USGS EcoNews - Vol. 2 | Issue 3
May is Wetlands Month and full of events and celebrations providing us an opportunity to highlight our ecosystems science supporting amphibian and migratory bird conservation, prevention and control of invasive species, global ungulate migrations, and more!
Scientists and Volunteers Resume Annual Survey of North America’s Wild Birds
Thousands of participants are heading out to conduct the annual North American Breeding Bird Survey, a program initiated in 1966 to track the health of wild bird populations across the continent. This is an international effort, jointly coordinated by the U.S. Geological Survey, Canadian Wildlife Service and Mexican National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity.
USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database Releases 500+ Alert Risk Maps
The USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database, housed at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, has released 506 Alert Risk Maps (ARMs).
2020 Climate Adaptation Science Centers Annual Summary
A geonarrative highlighting the Climate Adaptation Science Center's science, partnerships, and capacity building activities from Fiscal Year 2020.
National Invasive Species Awareness Week May 15-22
Special Webinar Event: USGS Biological Threat Surveillance Tools
New Publication Highlights USGS Science on Migratory Birds
At the USGS, more than one hundred staff members are dedicated to the scientific study of migratory birds. Bird biologists work with natural resource managers to develop conservation measures and improved management strategies to help sustain migratory bird populations and their habitats.
International team partners with UN to launch global initiative to map ungulate migrations
An international team of 92 scientists and conservationists has joined forces to create the first-ever global atlas of ungulate (hooved mammal) migrations, working in partnership with the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), a UN treaty.
New Research Highlights Decline of Greater Sage-Grouse in the American West, Provides Roadmap to Aid Conservation
RESTON, Va. – Greater sage-grouse populations have declined significantly over the last six decades, with an 80% rangewide decline since 1965 and a nearly 40% decline since 2002, according to a new report by the U.S. Geological Survey. Although the overall trend clearly shows continued population declines over the entire range of the species, rates of change vary regionally.
Flood Redistributes Mercury in Grand Canyon Aquatic Food Webs
Scientists coupled the concepts of energy flow through food webs with measurements of mercury in organic matter and animals to estimate mercury fluxes and fate during an experimental flood in the Colorado River. The flood redistributed mercury in simple, upstream food webs but not in more complex, downstream food webs.
A is for Amphibian
On April 26th, 2021, Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland declared May 2 - 8, 2021 as Amphibian Week in recognition of the vital importance of amphibians (frogs, toads and salamanders) to the nation’s public and private lands.
Importance of Cattails in Wetlands
Cattail (Typha) is an iconic emergent wetland plant found worldwide. By producing an abundance of wind-dispersed seeds, cattail can colonize wetlands across great distances, and its rapid growth rate, large size, and aggressive expansion results in dense stands in a variety of aquatic ecosystems such as marshes, ponds, lakes, and riparian areas. These dense stands impact local plant and animal…
Webinar Series - Friday's Findings
Friday's Findings is a public webinar series hosted by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area. These half hour webinars are meant to provide listeners an overview of the science topic and chance to ask questions. We hope to offer our audience an opportunity to discover the Ecosystems science capacity within the USGS.
USGS Ecosystems Podcast Series - Outstanding in the Field
The USGS Ecosystems Mission Area brings you Outstanding in the Field, an original podcast series that tells stories about our science, our adventures, and our efforts to better understand fish and wildlife and the ecosystems that support them.
I Am A...
Welcome to the "I Am A(n)..." series - a collection of USGS whiteboard animations that highlight USGS careers. The concept is to show whimsically "what society (or my mom) thinks I do" compared with "what I really do." Check out our full series below! Or, click below to order or download our FREE coloring book!