Ecosystems like deserts, mountains, coasts, and rainforests all have different characteristics that are important to the species that live there, and to the scientists trying to understand and support their conservation for future generations. Maps are an important scientific tool for understanding and navigating ecosystems.
USGS Mapping Science Supports Biology and Ecosystems Research
Many factors contribute to what makes an ecosystem unique and good habitat for plants and animals. Some ecosystems support specific types of lush vegetation and landscapes, like the coasts of the northwest and northeast United States. Others are wide open with small trees and rolling grassy hills and can be found throughout the western United States. And some ecosystems are comprised of mostly if not entirely water! Why do they look the way they do?
USGS mapping science helps us identify the varying characteristics of different ecosystems so that we can understand how they contribute to the wellbeing of all the inhabitants - humans, plants, and animals. Mapping ecosystems inside and out provides information on how all the pieces work together, much like a puzzle, and how those pieces change over time in a changing world.
Learn more about USGS Ecosystems research.
Global Ecosystems Viewer
Remote Sensing: National Phenology Network
Gap Analysis Project
National Biogeographic Map
Ecosystems Change
Many factors shape ecosystems, but their foundation was laid over thousands of years of climate that influenced how wind and water transformed rocks into the soils that support the plants and animals across all the unique places on Earth.
Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection
Geospatial Support for Wetland and Aquatic Ecosystems
Landsat: 50 Years Observing a Changing Earth
Earthshots: Explore the world
Tracking and Monitoring Species That Fly
USGS scientists research and monitor species that travel by air. Learn more about USGS research on Monarch butterflies, bats, bees, and birds.
Mapping Monarch Butterfly Habitat
Mapping Bats of North America
Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas
North American Breeding Bird Survey
Tracking Disease and Invasive Species
USGS biologists work collaboratively with state and federal agencies to track invasive plant and animal species or diseases, such as chronic wasting disease or avian influenza. Learn more about the USGS National Wildlife Health Center's science activities.
Battling Invasive Carps
Mapping Chronic Wasting Disease
Avian Influenza
Invasive Species Habitat Tool (INHABIT)
Mapping and Tracking Species Migrations
Knowing wildlife movement is important to work with our land and species management partners.
Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI)
Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership (WHISPers)
Migration Mapper
Alaska Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
Tracking Aquatic Species
USGS research doesn't stop at the shore! USGS researches both freshwater and ocean species and ecosystems.
EcoSHEDs (Freshwater Ecosystems Tools)
Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli)
Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN)
EXPRESS Data Viewer
USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
National Seafloor Mapping and Benthic Habitat Studies
Monarch Conservation Science Partnership Map Viewer and Tools
North American Breeding Bird Survey
North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
- Overview
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
The satellite tracking map (yellow lines show satellite locations over time) of a loggerhead sea turtle tagged in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Image credit: Google Earth USGS Mapping Science Supports Biology and Ecosystems Research
Many factors contribute to what makes an ecosystem unique and good habitat for plants and animals. Some ecosystems support specific types of lush vegetation and landscapes, like the coasts of the northwest and northeast United States. Others are wide open with small trees and rolling grassy hills and can be found throughout the western United States. And some ecosystems are comprised of mostly if not entirely water! Why do they look the way they do?
USGS mapping science helps us identify the varying characteristics of different ecosystems so that we can understand how they contribute to the wellbeing of all the inhabitants - humans, plants, and animals. Mapping ecosystems inside and out provides information on how all the pieces work together, much like a puzzle, and how those pieces change over time in a changing world.
Learn more about USGS Ecosystems research.
Global Ecosystems ViewerGlobal Ecosystems ViewerRemote Sensing: National Phenology NetworkRemote Sensing: National Phenology NetworkGap Analysis ProjectGap Analysis ProjectNational Biogeographic MapNational Biogeographic MapEcosystems Change
Many factors shape ecosystems, but their foundation was laid over thousands of years of climate that influenced how wind and water transformed rocks into the soils that support the plants and animals across all the unique places on Earth.
Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and ProjectionLand Change Monitoring, Assessment, and ProjectionGeospatial Support for Wetland and Aquatic EcosystemsGeospatial Support for Wetland and Aquatic EcosystemsLandsat: 50 Years Observing a Changing EarthLandsat: 50 Years Observing a Changing EarthEarthshots: Explore the worldEarthshots: Explore the worldTracking and Monitoring Species That Fly
USGS scientists research and monitor species that travel by air. Learn more about USGS research on Monarch butterflies, bats, bees, and birds.
Mapping Monarch Butterfly HabitatMapping Monarch Butterfly HabitatMapping Bats of North AmericaMapping Bats of North AmericaPacific Northwest Bumble Bee AtlasPacific Northwest Bumble Bee AtlasNorth American Breeding Bird SurveyNorth American Breeding Bird SurveyTracking Disease and Invasive Species
USGS biologists work collaboratively with state and federal agencies to track invasive plant and animal species or diseases, such as chronic wasting disease or avian influenza. Learn more about the USGS National Wildlife Health Center's science activities.
Battling Invasive CarpsBattling Invasive CarpsMapping Chronic Wasting DiseaseMapping Chronic Wasting DiseaseAvian InfluenzaAvian InfluenzaInvasive Species Habitat Tool (INHABIT)Invasive Species Habitat Tool (INHABIT)Mapping and Tracking Species Migrations
Knowing wildlife movement is important to work with our land and species management partners.
Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI)Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI)Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership (WHISPers)Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership (WHISPers)Migration MapperMigration MapperAlaska Wildlife Tracking Data CollectionAlaska Wildlife Tracking Data CollectionTracking Aquatic Species
USGS research doesn't stop at the shore! USGS researches both freshwater and ocean species and ecosystems.
EcoSHEDs (Freshwater Ecosystems Tools)EcoSHEDs (Freshwater Ecosystems Tools)Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli)Fish and Climate Change Database (FiCli)Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN)Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN)EXPRESS Data ViewerEXPRESS Data Viewer - Publications
- Science
USGS Alaska Science Center Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
Understanding the short- and long-distance movements of wildlife is critical for a wide variety of ecological research questions and management decisions. Since the mid-1980s, the USGS Alaska Science Center has used information from telemetry devices on wildlife species to determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on...EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope. EXPRESS data and information are intended to guide wise use of living marine resources and habitats, inform ocean energy and mineral resource decisions, and improve offshore hazard assessments.ByCoastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 3-D CT Core Imaging Laboratory, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Multi-Sensor Core Logger Laboratory, Organic Geochemistry Laboratory, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and CharacterizationNational Seafloor Mapping and Benthic Habitat Studies
The Stellwagen Bank region, located off Boston, Massachusetts, just east of Massachusetts Bay between Cape Cod and Cape Ann, is a glaciated terrain of shallow banks and deep basins with water depths ranging from 20 to 200 meters. The region is heavily utilized by humans and marine species. It serves as a National Marine Sanctuary; a rich commercial and recreational fishing ground; a disposal site...Monarch Conservation Science Partnership Map Viewer and Tools
This web mapping application is a repository for data and tools that support the Monarch Conservation Science Partnership.North American Breeding Bird Survey
The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the primary source for critical quantitative data to evaluate the status of continental bird species, keeping common birds common and helping fuel a $75 billion wildlife watching industry. Each year thousands of citizen scientists skilled in avian identification collect data on BBS routes throughout North America allowing us to better understand...North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
North American bats face unprecedented threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, white-nose syndrome, wind energy development, and climate change. However, it is difficult to evaluate the impacts of these threats due to a lack of basic information about the distribution and abundance of bats across the continent. Although bat monitoring has long been conducted in individual areas and for... - Data and More
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