Science Features
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An adult female polar bear and her two cubs travel across the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean north of the Alaska coast.
USGS science supports management, conservation, and restoration of imperiled, at-risk, and endangered species.
Imperiled, at-risk, and endangered species receive special research interest at USGS, which is the scientific arm of the Department of the Interior. Our research on species diversity, life history, health and diseases, community ecology, and habitat requirements of at-risk species supports the management, conservation, and restoration of our nation’s aquatic and wildlife resources.
Polar Bears and Sea Ice: Polar bears were the first species listed as threatened because of observed and projected declines in sea-ice. Over the past 25 years, the summer sea ice melt period in the Arctic has lengthened, and sea ice cover has declined dramatically. Since 1985, scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on polar bears to inform policy makers regarding conservation of the species and its habitat. Ongoing studies are designed to document population responses of polar bears to changing ice conditions and refine models used to project the future status of polar bears worldwide. These studies will provide managers with information needed to develop strategies to assure long-term polar bear survival in a changing ice environment.
Listen to Corecast Who’s Your Mama? Conservation Genetics and At-Risk Species
USGS Sea Otter Studies Clue in on Coastal Health: Sea otters are a favorite at zoos and aquariums but three of the nine wild sea otter populations in the U.S. are federally listed as threatened. In California, USGS biologists lead an annual population census to assess the local populations’ recovery, working closely with state agencies and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. USGS biologists are also teaming up with government, aquarium, and university researchers to conduct the Pacific Nearshore Project, which assesses the health of coastal waters and resources in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and California. Scientists will investigate sea otter populations in these waters for critical clues to the health of these economically and ecologically important habitats.
Caution: Slow-Moving Mammals: USGS conducts long-term, detailed studies on the life
A Manatee in Florida
history, population dynamics, and ecological requirements of the West Indian manatee. Federally listed as endangered, the manatee is a large, gentle, plant-eating, and slow-moving marine mammal. Entirely aquatic, their range is limited by temperature. Manatees cannot survive for extended periods in water colder than about 63°F. USGS biologists work cooperatively with federal and state researchers and managers on research identified as essential for the recovery of the species.
The Whooping Crane: Back from Extinction: Large and majestic, the whooping crane was once on the brink of extinction. America’s tallest bird stands five feet tall with a wingspan of about eight feet, and is federally listed as endangered. All the birds alive in North America, currently about 250 birds, are descendants from a flock of only 16 individual birds. USGS is engaged in a whooping crane captive breeding program and conducts research on whooper propagation, monitoring wild populations, survival of released birds, and veterinary care.
A Male Spectacled Eider in Alaska
Hide and Seek: Eiders at Sea:
After breeding numbers of spectacled eiders, a large sea duck, declined by 96 percent at a primary breeding area in Alaska, the species was listed as threatened. Potential risks to eiders include being subjected to increased exposure during storms in winter, changes in foods because of declining ice, and warming temperatures in the Bering Sea. Increased vessel traffic in new ice-free shipping lanes may also impact eiders. To evaluate these potential threats, USGS is using satellite telemetry to track eiders when these colorful birds are in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. Scientists have already located previously unknown wintering areas of these birds, and studies are continuing to document changes in distribution and abundance in the rapidly changing Arctic.
Jeepers! Those Endangered Honeycreepers: Climate change and disease threaten many species of Hawaiian honeycreepers, unusual birds that live in high-elevation rain forests on the islands of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, which are cool enough to limit transmission of the introduced disease, avian malaria. USGS scientists have documented recent dramatic increases in avian malaria on the Alakai plateau on Kauai that could affect recovery of two endangered honeycreepers, the ‘Akikiki (Kauai creeper) and `Akeke`e (Kauai akepa), and one endangered thrush, the puaiohi (small Kauai thrush). They are continuing to work on projects to determine how some more common native forest birds may be adapting to this disease and whether they hold important keys for long-term conservation of more threatened species.
In addition, USGS scientists have studied the critically endangered palila for 25 years; this species feeds on the seeds of the māmane, a native tree that is nutritious but toxic to many other vertebrate species. The palila population has declined steadily during the past 8 years, putting the remaining 1,300 birds at very high risk of extinction. USGS biologists have provided much-needed information on palila life history and on developing restoration techniques, including returning palila to portions of their former range. Some of those birds established a breeding colony at the new site, proving the potential value of translocation for reestablishing populations. Much of the recent decline is due to drought, but long-term browsing by introduced sheep has also reduced the ability of the palila’s subalpine woodland habitat to support them. New research will help managers evaluate how vegetation responds to periodic sheep removals. For more info on climate change and honeycreepers.
