species of vascular plants are currently known to science. Explore examples of USGS science on different plant types below.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Science to Support Healthy Ecosystems
Healthy plants are the foundation of healthy ecosystems. In an era of global change, our Nation’s forests, grasslands, wetlands, and other critical habitats are facing multiple threats that challenge our ability to maintain these ecosystems and the species that depend on them. USGS science provides the information needed to address these challenges and support healthy, thriving plant communities across the country.
Threats to Plants
Understanding, monitoring, and predicting threats to plants contributes to the USGS goal of providing science to support the protection, conservation, and enhancement of the Nation’s biodiversity. Through activities such as identifying strategies for controlling invasive cheatgrass, using novel techniques to identify the presence of disease-causing plant pathogens, and informing recovery plans for at-risk species, USGS science is tackling some of the biggest threats facing plants today.
Land Use Change
The single biggest threat facing plants today is habitat loss. Changes in land use, such as the encroachment of agriculture or urban development into areas that were once covered by natural vegetation, reduce plant population sizes and alter the ecosystems that plants, animals, and humans rely on. Changes in land use can cause species extinctions, destabilize soil, increase erosion, and reduce water quality. USGS scientists are monitoring changes in land use to understand how they are affecting the plants and wildlife that depend on them. Explore examples of our science below:
- Monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of habitat management projects in southwest Wyoming, a 19-million-acre region that supports some of the highest quality wildlife habitats in the Intermountain West, as well as agriculture and energy production. Learn more>>
- Identifying the effects of wind turbines and associated infrastructure on vegetation and how wildlife use these landscapes. Learn more>>
- Understanding how agricultural drainage systems affect wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region. Learn more>>
- Using satellite imagery to monitor changes in vegetation across the country. Learn more>>
Invasive Plants
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Every plant and animal species has a native range where it evolved. When a species exists in a location beyond its natural range, it is considered a “non-native” species in that area. When a non-native species establishes in a new habitat, causing harm to the environment or humans, it becomes “invasive”. The annual estimated economic and health-related costs of invasive species in the U.S. have been reported at more than \$21 billion and adversely affect every state in the country. Invasive plants represent a major threat to global and local biodiversity while also having negative socio-economic and human health impacts. Invasive plants displace native plants, prevent native plant growth, reduce agricultural production, and induce allergies.
Invasive plants such as cheatgrass and buffelgrass have increased fire vulnerability and diminished grazing value across the western U.S. Aquatic invasive plants such as the weed hydrilla and giant fern salvinia are clogging waterways. To help combat these invaders, USGS scientists are using new tools to model the potential spread of high impact invasive species and to support the early detection and rapid response of invasive species before they are able to spread and cause harm. If an invasive plant is already established, USGS science is helping land managers reverse and mitigate the negative impacts these invasions are causing. Explore examples of our science to understand and reduce the threat of invasive plants below:
- Understanding how invasive plants affect wildfire patterns. Learn more>>
- Developing the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Alert Risk Mapper: A tool to characterize waterbodies at risk of invasion from new non-native species. Learn more>>
- Using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to track the spread of Salvinia molesta, a non-native aquatic species that reduces light and oxygen levels in water, making it unsuitable for fish and other aquatic life. Learn more>>
- Identifying strategies for controlling invasive cheatgrass in the western U.S. Learn more>>
Visit our Invasive Species webpage to learn more about USGS activities to monitor and respond to the threat of invasive species across the country.
