The San Rafael grasslands are a diverse ecosystem in southern Arizona along the U.S./Mexico border region, a part of the Madrean Archipelago ecoregion.
Images
Below are images associated with SBSC's science and staff. Images appear according to the year they were taken. To search, type a keyword or select a year from the dropdown menu. Or, click through the pages using the arrows at the bottom of the page.
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The Sonoran desert has grasslands, too.
The San Rafael grasslands are a diverse ecosystem in southern Arizona along the U.S./Mexico border region, a part of the Madrean Archipelago ecoregion.
USFWS, BLM, and USGS examining a large, newly reclaimed oil or gas pad
USFWS, BLM, and USGS examining a large, newly reclaimed oil or gas well pad near Vernal, Utah, July 2017.
USFWS, BLM, and USGS examining a large, newly reclaimed oil or gas well pad near Vernal, Utah, July 2017.
Greenhouse gas analysis with analyzer and floating chamber on Lake Powell
Sarah Waldo conducts greenhouse gas analysis with analyzer and floating chamber on Lake Powell as part of an SBSC, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center study. Photo taken in 2017.
Sarah Waldo conducts greenhouse gas analysis with analyzer and floating chamber on Lake Powell as part of an SBSC, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center study. Photo taken in 2017.
Seeding experiment to improve restoration outcomes in the Southwest.
USGS ecologists Molly McCormick (left) and Katie Laushman (right) conducting a seeding experiment that is a part of RAMPS, a new USGS-led initiative to improve restoration outcomes in
USGS ecologists Molly McCormick (left) and Katie Laushman (right) conducting a seeding experiment that is a part of RAMPS, a new USGS-led initiative to improve restoration outcomes in
Drylands landscape in the four corners region
Landscape view of the arid southwest in the four-courners region.
Landscape view of the arid southwest in the four-courners region.
Southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida), Mojave River, CA
A female southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) basks in the sun, Mojave River, CA. Photo taken by Shellie Puffer, 2017, SBSC, USGS.
A female southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) basks in the sun, Mojave River, CA. Photo taken by Shellie Puffer, 2017, SBSC, USGS.
Setting up experimental restoration plots.
Field crew install a Restoration Field Trial Network garden in the rangelands of Northern Arizona.
Field crew install a Restoration Field Trial Network garden in the rangelands of Northern Arizona.
Monitoring riparian vegetation along the Colorado River
Monitoring riparian vegetation along the Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam
Monitoring riparian vegetation along the Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam
Bare Ground = Blowing Dust
Across the desert Southwest, ground void of plant material is prone to soil erosoin and dust storms. In this fallowed agricultural field, we see that a spring breeze can carry away fertile top soil and create air quality concerns.
Across the desert Southwest, ground void of plant material is prone to soil erosoin and dust storms. In this fallowed agricultural field, we see that a spring breeze can carry away fertile top soil and create air quality concerns.
Oil pad near Vernal, Utah
Oil pad near Vernal, Utah
Oil pad near Vernal, Utah
Biocrusts, Utah, Colorado Plateau
Biocrusts on the Colorado Plateau, canyonlands, Utah. Image courtesy of Erika Geiger, USGS, 2017.
Biocrusts on the Colorado Plateau, canyonlands, Utah. Image courtesy of Erika Geiger, USGS, 2017.
Biocrusts with mosses, Utah
Biocrusts with moss species. Photo taken by SBSC in Utah, during surveys, 2017, courtesy of Erika Geiger.
Biocrusts with moss species. Photo taken by SBSC in Utah, during surveys, 2017, courtesy of Erika Geiger.
An extremely rare Mojave River western pond turtle
An extremely rare Mojave River western pond turtle was recently observed by USGS scientists and staff from The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in the Mojave Desert. Turtles of this population have rarely been seen since the late 1990s.
An extremely rare Mojave River western pond turtle was recently observed by USGS scientists and staff from The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in the Mojave Desert. Turtles of this population have rarely been seen since the late 1990s.
USGS researcher collects data on saguaro blooming patterns for phenology study
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
Sampling invertebrates on the Colorado River downstream of Davis Dam with a Hess sampler
Sampling invertebrates on “Casino Row” at Laughlin, Nevada, just downstream of Davis Dam on the Colorado River, September 7, 2015.
Sampling invertebrates on “Casino Row” at Laughlin, Nevada, just downstream of Davis Dam on the Colorado River, September 7, 2015.
Biocrusts in healthy grassland data collection
Person taking data in a healthy dryland grassland with dark biocrusts between bunchgrasses and cacti in Utah.
Person taking data in a healthy dryland grassland with dark biocrusts between bunchgrasses and cacti in Utah.
Sticky trap for aquatic insects on the bank of Little Colorado River
Sticky trap for emergent aquatic insects (close-up) showing captured insects. Photo by Eric Kortenhoeven, USGS.
Sticky trap for emergent aquatic insects (close-up) showing captured insects. Photo by Eric Kortenhoeven, USGS.
Colorado River sticky trap for emergent aquatic insects
Sticky trap for insects Located on the banks of the Colorado River, at the confluence of the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River in AZ.
Sticky trap for insects Located on the banks of the Colorado River, at the confluence of the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River in AZ.
A nurse tree cohort of Saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert, AZ
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
View from Canyonlands Research Center
View from Canyonlands Research Center.
View from Canyonlands Research Center.
Footprint damage to biocrusts
Many human activities can be unintentionally harmful to biological crusts. The biocrusts are no match for the compressional stress caused by footprints of livestock or people or tracks from vehicles.
Many human activities can be unintentionally harmful to biological crusts. The biocrusts are no match for the compressional stress caused by footprints of livestock or people or tracks from vehicles.