Images

Mexican scientists examine an endangered Least Bell's Vireo for ectoparasites in Baja California, Mexico.

Scientists examine an endangered Least Bell's Vireo in Baja California, Mexico.

Riparian habitat with palms in Baja California, Mexico.

Lush riparian habitat in Baja California, Mexico.

USGS ecologist Suellen Lynn calls endangered Least Bell's Vireos to a fine mesh net using recorded territorial calls.

Goose wearing a GPS collar around its neck flies over water

Goose wearing a GPS collar around its neck flies over water

Yellow Lipped Sea Krait, a type of sea snake, in the in the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji.

USGS biologist Jeffrey Kohl holds a Lesser Snow Goose marked with a GSM/GPS solar-powered neck collar.

While heading out to a survey plot off of San Pablo Bay, an egret flies over the Petaluma River in the early morning.

Tess Forstner (USGS) and Kevin Buffington (USGS) set out on the Petaluma River, CA. Under the guidance of Dr. Karen Thorne, they are studying the effects of rising seas on Pacific coastal wetlands.

Kevin Buffington (USGS) and Tess Forstner (USGS) measure the elevation of the Tule Slough wetlands, CA.

A female northern harrier (Circus cyaneus) gazes into the camera at Suisun Marsh, CA.

USGS scientist holds a young skunk with an ear tag ID and a lightweight GPS collar. The USGS is studying the movement patterns of skunks and raccoons in Suisun Marsh, CA to learn how they use different landscape features, like levee roads, to navigate to waterfowl nests.

Photo of a passive acoustic monitor or "song meter." Scientists use these tools to study the distribution of seabirds without causing damage to sensitive habitat or disturbing the animals.

Photo of a high elevation community in the northern Mojave that had burned at high severity 27 years before the picture was taken. Note that the cover of shrubs and trees has not returned to preburn levels and invasive grasses (red brome and cheatgrass Bromus tectorum) are a significant component of the ground cover.

Landscape shot of a mountain and the low elevation Mojave Desert.

Picture of a mid-elevation plant community in the Mojave Desert.

This is a low elevation community in the Mormon Mountains that had burned at moderate severity 12 years before the picture was taken. Note that shrubs are returning but are not at preburn levels, and invasive grasses (red brome and Mediterranean split grass Schismus barbatus) dominate the ground cover.

An unburned low elevation community in the central Mojave where the interspaces between shrubs have been filled in with a continuous layer of Mediterranean split grass Schismus barbatus. If a fire started here it would spread much more rapidly and be far more extensive than in a low elevation community where the interspaces are rocky or bare.

Image from a remote camera placed in a golden eagle nest in the Mojave Desert.  The parent is feed the chick a snake.