Ecology and Diagnosis of Introduced Avian Malaria in Hawaiian Forest Birds
Jeepers Creepers! Climate Change Threatens Endangered Honeycreepers
Palila Restoration: Lessons from Long-term Research
What a Breeding Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Wants: The western yellow-billed
A Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
cuckoo is a shy, neotropical migrant bird once common throughout the American West; it is currently a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. After spending the winter in South America, western cuckoos arrive in the Western United States beginning in June to breed along rivers and streams. The western cuckoo, however, has disappeared from the Pacific Northwest and Canada, leaving breeding to occur in isolated areas along rivers in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. Scientists with the USGS and Northern Arizona University studied this bird along the lower Colorado River in Arizona to understand its habitat needs. This research revealed that western cuckoos prefer habitat dominated by large continuous areas of streamside habitat dominated by native trees.
Mussels on the Edge: Native freshwater mussels are among the most fascinating, widespread, and endangered animals in fresh waters. They play important ecological roles in our lakes and rivers and their shells are used to produce cultured pearls. Mussels are threatened by changes in flow patterns within rivers caused by dams, dikes, and levees; by sediment increases in rivers and streams; and by invasive species, such as zebra mussels and Asian carps, that compete with mussels for food. Rising water temperatures and drought that may result from climate change have the potential to adversely affect the health and valuable services of mussel populations even more. Research conducted by USGS scientists and partners are showing how elevated temperatures may affect the survival, growth, reproduction, and physiology of native mussels.
Mojave Desert Tortoise found in Piute Valley in Clark County, Nevada, in 2005
USGS Delves Into Desert Tortoise Dangers:
The Mojave desert tortoise is federally listed as threatened — facing dangers such as habitat fragmentation, climate warming, as well as invasive grasses, which overrun native vegetation and increase risk of deadly wildfires. USGS biologists are using genetic studies to uncover whether these long-lived reptiles are experiencing isolation and inbreeding due to habitat loss, and conducting comprehensive habitat mapping to determine whether sufficient habitat corridors exist for tortoise populations to naturally to move across their native desert landscape — where the burrows they dig help jumpstart local ecosystems.
USGS Research Gives Endangered Frogs a Second Hop at Survival: As part of the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI; http://armi.usgs.gov/), USGS biologists are leading the monitoring and reintroduction effort of the Southern California mountain yellow-legged frog — federally listed as endangered with only 200 wild adults remaining in the mountains surrounding Los Angeles County. Working with biologists at the San Diego Zoo, USGS biologists help reintroduce zoo-bred tadpoles and eggs to wild streams, and study their survival and how wildfires and invasive species affect these frogs.
Elevated Extinction Risk for Mountain Salamander: The Shenandoah salamander is a
Shenandoah Salamander
small, terrestrial woodland salamander found only within the Shenandoah National Park. Like other high-elevation species, this salamander is severely threatened by climate change, which is expected to result in dramatic temperature and moisture changes in the Appalachians. Because many high-elevation salamander species are specifically adapted to the unusual conditions typical of these sites, they may not be able to survive the changing conditions in the future without management. Compounding their risk is that many of these high-elevation species have extraordinarily small ranges, including the endangered Shenandoah salamander. USGS ARMI (Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative; http://armi.usgs.gov/) scientists are combining detailed habitat models (these show where the species occurs) with experimental tests of the fate of the species under future climate conditions to forecast the extinction risk for this species and to provide information to the National Park Service on the best way to help lessen this extinction risk.
A Devilish Situation for the Devils Hole Pupfish: Contained deep within a limestone cavern in the Mojave Desert, Devils Hole is a constant temperature (93 degrees), 10 by 50 foot pool of water. Devils Hole pupfish live only in Devils Hole, dependent on a tiny spawning shelf less than 13 feet long and 7 feet wide. There, these tiny colorful fish – the males a sparkling blue, the females a more subdued grey-blue or silvery-blue – have made their home for thousands of years. Devils Hole pupfish populations remained about 400-500 individuals until the late 1960s when the water level in the pool dropped in response to pumping of nearby irrigation wells. Pupfish numbers declined precipitously, and though water in Devils Hole is now maintained at a minimum level, the pupfish are still greatly imperiled. With intensive management efforts, pupfish numbers are increasing from a critical low of just 38 individuals in 2006 to about 118 in 2010. USGS scientists and their partners are using video to help them assess relationships between environmental conditions and spawning in the pupfish to help managers better understand the habitat and spawning requirements and ultimately help in captive propagation.
