FRESC Snake River Field Station
FRESC Cascadia Field Station
FRESC Olympic Field Station
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Scientists from the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center capitalize on their diverse expertise to answer scientific questions shaped by the environments of the western United States. We collaborate with each other and with partners to provide rigorous, objective, and timely information and guidance to support management, conservation, and restoration of the Nation's natural resources.
FRESC Research Teams
FRESC Research Teams
FRESC scientists, individually or collaboratively with partners, investigate high-priority questions about biological systems.
News
New research estimates the effectiveness of sagebrush restoration treatments across the sagebrush biome
New research estimates the effectiveness of sagebrush restoration treatments across the sagebrush biome
Climate futures for lizards and snakes
Climate futures for lizards and snakes
Special Issue of Rangeland Ecology and Management features USGS science in support of the Sagebrush Conservation Design
Special Issue of Rangeland Ecology and Management features USGS science in support of the Sagebrush Conservation Design
Publications
Patchy response of cheatgrass and nontarget vegetation to indaziflam and imazapic applied after wildfire in sagebrush steppe
Control of nonnative grasses is needed where they are altering fire regimes and degrading rangelands, such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invasion of perennial sagebrush-steppe communities. Aerial broadcast of the pre-emergent and postemergent herbicide imazapic has been used for decades over vast areas to control cheatgrass after fire. Recent small-scale studies indicate that the pre-emergent he
Annual grass invasions and wildfire deplete ecosystem carbon storage by >50% to resistant base levels
Ecological disturbance can affect carbon storage and stability and is a key consideration for managing lands to preserve or increase ecosystem carbon to ameliorate the global greenhouse gas problem. Dryland soils are massive carbon reservoirs that are increasingly impacted by species invasions and altered fire regimes, including the exotic-grass-fire cycle in the extensive sagebrush steppe of Nort
Riparian methylmercury production increases riverine mercury flux and food web concentrations
The production and uptake of toxic methylmercury (MeHg) impacts aquatic ecosystems globally. Rivers can be dynamic and difficult systems to study for MeHg production and bioaccumulation, hence identifying sources of MeHg to these systems is both challenging and important for resource management within rivers and main-stem reservoirs. Riparian zones, which are known biogeochemical hotspots for MeHg
Science
Sagebrush Trends Tool
This web-based mapping tool enables users to identify which threats are driving the current status of Sagebrush Ecological Integrity (SEI), assess if SEI and associated threats, such as invasive annual grass, conifer encroachment, human modification - have changed over time, and visualize spatial trends in SEI and threats. The Sagebrush Ecosystem Trends Module supports managers in identifying...
Gunnison Sage-Grouse Recovery Module
The CED Gunnison Sage-grouse Recovery Module is our latest release. It is designed to capture any effort that involves the restoration of Gunnison sage-grouse habitat or activities that contribute to the recovery of Gunnison sage-grouse.
Cutthroat Trout Recovery Module
The CED Cutthroat Module is designed to capture any action related to the conservation, enhancement, restoration, or recovery of native, inland cutthroat trout or the habitats and waters that they depend on. The CED Cutthroat Module is the first of its kind, designed to collect information on population demographics, genetics, habitat condition, and conservation actions.