Sand Island, one of the first islands on the atoll to have successfully eradicated coconut palms, which were quickly replaced by a healthy Pisonia forest with abundant shorebird life.
Miriam Jones, Ph.D.
I use a range of proxies (plant macrofossils, pollen, charcoal, stable isotopes) to interpret landscape change over centennial to millennial timescales. Current topics include responses to abrupt permafrost thaw, sea-level rise, sea-ice retreat, and centennial-scale land-use change.
Science and Products
Reconstructing Vegetation and Climate Histories on Palmyra Atoll to Assist with Climate-Smart Adaptation
Project Overview Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a critical nesting site for seabirds in the central Pacific Ocean, with ecosystems that are regularly impacted by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project aim to understand how past ENSO-driven climate variability and human activities have affected vegetation and...
Holocene and Modern Drivers of Wetland Change
On a global scale, wetland systems are affected by precipitation extremes, changing sea level, and population growth, influencing their capacity to moderate storm surge, filter contaminants, and provide habitats for fish and wildlife. This research takes a long-term perspective on the resilience of wetlands to a range of environmental- and human-induced changes and supports wetland management by...
Wetlands in the Quaternary
Wetlands accumulate organic-rich sediment or peat stratigraphically, making them great archives of past environmental change. Wetlands also act as hydrologic buffers on the landscape and are important to global biogeochemical cycling. This project uses wetland archives from a range of environments to better understand how vegetation, hydrology, and hydroclimate has changed on decadal to multi...
Sand Island, Palmyra Atoll
Sand Island, one of the first islands on the atoll to have successfully eradicated coconut palms, which were quickly replaced by a healthy Pisonia forest with abundant shorebird life.
Western Lagoon Shoreline, Palmyra Atoll
A view of the shoreline with palm trees above bright blue water in the Western Lagoon, Palmyra Atoll.
A view of the shoreline with palm trees above bright blue water in the Western Lagoon, Palmyra Atoll.
Aerial View of Palmyra Atoll
Aerial view of the Palmyra Atoll, looking west. The forested island is surrounded by blue water.
Aerial view of the Palmyra Atoll, looking west. The forested island is surrounded by blue water.
Dead Coconut Palms, Palmyra Atoll
A recently treated stand of coconut palms, standing and dead, which will naturally convert back to Pisonia forest, on Palmyra Atoll.
A recently treated stand of coconut palms, standing and dead, which will naturally convert back to Pisonia forest, on Palmyra Atoll.
North Shore of Palmyra Atoll
A view of the sandy north shore of Palmyra Atoll, with a forested edge. Recently killed coconut palm trunks poke out of the forested area.
A view of the sandy north shore of Palmyra Atoll, with a forested edge. Recently killed coconut palm trunks poke out of the forested area.
White Tern and Red-Footed Booby, Palmyra Atoll
A White Tern and a Red-Footed Booby share some shade under a tree. The White Tern flies while the Booby sits below.
A White Tern and a Red-Footed Booby share some shade under a tree. The White Tern flies while the Booby sits below.
Scenic Lagoon, Palmyra Atoll
Calm, clear and bright blue waters of a small shoreline lagoon on Palmyra Atoll.
Calm, clear and bright blue waters of a small shoreline lagoon on Palmyra Atoll.
Palm-lined Coast, Palmyra Atoll
Crystal clear, turquoise waters surrounding a palm-lined beach on Palmyra Atoll.
Crystal clear, turquoise waters surrounding a palm-lined beach on Palmyra Atoll.
Looking out to Sea, Palmyra Atoll
Calm, blue waters surround Palmyra Atoll. This view takes in the ocean scenery with a partial glimpse of lush green coastal vegetation on the landward side.
Calm, blue waters surround Palmyra Atoll. This view takes in the ocean scenery with a partial glimpse of lush green coastal vegetation on the landward side.
Driftwood on Palmyra Atoll
Driftwood lays partially submerged in clear blue water on sandy shore of Palmyra Atoll.
Driftwood lays partially submerged in clear blue water on sandy shore of Palmyra Atoll.
Great Dismal Swamp, Lake Drummond
Photograph of Lake Drummond, which is located within the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
Photograph of Lake Drummond, which is located within the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
The Great Dismal Swamp
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Great Dismal Swamp, 2018
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia several years after the 2011 fire. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia several years after the 2011 fire. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
Thawing Peatlands, Alaska
Cores were collected from various areas of thawing permafrost-peatlands in Alaska. Permafrost thaw results in ground subsidence and inundation that kills black spruce and other understory plants living on the permafrost plateau.