A Face Only a Mother Could Love: The endangered humpback chub is a freshwater fish found only in the Colorado River Basin. Like other native Colorado River fish species, the humpback chub has an unusual body shape, presumably an adaptation to life in a large, active river. The USGS has developed a mark-recapture model to estimate adult population trends and the number of juvenile fish surviving to adulthood for the Grand Canyon population. The most recent USGS analysis indicates that the number of Grand Canyon adult humpback chub—fish 4 years old or older and capable of reproducing—increased by about 50 percent between 2001 and 2008. Scientists estimate that there are about 7,650 adult fish in the Grand Canyon population.
The Merrimack River draining northeast Massachusetts and New Hampshire is home to two sturgeon species: the shortnose sturgeon (federally endangered) and the Atlantic sturgeon (under consideration for federal listing).
Coastal Migration of Merrimack River Sturgeons:
The Merrimack River draining northeast Massachusetts and New Hampshire is home to two sturgeon species: the shortnose sturgeon (federally endangered) and the Atlantic sturgeon (under consideration for federal listing). Atlantic sturgeon make extensive coastal migrations, but those captured within the Gulf of Maine appear to remain within the region. Developing interests in coastal hydro-kinetic power turbines (these harness the power from moving water), particularly in Canadian waters, may prove to be a significant threat to coastal-wandering sturgeon and a more detailed understanding of their movements may assist hydro-kinetic development. Until recently, shortnose sturgeon were believed to spend much of their lives within their natal river system, particularly populations in the northeast and Gulf of Maine. A recent collaboration of the USGS with university and state partners identified a previously unobserved coastal spawning migration of pre-spawning female shortnose sturgeon.
Manatees are often used as sentinels for emerging threats to the ocean environment and human health. Read more
The USGS plans to "app-lify" data with a contest through Challenge.gov. Prizes will be awarded to the best overall app, the best student app, and the people’s choice. Read more
The world’s oldest known wild bird – now 62 – is a mother again. Read more
The recent past sheds light on preserving the future of economically and ecologically important native trout populations across the West. Read more
Washington, D.C., is a unique city full of landmarks and buildings that are recognizable worldwide. But how were these stone giants built? Read more
Hurricane Sandy is a stark reminder of just how essential it is for the Nation to become more resilient to coastal hazards.Read more
The 100 million tons of carbon sequestered in western ecosystems each year is an amount equivalent to – and counterbalances the emissions of – more than 83 million U.S. passenger cars a year. Read more
Watch USGS scientists in the Arctic track Pacific walruses to examine how these animals are faring in a world with less sea ice. Read more
Critically endangered birds whose numbers grew rapidly after successful translocations by USGS and USFWS biologists likely took a hit from the 2011 event. Read more
Trees Face Rising Drought Stress and Mortality as Climate Warms. Read more
Saltmarshes may slow the rate of climate change. Read more
USGS vigilant for West Nile virus in wildlife through surveillance, research, and mapping.
USGS and its partners are investigating the unusual deaths of New England harbor seals. Read more
USGS scientists look to see if water quality is improving. Read more
The majority of the nation is facing dry conditions; in most areas drought conditions are expected to persist or intensify. Read more
After dams tumble down, what happens next? Click here to find out! Read more
Maximizing alternative energy’s potential – how science can help grow the nation’s energy portfolio. Read more
Please comment on the USGS’ draft science strategies! Read more
USGS Details how climate change could affect water availability in 14 U.S. Basins. Read more
Western stream temperatures are not warming at the same rate as air temperature.Read more
Long polar bear swims provide tantalizing clues.Read more
The larger and more aggressive Eastern species thrives in a threatened species’ forest habitat.
While on your spring hike, beware of hitchhiking ticks—they may carry Lyme Disease.
For the first time since its discovery, White-nose syndrome has been found in the West.
The family picnic: food and fun...until unwanted guests show up! Learn what you can do to prevent West Nile virus from infecting your loved ones.
Timing is everything! Consider helping track changes in spring’s arrival
Flood Safety Awareness Week is March. 12-16. What can you do to prepare?
National Groundwater Awareness Week is Mar. 11-17, 2012. See how USGS science is connecting groundwater and surface water.
Since Japan’s March 11, 2011, Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami, scientists at the USGS have learned much to help better prepare for a large earthquake in the United States.
Five USGS employees honored with Distinguished Service Awards for their service to the nation
It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Did you know invasive species cost our country more than 100 billion dollars each year? Get to know America’s ten top invaders this week.
It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Did you know invasive species cost our country more than 100 billion dollars each year? Get to know America’s ten top invaders this week.
