Finding Food
Research on the effects of drought on vegetation is helping wildlife managers understand behavior and health of herbivores
Extinction Countdown
USGS scientist Amy Vandergast research on the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard has been highlighted in Scientific American's blog
Small Alpine Insects are Big Messengers of Climate Change
Two rare alpine insects are imperiled due to climate warming induced glacier and snow loss
Rising temperatures, decreased precipitation, and changes in food sources are having extreme effects on wildlife across our country.
Impacts of Drought on Fish and Wildlife in the Southwestern U.S.
Scientists are researching animal behavior in four iconic southwest species:
Through these four projects, researchers are working to improve our knowledge of individual behavioral changes (in the case of desert bighorn sheep) and overall population changes (for pronghorn, trout, and quail) that occur in response to drought. Grasping the impacts of drought on fish and wildlife will be critical for management planning in the Southwest, as climate models project warmer, drier conditions for the region in the future.
Impacts of Drought on Migratory Waterbirds in Key Conservation Regions of the Western U.S.
Researchers are examining the potential impacts of drought on wetland-dependent migratory waterbirds in the Central Valley and interior basins. First, researchers are identifying plausible future habitat scenarios, based on potential changes to climate and possible water allocation decisions that could be made in the two regions, and are determining what these scenarios would mean for waterbirds. Researchers are also modeling how habitat conditions affect bird populations, in order to uncover how projected changes to habitat could influence the long-term survival of waterbirds. Finally, researchers will create a decision-support tool communicating the potential effects of climate change on waterbirds to conservation planners.
Evaluating the Effects of Climate and Land Use Change on Fisheries Production in Inland Lakes
Inland fisheries are critical for global food security and human well-being. However, fish production may be threatened by changes in climate and land use. Understanding this threat is crucial to effectively manage inland fisheries in the future. To address this need, this project will identify which types of lakes across the globe are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate and land use changes. Lakes will be categorized based on their depth, vulnerability to food insecurity, and vulnerability to water insecurity – variables which can all influence how detrimental climate and land use change will actually be on a lake. This information will be used to predict how inland fisheries production might change under different future scenarios of climate and land use change.
Safe Operating Space for Walleye: Managing Inland Recreational Fisheries for Climate Change
Walleye, a socially and economically important sportfish across much of North America, are experiencing population declines in many lakes throughout their range. Studies suggest that multiple factors – potentially linked to climate change – are contributing to the decline of walleye, including changes in lake temperatures, loss of habitat, increasing water clarity (perhaps due to drought), and interactions with other fish. This research seeks to identify the mechanisms that underlie declining walleye populations, particularly the low survival rate of young walleye.
Effects of Drought on Vegetation Phenology and Wildlife
USGS scientists are identifying how drought conditions influence vegetation phenology, in order to better understand the potential effects on herbivores. Researchers examined (1) if drought causes spring green-up to occur earlier in the year; (2) if drought causes a shorter spring green-up period, thus reducing the window during which high-quality vegetation is available for herbivores; and (3) how the spatial patterns of plant productivity vary during drought years.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Climate Change and Trout
Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Native Fishes in Northern Great Plains Streams
Extinction dynamics and microrefugia of the American pika as climate changes.
Predicting changes in Bear Foods
Rising temperatures, decreased precipitation, and changes in food sources are having extreme effects on wildlife across our country.
Impacts of Drought on Fish and Wildlife in the Southwestern U.S.
Scientists are researching animal behavior in four iconic southwest species:
Through these four projects, researchers are working to improve our knowledge of individual behavioral changes (in the case of desert bighorn sheep) and overall population changes (for pronghorn, trout, and quail) that occur in response to drought. Grasping the impacts of drought on fish and wildlife will be critical for management planning in the Southwest, as climate models project warmer, drier conditions for the region in the future.
Impacts of Drought on Migratory Waterbirds in Key Conservation Regions of the Western U.S.
Researchers are examining the potential impacts of drought on wetland-dependent migratory waterbirds in the Central Valley and interior basins. First, researchers are identifying plausible future habitat scenarios, based on potential changes to climate and possible water allocation decisions that could be made in the two regions, and are determining what these scenarios would mean for waterbirds. Researchers are also modeling how habitat conditions affect bird populations, in order to uncover how projected changes to habitat could influence the long-term survival of waterbirds. Finally, researchers will create a decision-support tool communicating the potential effects of climate change on waterbirds to conservation planners.
Evaluating the Effects of Climate and Land Use Change on Fisheries Production in Inland Lakes
Inland fisheries are critical for global food security and human well-being. However, fish production may be threatened by changes in climate and land use. Understanding this threat is crucial to effectively manage inland fisheries in the future. To address this need, this project will identify which types of lakes across the globe are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate and land use changes. Lakes will be categorized based on their depth, vulnerability to food insecurity, and vulnerability to water insecurity – variables which can all influence how detrimental climate and land use change will actually be on a lake. This information will be used to predict how inland fisheries production might change under different future scenarios of climate and land use change.
Safe Operating Space for Walleye: Managing Inland Recreational Fisheries for Climate Change
Walleye, a socially and economically important sportfish across much of North America, are experiencing population declines in many lakes throughout their range. Studies suggest that multiple factors – potentially linked to climate change – are contributing to the decline of walleye, including changes in lake temperatures, loss of habitat, increasing water clarity (perhaps due to drought), and interactions with other fish. This research seeks to identify the mechanisms that underlie declining walleye populations, particularly the low survival rate of young walleye.
Effects of Drought on Vegetation Phenology and Wildlife
USGS scientists are identifying how drought conditions influence vegetation phenology, in order to better understand the potential effects on herbivores. Researchers examined (1) if drought causes spring green-up to occur earlier in the year; (2) if drought causes a shorter spring green-up period, thus reducing the window during which high-quality vegetation is available for herbivores; and (3) how the spatial patterns of plant productivity vary during drought years.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.