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Dr. Robert Fisher is a conservation biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Ecological Research Center and works as part of a large integrated team.
His focus has been on how natural systems are responding to the Anthropocene, and what types of resiliency they have or lack as it relates to maintaining ecological integrity and biodiversity. Additionally, through understanding individual species and community responses to perturbations through modern monitoring techniques, he and his team can determine appropriate management experiments or options to possibly recover resiliency. Geographically they have two foci, the first is southern California where urbanization and conservation planning bring various direct and indirect drivers of ecological change, and climate variability is currently extreme and drives landscape level drought and wildfires. Their second foci are the tropical islands of the Pacific Basin, from Palau and Papua New Guinea east to Hawai’i. These islands have also been driven by human change and are on the front line as extreme recent weather variability in the cyclone belt impact terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding how biodiversity was generated in this ecoregion is critical to managing its loss, and their team focuses across time and space (biogeography) to understand these processes utilizing molecular tools tied to expeditions of discovery in this poorly studied ecoregion.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Bulldozer lines create breaks in vegetation and are commonly used when fighting wildfires. This dozer line was created during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California in January 2025.
Bulldozer lines create breaks in vegetation and are commonly used when fighting wildfires. This dozer line was created during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California in January 2025.
The fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) is an introduced species to the United States. It was found in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023. USGS biologists are investigating its distribution and how to eradicate the species most efficiently before it becomes invasive. (Photo: Spencer Williams, USGS)
The fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) is an introduced species to the United States. It was found in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023. USGS biologists are investigating its distribution and how to eradicate the species most efficiently before it becomes invasive. (Photo: Spencer Williams, USGS)
A fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) not native to California was discovered in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023.
A fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) not native to California was discovered in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023.
Southern California's fire ecology is unlike that of anywhere else in the United States. Fire control strategies developed for mountain forests don't have the same results here. So can science help uncover new answers to help Southern California communities manage and live with wildfires?
Southern California's fire ecology is unlike that of anywhere else in the United States. Fire control strategies developed for mountain forests don't have the same results here. So can science help uncover new answers to help Southern California communities manage and live with wildfires?
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
Biologist Robert Fisher tells a troubling tale of how wildfire in Southern California has disrupted the lives of frogs, shrews, fish, and salamanders (despite the latter's mythical fondness of flame).
Biologist Robert Fisher tells a troubling tale of how wildfire in Southern California has disrupted the lives of frogs, shrews, fish, and salamanders (despite the latter's mythical fondness of flame).
Robert Fisher, USGS Research Biologist talks about the overall impact of fires on the biology of the area.
Robert Fisher, USGS Research Biologist talks about the overall impact of fires on the biology of the area.
Adam Backlin, USGS Ecologist, talks about the potential dangers to the aquatic life in the streams around the Santa Ana Mountains as a result of the 2007 California wildfires.
Adam Backlin, USGS Ecologist, talks about the potential dangers to the aquatic life in the streams around the Santa Ana Mountains as a result of the 2007 California wildfires.
USGS Biologist, Robert Fisher, talks about the invasive species growing within the areas devastated by the 2007 California wildfires.
USGS Biologist, Robert Fisher, talks about the invasive species growing within the areas devastated by the 2007 California wildfires.
Bulldozer lines create breaks in vegetation and are commonly used when fighting wildfires. This dozer line was created during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California in January 2025.
Bulldozer lines create breaks in vegetation and are commonly used when fighting wildfires. This dozer line was created during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California in January 2025.
The fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) is an introduced species to the United States. It was found in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023. USGS biologists are investigating its distribution and how to eradicate the species most efficiently before it becomes invasive. (Photo: Spencer Williams, USGS)
The fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) is an introduced species to the United States. It was found in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023. USGS biologists are investigating its distribution and how to eradicate the species most efficiently before it becomes invasive. (Photo: Spencer Williams, USGS)
A fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) not native to California was discovered in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023.
A fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus cf. boskianus) not native to California was discovered in Ventura County, California on October 14, 2023.
Southern California's fire ecology is unlike that of anywhere else in the United States. Fire control strategies developed for mountain forests don't have the same results here. So can science help uncover new answers to help Southern California communities manage and live with wildfires?
Southern California's fire ecology is unlike that of anywhere else in the United States. Fire control strategies developed for mountain forests don't have the same results here. So can science help uncover new answers to help Southern California communities manage and live with wildfires?
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
The Bumblebee Gecko (Nactus kunan), from Papua New Guinea was discovered in 2010, and described as a new species in 2012. The yellow and black gecko is about 5 inches long.
Biologist Robert Fisher tells a troubling tale of how wildfire in Southern California has disrupted the lives of frogs, shrews, fish, and salamanders (despite the latter's mythical fondness of flame).
Biologist Robert Fisher tells a troubling tale of how wildfire in Southern California has disrupted the lives of frogs, shrews, fish, and salamanders (despite the latter's mythical fondness of flame).
Robert Fisher, USGS Research Biologist talks about the overall impact of fires on the biology of the area.
Robert Fisher, USGS Research Biologist talks about the overall impact of fires on the biology of the area.
Adam Backlin, USGS Ecologist, talks about the potential dangers to the aquatic life in the streams around the Santa Ana Mountains as a result of the 2007 California wildfires.
Adam Backlin, USGS Ecologist, talks about the potential dangers to the aquatic life in the streams around the Santa Ana Mountains as a result of the 2007 California wildfires.
USGS Biologist, Robert Fisher, talks about the invasive species growing within the areas devastated by the 2007 California wildfires.
USGS Biologist, Robert Fisher, talks about the invasive species growing within the areas devastated by the 2007 California wildfires.