It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Did you know invasive species cost our country more than 100 billion dollars each year? Get to know America’s ten top invaders this week.
It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Did you know invasive species cost our country more than 100 billion dollars each year? Get to know America’s ten top invaders this week.
The proposed USGS budget reflects research priorities to respond to nationally relevant issues, including water quantity and quality, ecosystem restoration, hydraulic fracturing, natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, and support for the National Ocean Policy, and has a large R&D component.
Mid-sized mammals in Everglades National Park are getting a big squeeze from invasive Burmese pythons, according to a USGS co-authored study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Bat populations, which provide valuable insect control, are declining at an alarming rate due to white-nose syndrome. Scientists have definitively identified the cause of this deadly syndrome.
Two adolescent cranes, raised by humans and reintroduced into the wild, were shot and killed. Sadly, they are not the first. How many killed this year? How many are left?
By 1936, devastating losses of wildlife populations were threatening the Nation’s natural resource heritage. America's first wildlife research center
As the team of responders struggled to end the worst oil spill in our Nation’s history, USGS scientist Paul Hsieh provided the critical scientific information needed to make a crucial decision.
The movie Contagion dramatizes the scenario of a global pandemic that begins with the spread of a disease from animals to humans. What are real-life experts doing to prevent a pandemic that originates with wildlife?
After years of planning, the Department of the Interior has begun removing two dams on the Elwha River in Washington. But how will the removal of these dams impact the river’s sediments, waters, and fish?
As a nation, we use more than 75 billion gallons of groundwater each day. September 13 is the National Groundwater Association’s “Protect Your Groundwater Day.” What we can do to ensure we continue to have enough of it?
Secretive and rare stream-dwelling amphibians are difficult to find and study. Scientists at the US Geological Survey and University of Idaho have developed a way to detect free-floating DNA from amphibians in fast-moving stream water.
Within the rivers, streams, and lakes of North America live over 200 species of freshwater mussels that share an amazing life history. Join us in Reston, VA to explore the fascinating reproductive biology and ecological role of one of nature’s most sophisticated fishermen.
USGS scientists are working to characterize the contaminants and habitats for a number of aquatic species along the lower Columbia River.
Forests play a significant role in removing carbon from the atmosphere by absorbing one-third of carbon emissions annually. This is according to a new U.S. Forest Service study conducted in collaboration with USGS scientists.
New USGS research shows that rice could become adapted to climate change and some catastrophic events by colonizing its seeds or plants with the spores of tiny naturally occurring fungi. The DNA of the rice plant itself is not changed; instead, researchers are re-creating what normally happens in nature.
A new study supports the ecological reliance of red knots on horseshoe crabs. The well-being of red knots, a declining shorebird species, is directly tied to the abundance of nutrient-rich eggs spawned by horseshoe crabs.
USGS crews continue to measure streamflow and collect water quality and sediment samples in the Ohio and Mississippi River basins using state-of-art instruments.
Native Bees are Selective About Where They Live and Eat -- It's National Pollinator Week, and here's groundbreaking research about the world of our native bees.
As hurricane season starts, researchers are modeling potential changes to coastal environments to identify communities vulnerable to extreme erosion during storms. Data collected before and after storm landfall are used to verify past forecasts and improve future predictions.
Follow the Pacific Nearshore Project as researchers from the USGS, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and other institutions sail Alaskan waters to study sea otters and investigate coastal health.
New USGS research shows that certain lichens can break down the infectious proteins responsible for chronic wasting disease, a troubling neurological disease fatal to wild deer and elk and spreading throughout the United States and Canada.
It's time to celebrate the essential role wetlands play in giving us food and water; sheltering us from storms, floods, and coastal erosion; providing habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife; and cleaning and storing water.
In a unique application of data, this year's report provides the nation's first assessment of birds on public lands and waters.
For reliable information about amphibians and the environmental factors that are important to their management and conservation, visit the new USGS Amphibian Monitoring and Research Initiative website.
A new article explains the economic importance of insect-eating bats to U.S. agriculture and how white-nose syndrome and wind turbines threaten these valuable animals.
Using coral growth records and measurements of changing ocean chemistry from increased atmospheric CO2, USGS scientists are providing a foundation for predicting future impacts of ocean acidification and sea-level rise to coral reefs.
Non-native lionfish are rapidly spreading along the U.S. Eastern seaboard, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean and have been preying on and competing with a wide range of native species.
On Midway Island, Wisdom, a 60-year-old albatross, and her chick made it through the tsunami that resulted from the magnitude 9.0 earthquake off of Japan on March 11.
Please answer questions about USGS Ecosystems science.
Join us in learning about wildlife conservation research with Dr. Matthew Perry as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Major programs include global climate change studies, Chesapeake Bay studies, and wildlife conservation monitoring.
Glen Canyon Dam High-Flow Experiments Provide Insights for Colorado River Management.
Demand for alternative energy sources leads scientists to consider microbes as potential sources of power.
Human health, ecological health, and environmental health are closely connected. Join us to learn how USGS science contributes to our understanding of how such environmental factors affect health threats.
A new identification guide provides images and geographic distributions of diatoms, an important group of algae.
A new USGS video highlights five decades of photographic documented change in coral reef conditions in the Florida Keys.
The USGS National Wildlife Heath Center is working with state agencies in investigating the death of thousands of birds in Arkansas and Louisiana.
Combining traditional ecological knowledge with empirical studies allows the the USGS, Tribal governments, and native organizations to increase their mutual understanding of the current health of Tribal lands and waters.
Scientists have found that the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome in bats is unlike that of any known fungal skin pathogen in land mammals. It is extremely destructive to bats wing skin and may cause catastrophic imbalance in life-support processes.
Sea-ice habitats essential to polar bears would likely respond positively should more curbs be placed on global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new modeling study published today in the journal, Nature.
Remotely triggered thermal-imagery cameras will be used in a new non-invasive way to study mange in wolves.
Landscape photos taken in the same place but many years apart reveal dramatic changes due to human and natural factors. The USGS Desert Laboratory Repeat Photography Collection, the largest archive of its kind in the world, is 50 years old.
Decreasing pH and warming temperatures are changing ocean conditions and affecting coral and algal growth in South Florida. USGS scientists are conducting field measurements to learn more.
Many coastal wetlands worldwide including several on the U.S. Atlantic coast may be more sensitive than previously thought to climate change and sea-level rise in the this century.
Efforts are underway to restore the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, which has been profoundly altered by development and water management practices. Join us on December 1st when Dr. Lynn Wingard shares USGS research that is helping restoration management agencies develop realistic and attainable restoration goals for the region.
Eight specially trained whooping crane chicks hatched in May have now embarked on their first southward migration, with an ultralight airplane leading them. USGS researchers who hatched, raised, and trained the chicks at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, are eagerly following the cranes on their journey.
Beak abnormalities, which make it difficult for birds to feed and clean themselves, are occurring in large numbers of Black-capped Chickadees, Northwestern Crows, and other species in the Pacific Northwest and may signal a growing environmental health problem.
The USGS strongly supports the national celebration of Geography Awareness Week, November 14-20, and this year’s theme: Freshwater. The “where” factor of geography integrates USGS studies in many fields of science.
Two new tools that enable the public to report sick or dead wild animals could also lead to the detection and containment of wildlife disease outbreaks that may pose a health risk to people.
USGS scientists are investigating sea turtles and their habitats in Dry Tortugas National Park to provide insight that will be used as decision-support tools for managing coral ecosystems.
Looking for information on natural resources, natural hazards, geospatial data, and more? The USGS Education site provides great resources, including lessons, data, maps, and more, to support teaching, learning, K-12 education, and university-level inquiry and research.
The Chesapeake Bay has long been an R&R destination for DC residents. However, the watershed’s overpopulation contributes to its decline. Join us when USGS’s Scott Phillips and Peter Claggett discuss new science efforts applied to restoring the Nation's largest estuary on October 6th.
Nutrient sources in both agricultural and urban areas contribute to elevated nutrient concentrations in streams and groundwater across the Nation.
The timing of animal migration and reproduction, and observing when plants send out new leaves and bear fruit, is increasingly important in understanding how climate change affects biological and hydrologic systems. Photo credit Copyright C Brandon Cole.
The USGS has been researching manatees in Florida and the Caribbean for decades, but little is known about Cuban manatees. A USGS biologist recently visited Cuba with a team of international manatee experts working to conserve manatees around the Caribbean.
USGS scientists have discovered a new turtle species, the Pearl River map turtle, found only in the Pearl River in Louisiana and Mississippi. Sea-level changes between glacial and interglacial periods over 10,000 years ago isolated the map turtles, causing them to evolve into unique species.
USGS scientists help land managers determine if fire is the appropriate strategy for controlling or enhancing specific plant species.
Did you know that contaminant-ridden dust from Africa may be harming coral reefs in the Caribbean? Scientists at the USGS are examining the air in Africa and in the Caribbean to determine what kinds of nutrients, microbes, and contaminants are traveling across the ocean.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can be a significant source of pharmaceuticals in surface water. The USGS is working with water utilities to try to reduce the release of pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants to the environment.
The USGS Science Strategy is a comprehensive report to critically examine the USGS's major science goals and priorities for the coming decade. The USGS is moving forward with these strategic science directions in response to the challenges that our Nation's future faces and for the stewards of our Federal lands.
The extent and distribution of the world’s ice, primarily in the form of glaciers, provide insight about changes in the Earth’s climate and changes in sea-level. Read more
The Nation’s next Earth-observing satellite was successfully launched on February 11. Once it is mission-certified in orbit, the satellite will become Landsat 8. Read more
The recent past sheds light on preserving the future of economically and ecologically important native trout populations across the West. Read more
Washington, D.C., is a unique city full of landmarks and buildings that are recognizable worldwide. But how were these stone giants built? Read more
Watch USGS scientists in the Arctic track Pacific walruses to examine how these animals are faring in a world with less sea ice. Read more
The world's longest-running Earth-observing satellite program.
Dust storms July 21-22 blinded motorists, grounded flights and knocked out electricity. What’s causing the dust storms?
The majority of the nation is facing dry conditions; in most areas drought conditions are expected to persist or intensify. Read more
A contest to celebrate 40 years of Landsat. Read more
Please comment on the USGS’ draft science strategies! Read more
Timing is everything! Consider helping track changes in spring’s arrival
Need a historical map for your genealogy research? You are in luck. We’ve got what you need! Download and view USGS historical maps from the comfort of your own home.
Flood Safety Awareness Week is March. 12-16. What can you do to prepare?
National Groundwater Awareness Week is Mar. 11-17, 2012. See how USGS science is connecting groundwater and surface water.
Since Japan’s March 11, 2011, Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami, scientists at the USGS have learned much to help better prepare for a large earthquake in the United States.
Five USGS employees honored with Distinguished Service Awards for their service to the nation
The USGS and UNESCO have produced a book that gives us a new way to look at our shared global heritage.
Groundwater in aquifers on the East Coast and in the Central U.S. has the highest risk of contamination from radium, a naturally occurring radioactive element and known carcinogen.
The proposed USGS budget reflects research priorities to respond to nationally relevant issues, including water quantity and quality, ecosystem restoration, hydraulic fracturing, natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, and support for the National Ocean Policy, and has a large R&D component.
Caribou expert Layne Adams discusses the lives of reindeer — apart from their famous role on Christmas Eve. How they survive the cold.
Climate science is helping to predict food shortages, identify impacts on human health, and prepare for future conditions.
As demand grows, Landsat data can help us track trends in key resources. Remote-sensing satellites help scientists to observe our world, monitor changes, and detect critical trends in forestry, water, crops, and urban landscapes. Learn more.
A new study provides crucial information for difficult decisions regarding conservation, economic interests, and food and water security. Projected changes for 2010-2099
It's only the beginning of their careers, but these 3 young scientists have forged ahead with innovative research at the frontiers of science. How they've transformed their fields
Oct. 9-15, 2011, is Earth Science Week, themed "Our-Ever Changing Earth," and Oct. 12, 2011, is International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. Answers to questions posed by a changing world
By 1936, devastating losses of wildlife populations were threatening the Nation’s natural resource heritage. America's first wildlife research center
A dust storm on Tuesday, October 4, blinded motorists and caused a large string of motor vehicle crashes, multiple injuries, and at least one death. What’s causing the dust storms?
USGS scientists study walruses off the northwestern Alaska coast in August as part of their ongoing study of how the Pacific walrus are responding to reduced sea ice conditions in late summer and fall.
USGS scientists are collecting water samples and other data to determine trends in ocean acidification from the least explored ocean in the world.
In support of the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, USGS scientists use satellite remote sensing to assess agricultural conditions that foretell famine.
New USGS research shows that rice could become adapted to climate change and some catastrophic events by colonizing its seeds or plants with the spores of tiny naturally occurring fungi. The DNA of the rice plant itself is not changed; instead, researchers are re-creating what normally happens in nature.
Now that field work has wrapped up at the Ice Age "Snowmastodon" fossil site near Snowmass Village, Colo., USGS and other scientists will begin work on unraveling the climate and environmental history of the area.
USGS scientists are studying the Earth’s conditions 3 million years ago to gain insight into the impacts of future climate. Join us Aug. 3 in Reston, Va., to learn how this information is used to better understand the magnitude of changes forecast for the end of this century.
