Plant-Soil-Environment Laboratory (FRESC)
We produce basic and applied science needed to manage landscapes in ways that make them resistant and resilient to stressors such as wildfire, exotic plant invasions, drought, and temperature extremes. These stressors impact ecosystem productivity and functioning and pose costly risks to human health and safety in the western United States. We team with other state and federal agencies to find efficient and effective ways of mitigating their impacts.
Our program integrates biophysical ecology, ecophysiology, ecohydrology, and biogeomorphology at scales ranging from plants to populations, communities, ecosystems and landscapes. Current projects evaluate emerging approaches for soil stabilization, control of exotic annual grasses, and restoration of desirable native perennials following wildfire in sagebrush steppe. Understanding plant adaptation to temperature and water limitation, and applying this knowledge to management practices such as post-fire restoration seeding or landscape vulnerability assessments, is a major focus.
Principal Investigator
Matt Germino - Supervisory Research Ecologist
Federal Staff
Cara Applestein - Ecologist
Krystal Busby - Ecologist
Bill Davidson - Ecologist
Scott Fordham - Biologist
Chad Kluender - Ecologist
Darius Liles - Biologist
Andrew Lague - Ecologist
Brynne Lazarus - Botanist
Jake Price - Ecologist
Contractors/Volunteers/Associates
Austin Davis
Toby Maxwell
Jayna Thompson
Chloe Watt
Science Themes of the FRESC Plant-Soil-Environment Laboratory are highlighted below.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Synthesis of weed-suppressive bacteria studies in rangelands of the Western United States: Special section of articles in Rangeland Ecology and Management provides no evidence of effectiveness
Small-scale water deficits after wildfires create long-lasting ecological impacts
Intraspecific variation in surface water uptake in a perennial desert shrub
Weed-suppressive bacteria have no effect on exotic or native plants in sagebrush-steppe
Weed-suppressive bacteria fail to control bromus tectorum under field conditions
Freezing resistance, safety margins, and survival vary among big sagebrush populations across the western United States
Transient population dynamics impede restoration and may promote ecosystem transformation after disturbance
Soil characteristics are associated with gradients of big sagebrush canopy structure after disturbance
Operationalizing resilience and resistance concepts to address invasive grass-fire cycles
Bunchgrass root abundances and their relationship to resistance and resilience of a burned shrub-steppe landscape
The ecological uncertainty of wildfire fuel breaks: Examples from the sagebrush steppe
An experimental test of weed-suppressive bacteria effectiveness in rangelands in southwestern Idaho, 2016–18
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
The news stories below are short summaries of FIREss Team publications.
New Invasive Annual Grass Book Addresses Critical Questions for the Western U.S.
We produce basic and applied science needed to manage landscapes in ways that make them resistant and resilient to stressors such as wildfire, exotic plant invasions, drought, and temperature extremes. These stressors impact ecosystem productivity and functioning and pose costly risks to human health and safety in the western United States. We team with other state and federal agencies to find efficient and effective ways of mitigating their impacts.
Our program integrates biophysical ecology, ecophysiology, ecohydrology, and biogeomorphology at scales ranging from plants to populations, communities, ecosystems and landscapes. Current projects evaluate emerging approaches for soil stabilization, control of exotic annual grasses, and restoration of desirable native perennials following wildfire in sagebrush steppe. Understanding plant adaptation to temperature and water limitation, and applying this knowledge to management practices such as post-fire restoration seeding or landscape vulnerability assessments, is a major focus.
Principal Investigator
Matt Germino - Supervisory Research Ecologist
Federal Staff
Cara Applestein - Ecologist
Krystal Busby - Ecologist
Bill Davidson - Ecologist
Scott Fordham - Biologist
Chad Kluender - Ecologist
Darius Liles - Biologist
Andrew Lague - Ecologist
Brynne Lazarus - Botanist
Jake Price - Ecologist
Contractors/Volunteers/Associates
Austin Davis
Toby Maxwell
Jayna Thompson
Chloe Watt
Science Themes of the FRESC Plant-Soil-Environment Laboratory are highlighted below.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Synthesis of weed-suppressive bacteria studies in rangelands of the Western United States: Special section of articles in Rangeland Ecology and Management provides no evidence of effectiveness
Small-scale water deficits after wildfires create long-lasting ecological impacts
Intraspecific variation in surface water uptake in a perennial desert shrub
Weed-suppressive bacteria have no effect on exotic or native plants in sagebrush-steppe
Weed-suppressive bacteria fail to control bromus tectorum under field conditions
Freezing resistance, safety margins, and survival vary among big sagebrush populations across the western United States
Transient population dynamics impede restoration and may promote ecosystem transformation after disturbance
Soil characteristics are associated with gradients of big sagebrush canopy structure after disturbance
Operationalizing resilience and resistance concepts to address invasive grass-fire cycles
Bunchgrass root abundances and their relationship to resistance and resilience of a burned shrub-steppe landscape
The ecological uncertainty of wildfire fuel breaks: Examples from the sagebrush steppe
An experimental test of weed-suppressive bacteria effectiveness in rangelands in southwestern Idaho, 2016–18
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
The news stories below are short summaries of FIREss Team publications.