Partners discuss seasonal drought experiments.
Erika Geiger, Ph.D.
Erika Geiger is a Supervisory Biologist at the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center's Canyonlands Research Station (CRS) in Moab, UT.
Erika has worked in primarily arid or seasonally water-stressed systems including mesquite savannas in southern Arizona and savannas in the central highlands of Brazil investigating the role of invasive species, fire, and disturbance on native vegetation in these systems. After returning to the U.S. from a postdoc in Brazil she switched from research to management and is currently the Station Manager at the Southwest Biological Science Center's Canyonlands Research Station in Moab, Utah.
Science and Products
Biological Soil Crust ("Biocrust") Science
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are commonly found on the soil surface in arid and semi-arid ecosystems (collectively called drylands). Biocrusts can consist of mosses, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, and microfungi, and they strongly interact with the soil. These organisms or consortium of disparate organisms, depending on the specific biocrust, are important to the functioning of ecosystems...
Long-Term Vegetation Change on the Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau, centered around the four corners area of the Southwest, and includes much of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, is a large and important component of U.S. drylands. This important home to mountains, desert basins, dramatic canyons, arid woodlands, and grasslands is also one of North America’s most rapidly warming hot spots, with rates of warming of up to 2-3° C within...
Partners discuss seasonal drought experiments.
Partners discuss seasonal drought experiments.
Don't Bust the Crust
To examine the influence of biological soil crusts in ecosystems (soil food webs, soil stability, soil nutrient cycles, and plant communities), Hilda Smith, biological technician, prepares to resample paired experimental plots where biological soil crusts were removed annually since 1995 or left intact at Arches NP.
To examine the influence of biological soil crusts in ecosystems (soil food webs, soil stability, soil nutrient cycles, and plant communities), Hilda Smith, biological technician, prepares to resample paired experimental plots where biological soil crusts were removed annually since 1995 or left intact at Arches NP.
Experimenting with Climate Change
Hilda Smith, biological technician with Canyonlands Research Station, monitors changes in biological soil crusts in response to experimental increases in temperature and altered precipitation patterns.
Hilda Smith, biological technician with Canyonlands Research Station, monitors changes in biological soil crusts in response to experimental increases in temperature and altered precipitation patterns.
Factory Butte
A variety of sampling methods are used to assess the movement of dust at different heights at Factory Butte. Dust samplers in the foreground are part of an ever-increasing network of more than 140 sites.
A variety of sampling methods are used to assess the movement of dust at different heights at Factory Butte. Dust samplers in the foreground are part of an ever-increasing network of more than 140 sites.
Silt Fences Await Sediment from Storm Runoff
Silt fences were installed at paired locations on Mancos Shale to quantify sediment in runoff in disturbed and undisturbed areas.
Silt fences were installed at paired locations on Mancos Shale to quantify sediment in runoff in disturbed and undisturbed areas.
Wiring the Desert
Ed Grote, biological technician with Canyonlands Research Station, sets up soil moisture monitoring system for an experiment to assess the effect of rainfall variability on BLM property near the Needles district of Canyonlands.
Ed Grote, biological technician with Canyonlands Research Station, sets up soil moisture monitoring system for an experiment to assess the effect of rainfall variability on BLM property near the Needles district of Canyonlands.
Canyonlands and the Colorado Plateau
The Needles district of Canyonlands serves as a stunning backdrop to our study site in the high desert grassland of the Colorado Plateau. Researchers at Canyonlands Research Station are testing the effect of experimentally imposed altered precipitation regimes on plant reproductive success, mortality, and biomass.
The Needles district of Canyonlands serves as a stunning backdrop to our study site in the high desert grassland of the Colorado Plateau. Researchers at Canyonlands Research Station are testing the effect of experimentally imposed altered precipitation regimes on plant reproductive success, mortality, and biomass.
Dreamland
A heavily impacted off-road play area in Mancos Shale near the Book Cliffs is surveyed as a study site to assess dust production and quantify salinity and sediment in runoff.
A heavily impacted off-road play area in Mancos Shale near the Book Cliffs is surveyed as a study site to assess dust production and quantify salinity and sediment in runoff.
Follow the Leader
Dr. Jayne Belnap follows a narrow foot path through a diverse patch of biological soil crusts in an isolated area of Canyonlands NP that has never been exposed to grazing. Dr. Belnap has been studying biological soil crusts for more than 30 years.
Dr. Jayne Belnap follows a narrow foot path through a diverse patch of biological soil crusts in an isolated area of Canyonlands NP that has never been exposed to grazing. Dr. Belnap has been studying biological soil crusts for more than 30 years.
Please Stay on the Trail
A single narrow trail leads to research plots monitored by scientists at Canyonlands Research Station since the 1990s. This pristine area of biological soil crusts has never been grazed.
A single narrow trail leads to research plots monitored by scientists at Canyonlands Research Station since the 1990s. This pristine area of biological soil crusts has never been grazed.
Best Job in the World
Biological technicians, Beth Ogata, Kristina Young, and Natalie Day head back to base-camp after a day of monitoring vegetation and biological soil crusts in Canyonlands NP.
