Drought and climate change are causing extensive forest dieback in the U.S. West as well as worldwide. These photos show dead ponderosa pines in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico killed by a combination of drought stress and attacks by bark beetles on weakened trees.
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Dead Ponderosas in Jemez, N.M.
Drought and climate change are causing extensive forest dieback in the U.S. West as well as worldwide. These photos show dead ponderosa pines in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico killed by a combination of drought stress and attacks by bark beetles on weakened trees.
Hydrophone
Specialized, directional, underwater microphones, or hydrophones are lowered into the water to “hear” acoustic tags implanted in pallid sturgeon.
Specialized, directional, underwater microphones, or hydrophones are lowered into the water to “hear” acoustic tags implanted in pallid sturgeon.
Telemetry Receivers
Acoustic receivers detect and process the acoustic signal from the telemetry tags telling the tracking crew which direction to go to find the fish, and even which fish it is.
Acoustic receivers detect and process the acoustic signal from the telemetry tags telling the tracking crew which direction to go to find the fish, and even which fish it is.
Telemetry Receivers
Acoustic receivers detect and process the acoustic signal from the telemetry tags telling the tracking crew which direction to go to find the fish, and even which fish it is.
Acoustic receivers detect and process the acoustic signal from the telemetry tags telling the tracking crew which direction to go to find the fish, and even which fish it is.
Larval Acipenseriformes
Acipenseriformes (sturgeon and paddlefish) larvae are somewhat easy to spot in the field thanks to their large yolk sac (yellow arrow). However, a microscope is necessary to differentiate between the two.
Acipenseriformes (sturgeon and paddlefish) larvae are somewhat easy to spot in the field thanks to their large yolk sac (yellow arrow). However, a microscope is necessary to differentiate between the two.
Implanting Telemetry Tag in Pallid Sturgeon
Acoustic telemetry tags have to be fairly small to fit inside a five to fifteen pound pallid sturgeon. The average tag is about the size of your ring finger (60-90 mm long and 16 mm diameter). That means the battery that powers the acoustic tag is small, too. A small battery means that the signal from the tag is relatively weak, or fairly quiet.
Acoustic telemetry tags have to be fairly small to fit inside a five to fifteen pound pallid sturgeon. The average tag is about the size of your ring finger (60-90 mm long and 16 mm diameter). That means the battery that powers the acoustic tag is small, too. A small battery means that the signal from the tag is relatively weak, or fairly quiet.
Tandem tracking
Biologist Sabrina Davenport tandem tracks the Lower Missouri River during high water on June 2, 2011. Two boats (note boat out window) tracking in tandem can detect fish effectively across a wider river and can turn to search behind wing dikes and sandbars where sturgeon can hide during higher flows.
Biologist Sabrina Davenport tandem tracks the Lower Missouri River during high water on June 2, 2011. Two boats (note boat out window) tracking in tandem can detect fish effectively across a wider river and can turn to search behind wing dikes and sandbars where sturgeon can hide during higher flows.
Tandem Tracking
Biologists prepare to tandem track a flooded Missouri River in search of telemetered Pallid Sturgeon.
Biologists prepare to tandem track a flooded Missouri River in search of telemetered Pallid Sturgeon.
Using a Microscope to Identify Larval Fish
Amy George uses a microscope and imaging software to measure larval Acipenseriformes collected in the Missouri River.
Amy George uses a microscope and imaging software to measure larval Acipenseriformes collected in the Missouri River.
Kept Kelp Cool
USGS Alaska Science Center biologist George Esslinger seeks relief from the hot California sun and his smothering drysuit, as he and his crew catch a rare break during a day of capturing and tagging wild sea otters.
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USGS Alaska Science Center biologist George Esslinger seeks relief from the hot California sun and his smothering drysuit, as he and his crew catch a rare break during a day of capturing and tagging wild sea otters.
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Desert Survey
USGS research is at the intersection of geology and biology – the whole of the desert.
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USGS research is at the intersection of geology and biology – the whole of the desert.
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Installing Remote PIT Tag Readers
Scientists hike up the Little Colorado River to assist in installing remote PIT tag readers to more efficiently keep track of native, endangered fish populations.
Scientists hike up the Little Colorado River to assist in installing remote PIT tag readers to more efficiently keep track of native, endangered fish populations.
Under the Everglades
Though not as charismatic, the underwater periphyton and other vegetation are the primary support for all other life in the ecosystem.
Though not as charismatic, the underwater periphyton and other vegetation are the primary support for all other life in the ecosystem.
Measuring a Momma Gator
Annual alligator nesting surveys in south Florida provide valuable information about water deliveries and sea level rise, as salinity intrusion or unnatural inflows decrease nesting success.
Annual alligator nesting surveys in south Florida provide valuable information about water deliveries and sea level rise, as salinity intrusion or unnatural inflows decrease nesting success.
A Cormorant's Meal
After a long struggle to position the fish just right, a double-crested cormorant finishes off a relatively young spotted gar.
After a long struggle to position the fish just right, a double-crested cormorant finishes off a relatively young spotted gar.
Butterfly
Angled shot of butterfly on a flower.
Butterfly
Side shot of butterfly on a flower.
Goose on the Lake
Migrating geese stop at local ecosystem.
Migrating geese stop at local ecosystem.