USGS EcoNews - Vol. 3 | Issue 1
Happy New Year! We kick off 2022 with the new USGS fire science newsletter "Firelight" and introduce the new Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center. You can also review our portfolio of USGS science on invasive species. And to hear straight from our scientists, check out the 2022 Friday's Findings webinar series lineup.
How Can Managers Respond to Changing Ecosystems?
A new Special Section in the journal BioScience provides an in-depth exposition of the Resist-Accept-Direct framework, a new approach to guide natural resource decision making. Articles in the Special Section explore the practical application of the framework, compatibility of existing tools, social barriers and opportunities, and future science needs.
The USGS One Health Approach to Infectious Diseases of Wildlife and Environmental Change
One Health is a collaborative approach – working at the local, regional, national, and global levels – with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals (terrestrial and aquatic), plants, and their shared environment.
USGS Firelight - Vol. 1 | Issue 1
This is the first issue of the USGS fire science newsletter, "Firelight". It was an important action called for in the USGS Wildland Fire Science Strategic Plan, released earlier this year and featured below. We include a variety of fire science topics from the last few months in this issue to give a sense of the breadth of our science support to fire, land, emergency and community managers.
The New Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center
Hosted at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment
Fossilized Footprints Reveal Human Habitation of North America Thousands of Years Earlier than Previously Thought
ALAMOGORDO – New scientific research conducted at White Sands National Park in New Mexico has uncovered the oldest known human footprints in North America. The discovery reveals evidence of human occupation in the Tularosa Basin beginning at least 23,000 years ago, thousands of years earlier than previously thought.
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units 2020 Year in Review
Our Program is a unique cooperative partnership among State fish and wildlife agencies, universities, the Wildlife Management Institute, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This story highlights the activities and accomplishments of the program and its cooperators for calendar year 2020.
Large Fraction of Unidentified Organofluorine in a Coastal Watershed has Implications for River to Marine Ecosystems
A group of scientists investigated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in watersheds on Cape Cod and identified a unique signature for aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) from legacy firefighting and fire training. A combination of statistical modeling and laboratory measurements indicates that unidentified organofluorine constitutes a large fraction of PFAS in the river systems that discharge to Waquoit Bay.
The Launch of the Banders Without Borders Initiative
On 9 Sept 2021, the United States Bird Banding Lab (BBL) recently introduced a new initiative to strengthen connections with our sister banding schemes all over the world. This effort is part of our “Banders Without Borders Initiative;” an initiative that will allow banding schemes to share information about their banding program, history, staff, and current projects.
Destructive Snake Disease Discovered in Museum Specimens
A recent study of museum snake specimens shows that snake fungal disease, a skin infection threatening many important snake populations, existed in the U.S. over 50 years earlier than previously thought.
Wildfire Smoke Disrupts Bird Migration in the West
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Early fall wildfires in the western states and the smoke they generate pose a risk to birds migrating in the Pacific Flyway, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey. GPS data from the 2020 wildfire season indicate that at least some migratory birds may take longer and use more energy to avoid wildfire smoke.
U.S. Geological Survey invasive species research—Improving detection, awareness, decision support, and control
More than 6,500 nonindigenous species are now established in the United States, posing risks to human and wildlife health, native plants and animals, and our valued ecosystems. The annual environmental, economic, and health-related costs of invasive species are substantial. Invasive species can drive native species onto the endangered species list, resulting in associated regulatory costs; exacerb
USGS Virtual Science Career Event
Have you ever wondered what it takes to pursue a career with the U.S. Geological Survey? Learn about the science career opportunities offered at the USGS in Florida and the Caribbean.
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.