USGS crews continue to measure streamflow and collect water quality and sediment samples in the Ohio and Mississippi River basins using state-of-art instruments.
Over the past four decades, about 14% of the ice and permanent snow of Washington's Mount Rainier has melted due to combined recent warming and reduced precipitation.
In a unique application of data, this year's report provides the nation's first assessment of birds on public lands and waters.
The USGS, NASA, and other organizations and Federal agencies are studying how climate change affects wildlife and ecosystems.
Using coral growth records and measurements of changing ocean chemistry from increased atmospheric CO2, USGS scientists are providing a foundation for predicting future impacts of ocean acidification and sea-level rise to coral reefs.
Increased dust storm activity may result from enhanced aridity in the Southwest, according to a USGS study.
Provide your input on the draft USGS Global Change Science Strategy by April 8, 2011.
Sea-ice habitats essential to polar bears would likely respond positively should more curbs be placed on global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new modeling study published today in the journal, Nature.
Landscape photos taken in the same place but many years apart reveal dramatic changes due to human and natural factors. The USGS Desert Laboratory Repeat Photography Collection, the largest archive of its kind in the world, is 50 years old.
Decreasing pH and warming temperatures are changing ocean conditions and affecting coral and algal growth in South Florida. USGS scientists are conducting field measurements to learn more.
Many coastal wetlands worldwide including several on the U.S. Atlantic coast may be more sensitive than previously thought to climate change and sea-level rise in the this century.
USGS findings support recent predictions that climate change will stress ecosystems at lower elevations more than higher elevations. This information may guide future conservation efforts in helping decision makers develop regional landscape predictions about biological responses to climate changes.
The Earth as Art 3 collection, the latest set of Landsat satellite images selected for their artistic quality, reveals an intricate beauty in Earth’s natural patterns.
USGS scientists are investigating sea turtles and their habitats in Dry Tortugas National Park to provide insight that will be used as decision-support tools for managing coral ecosystems.
Looking for information on natural resources, natural hazards, geospatial data, and more? The USGS Education site provides great resources, including lessons, data, maps, and more, to support teaching, learning, K-12 education, and university-level inquiry and research.
The timing of animal migration and reproduction, and observing when plants send out new leaves and bear fruit, is increasingly important in understanding how climate change affects biological and hydrologic systems. Photo credit Copyright C Brandon Cole.
The United States Group on Earth Observations (USGEO) is working to connect Earth observations with public health, agriculture, climate, and data management and dissemination.
USGS studies the relationships among earth surface processes, ecological systems, understanding current changes in the context of prehistoric and recent earth processes, distinguishing between natural and human-influenced changes, and recognizing ecological and physical responses to changes in climate.
The USGS Science Strategy is a comprehensive report to critically examine the USGS's major science goals and priorities for the coming decade. The USGS is moving forward with these strategic science directions in response to the challenges that our Nation's future faces and for the stewards of our Federal lands.
Join us in Reston on December 5th at 7:00pm for our free public lecture on the impacts of offshore wind energy development on migratory seabirds!
USGS wishes The Wildlife Society happy 75th Birthday and looks forward to attending their annual conference. Stop by our booth!
7 p.m.—Public lecture (also live-streamed over the Internet)
Join us for the July Public Lecture on Invasive Species!
USGS-led survey finds that national wildlife refuges rate highly with visitors.
As the climate has warmed, many plants are starting to grow leaves and bloom flowers earlier. A new study published in the journal, Nature, suggests that most field experiments may underestimate the degree to which the timing of leafing and flowering changes with global warming.
Stressed agricultural lands may be releasing less of the moisture needed to protect the breadbasket of a continent.
Spring rains in the eastern Horn of Africa are projected to begin late this year and be substantially lower than normal.
After nearly 2 years of meticulous research, academic and government scientists confirmed that the 2010 oil spill had damaged local coral ecosystems
In recognition of World Forestry Day, let’s take a glimpse at USGS science to understand the fate of forests from climate change.
Join us on March 7 to learn about bat white-nose syndrome, which has killed an estimate 5 million bats, and to discuss the profound impacts this emergent wildlife disease may have in the 21st century.
The U.S. Geological Survey had a very busy 2011 — below are a few of our highlights from last year.
Scientists have discovered an outbreak of coral disease called Montipora White Syndrome in Kāneohe Bay, Oahu. The affected coral are of the species Montipora capitata, also known as rice coral.
Perhaps some of you have already experienced a sweet holiday smooch or two under the Christmas mistletoe, enjoying this fairly old kissing ritual for people. But mistletoe is important in other vital ways: it provides essential food, cover, and nesting sites for an amazing number of critters in the United States and elsewhere.