Cores were collected from various areas of thawing permafrost-peatlands in Alaska. Permafrost thaw results in ground subsidence and inundation that kills black spruce and other understory plants living on the permafrost plateau.
Science and Products
Reconstructing Vegetation and Climate Histories on Palmyra Atoll to Assist with Climate-Smart Adaptation
Project Overview Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a critical nesting site for seabirds in the central Pacific Ocean, with ecosystems that are regularly impacted by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project aim to understand how past ENSO-driven climate variability and human activities have affected vegetation and...
Holocene and Modern Drivers of Wetland Change
On a global scale, wetland systems are affected by precipitation extremes, changing sea level, and population growth, influencing their capacity to moderate storm surge, filter contaminants, and provide habitats for fish and wildlife. This research takes a long-term perspective on the resilience of wetlands to a range of environmental- and human-induced changes and supports wetland management by...
Wetlands in the Quaternary
Wetlands accumulate organic-rich sediment or peat stratigraphically, making them great archives of past environmental change. Wetlands also act as hydrologic buffers on the landscape and are important to global biogeochemical cycling. This project uses wetland archives from a range of environments to better understand how vegetation, hydrology, and hydroclimate has changed on decadal to multi...
Sand Island, Palmyra Atoll
Sand Island, one of the first islands on the atoll to have successfully eradicated coconut palms, which were quickly replaced by a healthy Pisonia forest with abundant shorebird life.
Sand Island, one of the first islands on the atoll to have successfully eradicated coconut palms, which were quickly replaced by a healthy Pisonia forest with abundant shorebird life.
Western Lagoon Shoreline, Palmyra Atoll
A view of the shoreline with palm trees above bright blue water in the Western Lagoon, Palmyra Atoll.
A view of the shoreline with palm trees above bright blue water in the Western Lagoon, Palmyra Atoll.
Aerial View of Palmyra Atoll
Aerial view of the Palmyra Atoll, looking west. The forested island is surrounded by blue water.
Aerial view of the Palmyra Atoll, looking west. The forested island is surrounded by blue water.
Dead Coconut Palms, Palmyra Atoll
A recently treated stand of coconut palms, standing and dead, which will naturally convert back to Pisonia forest, on Palmyra Atoll.
A recently treated stand of coconut palms, standing and dead, which will naturally convert back to Pisonia forest, on Palmyra Atoll.
North Shore of Palmyra Atoll
A view of the sandy north shore of Palmyra Atoll, with a forested edge. Recently killed coconut palm trunks poke out of the forested area.
A view of the sandy north shore of Palmyra Atoll, with a forested edge. Recently killed coconut palm trunks poke out of the forested area.
White Tern and Red-Footed Booby, Palmyra Atoll
A White Tern and a Red-Footed Booby share some shade under a tree. The White Tern flies while the Booby sits below.
A White Tern and a Red-Footed Booby share some shade under a tree. The White Tern flies while the Booby sits below.
Scenic Lagoon, Palmyra Atoll
Calm, clear and bright blue waters of a small shoreline lagoon on Palmyra Atoll.
Calm, clear and bright blue waters of a small shoreline lagoon on Palmyra Atoll.
Palm-lined Coast, Palmyra Atoll
Crystal clear, turquoise waters surrounding a palm-lined beach on Palmyra Atoll.
Crystal clear, turquoise waters surrounding a palm-lined beach on Palmyra Atoll.
Looking out to Sea, Palmyra Atoll
Calm, blue waters surround Palmyra Atoll. This view takes in the ocean scenery with a partial glimpse of lush green coastal vegetation on the landward side.
Calm, blue waters surround Palmyra Atoll. This view takes in the ocean scenery with a partial glimpse of lush green coastal vegetation on the landward side.
Driftwood on Palmyra Atoll
Driftwood lays partially submerged in clear blue water on sandy shore of Palmyra Atoll.
Driftwood lays partially submerged in clear blue water on sandy shore of Palmyra Atoll.
Great Dismal Swamp, Lake Drummond
Photograph of Lake Drummond, which is located within the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
Photograph of Lake Drummond, which is located within the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
The Great Dismal Swamp
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Great Dismal Swamp, 2018
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia several years after the 2011 fire. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia several years after the 2011 fire. USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years.
Thawing Peatlands, Alaska
Cores were collected from various areas of thawing permafrost-peatlands in Alaska. Permafrost thaw results in ground subsidence and inundation that kills black spruce and other understory plants living on the permafrost plateau.
Cores were collected from various areas of thawing permafrost-peatlands in Alaska. Permafrost thaw results in ground subsidence and inundation that kills black spruce and other understory plants living on the permafrost plateau.