Disease
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
USGS research is addressing numerous diseases in both plants and animals and leading development efforts in advanced tools such as environmental DNA (eDNA) to assist in prevention and early detection. Explore examples of our science on plant diseases and pathogens below:
- Using new environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to identify the presence of pathogens known to cause the decline of eelgrass, which provides important habitat for birds, fish, and invertebrates in southwestern Alaska. Learn more>>
- Deploying a portable lab to speed detection of pathogens responsible for Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD), a rapidly spreading disease affecting a keystone tree species in Hawai’i. Learn more>>
- Using decades of Landsat satellite imagery to map bark beetle outbreaks, which have devastated certain species of evergreen trees in the Rocky Mountains. Learn more>>
Climate Change
Climate helps shape ecosystems. Things like average temperatures, humidity, and rainfall determine where plants and animals lives. If a region’s climate changes, the ecosystem changes as well. Climate change poses one of the biggest threats to plants, leading to an increased spread of invasive species, increased vulnerability to insect pests, the loss of native plant species and changes in their distribution. USGS scientists are leading efforts to understand the current and future impacts of climate change on plants. This information helps management agencies identify adaptation strategies and actions that can help support vulnerable plant species in the face of a changing climate. Explore examples of our science below:
- Monitoring the conversion of tidal freshwater wetlands in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic to “Ghost Forests”—forests in which trees have died due to increases in salinity as sea levels rise and push saltier water upstream. Learn more>>
- Identifying how changes in the amount and timing of precipitation affect big sagebrush in the Great Basin. Learn more>>
- Investigating the effects of drought and warming temperatures on plants in the southwestern U.S. Learn more>>
- Exploring the effects of estimated future sea-level rise on mangrove forests in Micronesia. Learn more>>
- Using satellite data to monitor changes in phenology, or the study of animal and plant life cycles, a powerful tool for understanding life cycle trends and the impacts of climate change on ecosystems. Learn more>>
Species at Risk
As a result of threats such as the spread of invasive species, disease, and climate and land use change, some plant species are in decline or in danger of extinction. The USGS provides management agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency and National Park Service with scientific information to support conservation decisions for at-risk plant species. Explore examples of our science below:
Media
USGS scientists are studying how rare plants across California’s Channel Islands and in the Great Lakes region are affected by invasive plants and changes in climate and land use. These activities support the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency, and conservation organizations in building recovery plans for at-risk plants.
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Media
The critically endangered succulent Portulaca sclerocarpa is found only on the Island of Hawai‘i and on a small islet off the coast of Lāna‘i. USGS scientists are working with the National Park Service to identify threats to the plant and what habitats might be best for planting success.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
In the Mojave Desert, plants are able to survive extreme conditions. Yet changes in climate, wildfire patterns, and visitor use on dunes are impacting rare and at-risk plants. USGS scientists are studying the effects of these stressors on plants such as primrose, Eureka Valley dune grass, and the Joshua tree to inform management of these species.
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Ecosystem Restoration
Ecosystem restoration is the act of rehabilitating a degraded or lost ecosystems through activities such as planting native trees and shrubs and controlling invasive species. To do this, land managers need tools to help get the right plants, in the right place, at the right time for successful restoration. The USGS develops strategies and techniques to understand and facilitate the restoration of native species and habitats that have deteriorated due to threats such as invasive species and climate change. Explore examples of our science below:
Media
The Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS) helps land management agencies develop successful techniques for improving land condition in dryland ecosystems of the Southwest. RAMPS has created a hub for information and tools to help managers identify strategies to restore degraded lands.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
California’s Channel Islands were once home to cloud forests, lush groves of pines and oaks and shrubs, covered in moss and lichens, but this unique ecosystem was lost to overgrazing. USGS scientists are restoring these cloud forests by rebuilding three key components: soil, water, and plants.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Media
Restoring drylands across the western U.S. is notoriously challenging due to highly variable and unpredictable precipitation. USGS scientists are using genetics to identify native plant seeds that are best adapted to survive and thrive in this harsh landscape.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Science
Fostering greater use of habitat models for managing rare and invasive plants on public lands
Habitat models can provide critical information on the current and potential distribution of plant species, as well as help target and support conservation efforts. Despite their potential utility in public land management, model use may be constrained by a variety of factors including staff access to and trust in models. In this project, we seek to bring together model users and model developers...
Riparian Vegetation in Grand Canyon: An Overview
Riparian plant communities, associated with rivers and streams, are ecologically and culturally important areas in the southwestern U.S. Despite covering less than 2% of the land area in the southwest, the resources provided by these communities make them valuable to wildlife, the public, scientists, and resource managers.
Spatiotemporal conditions of vegetation and invasive plant species on mine lands.
To support the Department of Interior's bureaus, states, and local communities, we are developing 1) a document highlighting remote sensing approaches that can be leveraged for site prioritization, recovery design, and long-term assessments of recovery trends, and 2) data products of vegetation conditions, change, recovery potential, and risk of exotic plant invasion on mine lands. We will...
Invasive Phragmites Science: Using Microbial Interactions to Foster the Restoration of Great Lakes Wetlands
The USGS is developing innovative Phragmites control measures to keep this rapidly spreading invasive plant from further expanding its range into new wetland habitats and to aid in the development of successful restoration strategies. Scientists are conducting studies and field tests to determine (1) if microbes (i.e., fungi and bacteria) that live within and around Phragmites are enabling the...
Multimedia
Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon
Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand CanyonBebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.
Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon
Bebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand CanyonBebbia juncea, a native plant growing in western Grand Canyon. Photo by Emily Palmquist, USGS.
Plant Metrics
USGS wetland scientists (GLSC; Ann Arbor, Michigan) collecting plant growth data during an invasive Phragmites australis control experiment. Photo credit: Spenser Widin, USGS.