USGS scientists will join thousands of scientists, managers, and decision makers in Boston this week to present new findings on toxics at the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) conference in the Hynes Convention Center, Nov. 13-17.
On Nov. 3, USGS scientists Patrick Barnard and William Ellsworth will present a public lecture in Menlo Park, CA, providing Bay Area residents information about USGS research in the San Francisco Bay Area, including recent discoveries beneath San Francisco Bay and ongoing studies to better understand earthquake probabilities and the potential hazards associated with strong ground shaking.
Meet the R/V Muskie and the R/V Kaho, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center's two newest additions to its Great Lakes research fleet!
As climate changes, it affects the timing of when leaves emerge, the amount of foliage that grows as well as the timeframe when leaves begin to fall.
How will accelerated glacial melting over the next 50 years as a result of climate change affect the unique Gulf of Alaska and Copper River coastal ecosystems? USGS scientists are studying these processes and impacts.
The U.S. Geological Survey research looked at one of the world’s largest populations of long-tail ducks and found that hundreds of thousands of these elusive birds engage in a bizarre 30-50 mile morning commute from Nantucket Sound to the Atlantic Ocean, returning each evening.
Taking advantage of USGS expertise in satellite telemetry, geospatial mapping and analysis and waterfowl migration monitoring, researchers have tracked waterfowl across Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa and discovered new flu transmission links.
USGS is working in collaboration with numerous state and federal agencies and tribes to obtain approval for field trials with vaccine-laden, peanut-butter flavored baits and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in grasslands.
Psychedelically colored wolves depicted by thermal imaging will shed light on how mange affects the survival, reproduction and social behavior of wolves in Yellowstone National Park.
7 p.m.—Public lecture (also live-streamed over the Internet)
USGS-led survey finds that national wildlife refuges rate highly with visitors.
As the climate has warmed, many plants are starting to grow leaves and bloom flowers earlier. A new study published in the journal, Nature, suggests that most field experiments may underestimate the degree to which the timing of leafing and flowering changes with global warming.
Stressed agricultural lands may be releasing less of the moisture needed to protect the breadbasket of a continent.
Spring rains in the eastern Horn of Africa are projected to begin late this year and be substantially lower than normal.
In recognition of World Forestry Day, let’s take a glimpse at USGS science to understand the fate of forests from climate change.
A new study concludes that fossil fuel emissions are likely contributors to a substantial amount of organic carbon found on glaciers in Alaska. Fossil fuel emissions, which contain organic carbon, can speed up the rate of glacier melt when deposited on glacier surfaces. In addition, the organic molecules associated with these deposits can be transportedContinue Reading
The U.S. Geological Survey had a very busy 2011 — below are a few of our highlights from last year.
Despite news articles warning of large-scale releases of methane due to climate change, recent research indicates that most of the world’s gas hydrate deposits should remain stable for the next few thousand years.
Join us on February 1 to view the Earth from space, and discuss the profound impact Landsat has on many facets of our economy, safety, and environment.
Scientists have discovered an outbreak of coral disease called Montipora White Syndrome in Kāneohe Bay, Oahu. The affected coral are of the species Montipora capitata, also known as rice coral.
USGS scientists will join thousands of scientists, managers, and decision makers in Boston this week to present new findings on toxics at the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) conference in the Hynes Convention Center, Nov. 13-17.
On Nov. 3, USGS scientists Patrick Barnard and William Ellsworth will present a public lecture in Menlo Park, CA, providing Bay Area residents information about USGS research in the San Francisco Bay Area, including recent discoveries beneath San Francisco Bay and ongoing studies to better understand earthquake probabilities and the potential hazards associated with strong ground shaking.
Rivers and streams in the United States are releasing substantially more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than previously thought.
Climate Change Impacts to Tribal Communities The USGS is working with Native American communities and organizations to understand climate change impacts to their land and neighborhoods. Projects include interviews with indigenous Alaskans to understand their personal observations of climate change, as well as studying how climate change is impacting sand dunes and posing risksContinue Reading
As climate changes, it affects the timing of when leaves emerge, the amount of foliage that grows as well as the timeframe when leaves begin to fall.
How will accelerated glacial melting over the next 50 years as a result of climate change affect the unique Gulf of Alaska and Copper River coastal ecosystems? USGS scientists are studying these processes and impacts.
USGS scientists are assessing the potential to remove CO2 from the atmosphere for storage in other Earth systems through a process called carbon sequestration.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/species-at-risk/
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Page Last Modified: September 14, 2011