Biological technicians, Beth Ogata, Kristina Young, and Natalie Day head back to base-camp after a day of monitoring vegetation and biological soil crusts in Canyonlands NP.
A Desert Tortoise in the Mojave Desert
A desert tortoise walks in the Mojave Desert.
A desert tortoise walks in the Mojave Desert.
Science and Products
Biological Soil Crust ("Biocrust") Science
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are commonly found on the soil surface in arid and semi-arid ecosystems (collectively called drylands). Biocrusts can consist of mosses, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, and microfungi, and they strongly interact with the soil. These organisms or consortium of disparate organisms, depending on the specific biocrust, are important to the functioning of ecosystems...
Long-Term Vegetation Change on the Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau, centered around the four corners area of the Southwest, and includes much of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, is a large and important component of U.S. drylands. This important home to mountains, desert basins, dramatic canyons, arid woodlands, and grasslands is also one of North America’s most rapidly warming hot spots, with rates of warming of up to 2-3° C within...
Partners discuss seasonal drought experiments.
Partners discuss seasonal drought experiments.
Partners discuss seasonal drought experiments.
Don't Bust the Crust
To examine the influence of biological soil crusts in ecosystems (soil food webs, soil stability, soil nutrient cycles, and plant communities), Hilda Smith, biological technician, prepares to resample paired experimental plots where biological soil crusts were removed annually since 1995 or left intact at Arches NP.
To examine the influence of biological soil crusts in ecosystems (soil food webs, soil stability, soil nutrient cycles, and plant communities), Hilda Smith, biological technician, prepares to resample paired experimental plots where biological soil crusts were removed annually since 1995 or left intact at Arches NP.
Experimenting with Climate Change
Hilda Smith, biological technician with Canyonlands Research Station, monitors changes in biological soil crusts in response to experimental increases in temperature and altered precipitation patterns.
Hilda Smith, biological technician with Canyonlands Research Station, monitors changes in biological soil crusts in response to experimental increases in temperature and altered precipitation patterns.
Factory Butte
A variety of sampling methods are used to assess the movement of dust at different heights at Factory Butte. Dust samplers in the foreground are part of an ever-increasing network of more than 140 sites.
A variety of sampling methods are used to assess the movement of dust at different heights at Factory Butte. Dust samplers in the foreground are part of an ever-increasing network of more than 140 sites.
Silt Fences Await Sediment from Storm Runoff
Silt fences were installed at paired locations on Mancos Shale to quantify sediment in runoff in disturbed and undisturbed areas.
Silt fences were installed at paired locations on Mancos Shale to quantify sediment in runoff in disturbed and undisturbed areas.
Wiring the Desert
Ed Grote, biological technician with Canyonlands Research Station, sets up soil moisture monitoring system for an experiment to assess the effect of rainfall variability on BLM property near the Needles district of Canyonlands.
Ed Grote, biological technician with Canyonlands Research Station, sets up soil moisture monitoring system for an experiment to assess the effect of rainfall variability on BLM property near the Needles district of Canyonlands.
Canyonlands and the Colorado Plateau
The Needles district of Canyonlands serves as a stunning backdrop to our study site in the high desert grassland of the Colorado Plateau. Researchers at Canyonlands Research Station are testing the effect of experimentally imposed altered precipitation regimes on plant reproductive success, mortality, and biomass.
The Needles district of Canyonlands serves as a stunning backdrop to our study site in the high desert grassland of the Colorado Plateau. Researchers at Canyonlands Research Station are testing the effect of experimentally imposed altered precipitation regimes on plant reproductive success, mortality, and biomass.
Dreamland
A heavily impacted off-road play area in Mancos Shale near the Book Cliffs is surveyed as a study site to assess dust production and quantify salinity and sediment in runoff.
A heavily impacted off-road play area in Mancos Shale near the Book Cliffs is surveyed as a study site to assess dust production and quantify salinity and sediment in runoff.
Follow the Leader
Dr. Jayne Belnap follows a narrow foot path through a diverse patch of biological soil crusts in an isolated area of Canyonlands NP that has never been exposed to grazing. Dr. Belnap has been studying biological soil crusts for more than 30 years.
Dr. Jayne Belnap follows a narrow foot path through a diverse patch of biological soil crusts in an isolated area of Canyonlands NP that has never been exposed to grazing. Dr. Belnap has been studying biological soil crusts for more than 30 years.
Please Stay on the Trail
A single narrow trail leads to research plots monitored by scientists at Canyonlands Research Station since the 1990s. This pristine area of biological soil crusts has never been grazed.
A single narrow trail leads to research plots monitored by scientists at Canyonlands Research Station since the 1990s. This pristine area of biological soil crusts has never been grazed.
Best Job in the World
Biological technicians, Beth Ogata, Kristina Young, and Natalie Day head back to base-camp after a day of monitoring vegetation and biological soil crusts in Canyonlands NP.
Biological technicians, Beth Ogata, Kristina Young, and Natalie Day head back to base-camp after a day of monitoring vegetation and biological soil crusts in Canyonlands NP.
A Desert Tortoise in the Mojave Desert
A desert tortoise walks in the Mojave Desert.
A desert tortoise walks in the Mojave Desert.