Science Tools for Managers
Science Tools for Managers
Through our science projects, the CASCs strive to conduct science that is directly useful to resource managers and informs adaptation decision making. CASC-funded researchers develop data sets, web applications, assessments, surveys, and other tools that are publicly available for future management or research projects. Browse our projects on this topic below.
Filter Total Items: 602
Informing Management Options for grizzly bears in a Changing Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Project Overview The iconic grizzly bear of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has exhibited a remarkable recovery in response to concerted conservation actions implemented since its listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. However, information regarding the potential effects and timing of climate change in conjunction with increasing human recreation and development will be
Machine Learning for High-Resolution Downscaling in the Hawaiian Islands
Project Overview Climate change is expected to change rainfall patterns on pacific islands like Hawaiʻi, but current global models lack the resolution to accurately predict local rainfall. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will use machine learning models and historical data to improve rainfall predictions and create detailed rainfall maps for Hawaiʻi that can be used to
Predicting Invasive Vine Spread in the Southeast using Remote Sensing and Species Distribution Models
Climate change is expected to worsen the spread of invasive vines in the Southeast, where they disrupt ecosystems and damage human-built systems like agriculture and infrastructure. Researchers supported by this Southeast CASC project will combine species distribution models and remote sensing to improve predictions of vine spread by including often-overlooked biotic factors like host plants and c
Reconstructing Vegetation and Climate Histories on Palmyra Atoll to Assist with Climate-Smart Adaptation
Project Overview Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a critical nesting site for seabirds in the central Pacific Ocean, with ecosystems that are regularly impacted by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project aim to understand how past ENSO-driven climate variability and human activities have affected vegetation and wildlife. T
Refining Flood Risk Predictions in Hawaiʻi with Generative Machine Learning
Project Overview As climate change intensifies, accurately forecasting regional flood, drought, and heat risks is critical for planning, but current global climate models lack the resolution needed for useful local predictions. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create high-resolution precipitation maps and flood risk est
Relieving the Sting: Spatial Prioritization for Pollinator Conservation Under a Changing Climate
Project Overview The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, and other native bees and pollinators, are declining due to climate change, habitat loss, and other stressors like pathogens and pesticide-use. Researchers supported by this Midwest CASC project will study how certain stressors interact to affect the geographic distribution of Rusty Patched Bumble Bees, using mapping techniques and future climate data
The Role of Phenotypic Plasticity in the Adaptive Capacity of Midwestern Fish and Wildlife
Virtually all species are experiencing the effects of modern climate change. Climate-induced extinction rates are accelerating, and up to one-sixth of species are predicted to go extinct by the end of this century. Given the unprecedented rate of modern climate change, species will be increasingly unable to shift in lockstep with emerging climate spaces, and as a result, phenotypic variation (e.g.
Transforming Community Climate Adaption Through Indigenous Place-based Connection
Project Overview Sea-level rise, stronger storms, and coral reef bleaching events occurring with climate change threaten infrastructure, livelihoods, and cultural practices in Hawai'i. Researchers supported by this Pacific Islands CASC project will integrate Indigenous Knowledge and scientific research to co-produce climate adaptation strategies and conservation guidance for the Kealakekua commun
Urban Tree Health in Socially Vulnerable Neighborhoods in the Southeast: An Ecological and Economic Assessment
Urban forest managers often lack the essential information needed to make strategic decisions about planting and maintaining trees to mitigate climate change effects in urban areas. In this project, Southeast CASC-funded researchers will provide data on the health of urban tree species in the region and conduct an ecological and economic cost-benefit analysis to help local and regional urban fores
Developing science syntheses to facilitate climate-informed land management decisions and NEPA analyses on rangelands in the sagebrush biome
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal public land managers to assess potential environmental impacts of proposed actions. The USGS, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado State University, and North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center are working together to develop science syntheses that can facilitate considerations of climate change in...
The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) Framework
The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a tool that helps resource managers make informed strategies for responding to socio-ecological changes, including climate change.
Soil-climate for Managing Sagebrush Ecosystems
Soil-climate describes the temperature and moisture conditions important for plant growth and function. Soil condition patterns determine which vegetation is most abundant, thus controlling which habitats, invasive species, fuels, and economic activities are present in a region. Here, we use a model to simulate the vertical movement of water in a soil profile to provide insights into landscape...