USGS wetland scientists (GLSC; Ann Arbor, Michigan) collecting plant growth data during an invasive Phragmites australis control experiment. Photo credit: Spenser Widin, USGS.
USGS Director David Applegate and Others Learn About Invasive Phragmites australis
USGS Director David Applegate and Others Learn About Invasive Phragmites australisUSGS Director David Applegate along with Associate Director Anne Kinsinger and Dr. Kurt Kowalski listen to Dr. Wes Bickford describe invasive Phragmites australis and the research being done at the Great Lakes Science Center to control it. Photo Credit: Josh Miller (USGS)
USGS Director David Applegate and Others Learn About Invasive Phragmites australis
USGS Director David Applegate and Others Learn About Invasive Phragmites australisUSGS Director David Applegate along with Associate Director Anne Kinsinger and Dr. Kurt Kowalski listen to Dr. Wes Bickford describe invasive Phragmites australis and the research being done at the Great Lakes Science Center to control it. Photo Credit: Josh Miller (USGS)
Planting the pollinator garden at the Conte Lab
Sam Droege (fore) arrived from Patuxent with plants for the Conte Lab's new pollinator garden. Sam Parker (back) assists with the planting.
Sam Droege (fore) arrived from Patuxent with plants for the Conte Lab's new pollinator garden. Sam Parker (back) assists with the planting.
American Beachgrass Planted on a beach in Aquinnah, Massachusetts
American Beachgrass Planted on a beach in Aquinnah, MassachusettsAmerican Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) is planted on a beach in the town of Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts for stabilization.
American Beachgrass Planted on a beach in Aquinnah, Massachusetts
American Beachgrass Planted on a beach in Aquinnah, MassachusettsAmerican Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) is planted on a beach in the town of Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts for stabilization.
Saguaro flowering, Tucson, AZ
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
Saguaro flowers with a bee, near Tucson, AZ
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Biological Carbon Sequestration
Biological carbon sequestration is the natural ability of life and ecosystems to store carbon. Forests, peat marshes, and coastal wetlands are particularly good as storing carbon. Carbon can be stored in plant tissue, such as long-lived tree bark or in extensive root systems. Microbes break down plant and animal tissue through decomposition.
Biological carbon sequestration is the natural ability of life and ecosystems to store carbon. Forests, peat marshes, and coastal wetlands are particularly good as storing carbon. Carbon can be stored in plant tissue, such as long-lived tree bark or in extensive root systems. Microbes break down plant and animal tissue through decomposition.
Basic overview of the nitrogen cycle
A basic overview of the nitrogen cycle. Red arrows represent the portions of the nitrogen cycle (decomposition and nitrification) that are performed by our laboratory’s microbial culture.
A basic overview of the nitrogen cycle. Red arrows represent the portions of the nitrogen cycle (decomposition and nitrification) that are performed by our laboratory’s microbial culture.
The multimedia items below are a sample of USGS media on plants and do not represent a complete list.
Filter Total Items: 68
Green Tree Frog
This green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) sits on the lip of a pitcher plant in a bog in Alabama. The frog was down in the pitcher plant, but moved up to rest on its edge as the photographer approached.
This green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) sits on the lip of a pitcher plant in a bog in Alabama. The frog was down in the pitcher plant, but moved up to rest on its edge as the photographer approached.
Plant community along river
Plant community along river.
Plant community along river.
Forest ecology fieldwork
USGS scientist Jenny Briggs (foreground) researches beetle-killed pines at a USGS study site near Maxwell Ranch, Colorado, while Colorado State University entomologist Dan West examines the bark of a dead tree.
USGS scientist Jenny Briggs (foreground) researches beetle-killed pines at a USGS study site near Maxwell Ranch, Colorado, while Colorado State University entomologist Dan West examines the bark of a dead tree.
Diagram of the Nitrogen Cycle
This diagram of the nitrogen cycle shows were in the cycle antibiotics could impact the ability of denitrifying bacteria to process nitrates and nitrites in groundwater. The diagram is a modified version of figure 9 from USGS SIR 2004-5144, page 16.
This diagram of the nitrogen cycle shows were in the cycle antibiotics could impact the ability of denitrifying bacteria to process nitrates and nitrites in groundwater. The diagram is a modified version of figure 9 from USGS SIR 2004-5144, page 16.
Conifers and Mountains in Western Canada
Mountains of Western Canada overlooking an extensive coniferous forest and young trees.
Mountains of Western Canada overlooking an extensive coniferous forest and young trees.
