Images

Massachusetts inner continental shelf bottom photograph showing seafloor life.

Massachusetts inner continental shelf bottom photograph showing seafloor life.

Massachusetts inner continental shelf bottom photograph showing seafloor life.

Brutus, a radio-tagged wolf being studied by USGS scientists, is a member of a pack of at least 12 adults and an unknown number of pups.

A mother wolf carries an errant pup back to their den.

USGS biologist Dave Mech has spent more than 20 summers studying Arctic wolves on Ellesmere Island, where they are unafraid of humans and can be observed at close range.

Muskoxen are the main prey of wolves on Ellesmere Island.

A couple of hours after being immobilized for collaring, Brutus, a wolf being studied by USGS scientists, appears to have fully recovered. He returns to his pack mates and demonstrates dominance behavior over a younger male wolf. Note that Brutus has a stiff, aggressive stance and upright tail, while the younger male cowers.

Brutus, a wolf being studied by USGS scientists, separates from his pack mates and appears to be heading back to the den. He stops at the head of the fiord and howls for 2-3 minutes. The scientists track his progress with binoculars past the river where they cannot go. They suspect that his mate has returned to the den, and that Brutus will join her there.

Scientists examine the teeth of Brutus, a wolf being studied by USGS scientists, for patterns of wear that indicate age. The front incisors are worn without their lateral cusps present. The canines show some wear and are becoming rounded and stained but still maintain most of their length. One canine tip has been broken.

Brutus, a wolf being studied by USGS scientists, is chemically immobilized, measured, ear-tagged, and fitted with a radio collar near the Eureka airstrip on Ellesmere Island in the High Arctic, Nunavut, Canada.

Late in the evening, two wolves make use of the trail that leads to the head of the fiord. Studying wolves in the High Arctic allows scientists to follow the wolves during their travels, assuming the scientists can keep up. All-terrain vehicles are needed, and the 24-hour daylight at this time of year is critical.

Collecting sediment to look for evidence of forage fish (sand lance and/or surf smelt) spawning (eggs) in Liberty Bay - Puget Sound.

Accessing a release site for salmonids implanted with radio transmitters. Behavior and movement of salmon are monitored as they migrate through the Toutle River.

Returning via jet boat from a juvenile salmon fish release after a warm rain.

The invasive red lionfish (Pterois volitans) waits to be hauled to the surface, where it will eventually be used by NOAA to conduct lab studies on lionfish reproductive biology, age, and growth.

A scientist from the North Carolina Aquarium removes an invasive red lionfish (Pterois volitans) found in coastal North Carolina's hard bottom habitat, to prevent ecological impacts due to its predation and competition with native fishes.

Many species of birds rely on wetlands such as this baldcypress swamp, one of the ecosystems currently being studied by scientists at the USGS NWRC.

Foothills of the Front Range, Denver, CO

Coal Project in Pakistan. Left-Jan Mohammand Mengal; Center-Florian Maldonado; Right-Shahid Khan

Reflection of autumn cedars (green and orange needles) in a calm pond with downed woody debris. Taken in the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest.