Male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) resting on a sandy beach along the coast of California.
Images
Male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) resting on a sandy beach along the coast of California.
Photo of a low elevation community that burned four years prior in the Calico fire, Death Valley National Park. Notice the large amount of plant cover, a large proportion of which is dominated by invasive species like red brome (Bromus rubens) and red-stemmed filaree (Erodium cicutarium).
Photo of a low elevation community that burned four years prior in the Calico fire, Death Valley National Park. Notice the large amount of plant cover, a large proportion of which is dominated by invasive species like red brome (Bromus rubens) and red-stemmed filaree (Erodium cicutarium).
This is a low elevation community that is unburned. It is immediately adjacent to the Calico fire perimeter (Death Valley National Park). The large amount of herbaceous plant cover (mainly red brome Bromus rubens and red-stemmed filaree Erodium cicutarium) in the understory make this extremely susceptible to burning.
This is a low elevation community that is unburned. It is immediately adjacent to the Calico fire perimeter (Death Valley National Park). The large amount of herbaceous plant cover (mainly red brome Bromus rubens and red-stemmed filaree Erodium cicutarium) in the understory make this extremely susceptible to burning.
The Western skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) is a relatively common and widespread lizard in Southern California. It is more secretive and prefers more grassy habitat than the Western fence lizard or the side-blotched lizard, yet USGS and National Park Service biologists are finding signs of genetic isolation in all these species.
The Western skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) is a relatively common and widespread lizard in Southern California. It is more secretive and prefers more grassy habitat than the Western fence lizard or the side-blotched lizard, yet USGS and National Park Service biologists are finding signs of genetic isolation in all these species.
A closed lodgepole pinecone on a tree in the Sierra Nevada.
A closed lodgepole pinecone on a tree in the Sierra Nevada.
Clark's nutcracker in a whitebark pine
Clark's nutcracker in a whitebark pine
Open lodgepole pine cone in the Sierra
Open lodgepole pine cone in the Sierra
Lodgepole pines on the edge of a mountain meadow
Lodgepole pines on the edge of a mountain meadow
Juvenile mountain yellow-legged frog in San Bernardino County, California.
Juvenile mountain yellow-legged frog in San Bernardino County, California.
USGS scientist, Adam Backlins, prepares to make the first-ever release of endangered mountain yellow-legged frog tadpoles into a mountain stream.
USGS scientist, Adam Backlins, prepares to make the first-ever release of endangered mountain yellow-legged frog tadpoles into a mountain stream.
Whitebark stands at Evelyn Lake
Whitebark stands at Evelyn Lake
A Forster's tern chick next to eggs near San Francisco Bay.
A Forster's tern chick next to eggs near San Francisco Bay.
A Forster's tern chick with eggs near San Francisco Bay.
A Forster's tern chick with eggs near San Francisco Bay.
A Forster's tern chick near an egg near San Francisco Bay.
A Forster's tern chick near an egg near San Francisco Bay.
A Forster's tern nest with eggs near San Francisco Bay.
A Forster's tern nest with eggs near San Francisco Bay.
Conservation Canine alerts his handler that Pacific pocket mouse scent
Conservation Canine alerts his handler that Pacific pocket mouse scent
Scientist prepares to release Forster's Tern chicks.
Scientist prepares to release Forster's Tern chicks.
Scientists sampling Forster's Tern chicks for avain influenza during salt pond restoration work in south San Francisco Bay salt ponds.
Scientists sampling Forster's Tern chicks for avain influenza during salt pond restoration work in south San Francisco Bay salt ponds.
Scientists heading out to collect Forster's Tern chicks.
Scientists heading out to collect Forster's Tern chicks.
Scientists sampling Forster's Tern chicks for avain influenza during salt pond restoration work in south San Francisco Bay salt ponds.
Scientists sampling Forster's Tern chicks for avain influenza during salt pond restoration work in south San Francisco Bay salt ponds.
Scientists prepare to release Forster's Tern chicks following sampling for avian influenza study.
Scientists prepare to release Forster's Tern chicks following sampling for avian influenza study.