2011 Spring Flood
Invasive species Giant Salvinia, Hydrilla, and Water Hyacinth clog one end of Lake Murphy. Lake Murphy is home to these three of Louisiana’s most problematic invasive aquatic plant species. As the record-setting 2011 floodwaters push through the Atchafalaya Basin, USGS crews are monitoring these invasive species to see what effects the water have on them.
Invasive species Giant Salvinia, Hydrilla, and Water Hyacinth clog one end of Lake Murphy. Lake Murphy is home to these three of Louisiana’s most problematic invasive aquatic plant species. As the record-setting 2011 floodwaters push through the Atchafalaya Basin, USGS crews are monitoring these invasive species to see what effects the water have on them.
Denali National Park Landscape
Coniferous trees and grass growing on mountain side.
Coniferous trees and grass growing on mountain side.
Duckweeds, Water Lettuce, and Watermoss
Aquatic plants typical of still waters, ponds, and shallow wetlands: duckweeds, water lettuce, and watermoss.
Aquatic plants typical of still waters, ponds, and shallow wetlands: duckweeds, water lettuce, and watermoss.
Screwpine Tree (Pandanus sp.) and Beach Naupaka (Scaevola sericea)
Screwpine Tree (Pandanus sp.) and Beach Naupaka (Scaevola sericea)A forest on an old seaside lava flow vegetated almost entirely by just two plant species: Pandanus trees with an understory of Beach naupaka.
Screwpine Tree (Pandanus sp.) and Beach Naupaka (Scaevola sericea)
Screwpine Tree (Pandanus sp.) and Beach Naupaka (Scaevola sericea)A forest on an old seaside lava flow vegetated almost entirely by just two plant species: Pandanus trees with an understory of Beach naupaka.
Burning Sagebrush
This is sagebrush burning at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in association with a management project located 65 miles northeast of Lakeview, OR.
This is sagebrush burning at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in association with a management project located 65 miles northeast of Lakeview, OR.
Invasive Phragmites australis
Phragmites australis invading a Great Lakes coastal wetland. This tall wetland grass was introduced from Europe in the early 19th century and aggressively displaces native vegetation causing plant diversity to decline and critical habitat for fish and other wildlife to be altered.
Phragmites australis invading a Great Lakes coastal wetland. This tall wetland grass was introduced from Europe in the early 19th century and aggressively displaces native vegetation causing plant diversity to decline and critical habitat for fish and other wildlife to be altered.
A Hermit Thrush on the Nest in Arizona
Hermit thrushes are a songbird species that was strongly affected by plant community changes in mountains because of reduced snowpack and cascading ecological effects, according to a USGS Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit study.
Hermit thrushes are a songbird species that was strongly affected by plant community changes in mountains because of reduced snowpack and cascading ecological effects, according to a USGS Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit study.
Sundew Plant Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
A Sundew plant taken at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana
A Sundew plant taken at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana
Pitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Pitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National LakeshorePitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
Pitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Pitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National LakeshorePitcher Plants at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
Monarch Butterfly
Monarch butterfly on a dense blazing star.
Monarch butterfly on a dense blazing star.
Sonoran Desert Landscape Buffelgrass
Figure 1. Examples of (left) a Sonoran Desert landscape showing the characteristic arrangement of patches of native vegetation separated by bare ground; and (right) a Sonoran Desert landscape that has been invaded by buffelgrass, which fills in the open spaces to form a relatively continuous mat of highly flamm
Figure 1. Examples of (left) a Sonoran Desert landscape showing the characteristic arrangement of patches of native vegetation separated by bare ground; and (right) a Sonoran Desert landscape that has been invaded by buffelgrass, which fills in the open spaces to form a relatively continuous mat of highly flamm
Ferns on Forest Floor
Looking down from the boardwalk at Fern Forest, ferns and other plants
prosper.
Looking down from the boardwalk at Fern Forest, ferns and other plants
prosper.
Giant Leather Fern
A giant leather fern along the boardwalk, at Fern Forest.
A giant leather fern along the boardwalk, at Fern Forest.
Pickerelweed flower spike
A violet-blue pickerelweed flower spike, in Big Cypress National Preserve.
A violet-blue pickerelweed flower spike, in Big Cypress National Preserve.
Red mangrove
A red mangrove and its intricate aerial root system in west lake waters.
A red mangrove and its intricate aerial root system in west lake waters.
Spatterdock
Budding spatterdocks are seen floating atop the Taylor Slough waters at
Everglades National Park.
Budding spatterdocks are seen floating atop the Taylor Slough waters at
Everglades National Park.