Ecosystem Services

Drylands are arid and semi-arid zones around the world where water resources are scarce. In the U.S., 40 percent of the land is considered dryland. USGS scientists are researching how predicted climate changes in dryland ecosystems--increases in temperature and declines in precipitation--will affect vegetation and wildlife in these areas as well as the ecosystem services they provide.

Droughts can be defined as meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and/or ecological. Ecological drought is when below-normal water supplies create multiple stressors across ecosystems. USGS scientists are researching the ecological impacts of drought across the country.