A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
Daniel E Winkler, Ph.D. (Former Employee)
Science and Products
The iconic giant saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert
The saguaro cactus ( Carnegiea gigantea ) is a keystone species that grows only in the Sonoran Desert of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. The USGS’ Southwest Biological Science Center is working to better understand the species’ biological features, its role as a keystone species that supports greater than 100 other plant and animal species, and its responses to climate change...
Informing seed transfer guidelines and native plant materials development: Research supporting restoration across the Colorado Plateau and beyond
As restoration needs for natural landscapes grow due to higher frequency and/or intensity disturbances, pressure from invasive species, and impacts resulting from changing climates, considerable time and resources are being invested to guide the development and deployment of native plant materials (NPMs). Across lower elevations of the Colorado Plateau, a region composed primarily of public land...
Genetics for Western Restoration and Conservation (GWRC)
Research using genetic principles, methods, and data provides critical information for restoration and conservation science. Genetic research may rely only upon genomic sequencing techniques, which generate abundant, genome-wide DNA sequences that can provide a glimpse into a species’ evolutionary history and adaptations. Genetic research may also look at an organism’s physical traits to...
Genomic Research Supporting Western Conservation
In the western United States (U.S.), there are many regionally restricted, rare species resulting from complex demographic and ecological processes through time. In addition to the inherent risks associated with being rare (i.e., having few individuals spread over a limited area that could be disproportionately affected by chance events), anthropogenic disturbances are increasing in magnitude...
Saguaro flowering, Tucson, AZ
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
Saguaro flowers with a bee, near Tucson, AZ
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Joshua tree research - a composite of 4 photos taken during fieldwork
A composite of four photos taken during research on Joshua trees, Arizona Joshua Tree Forest, Mojave Desert. Photos by Morgan Andrews and Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Daniel Winkler is pictured at top right, and Morgan Andrews is pictured at bottom left.
A composite of four photos taken during research on Joshua trees, Arizona Joshua Tree Forest, Mojave Desert. Photos by Morgan Andrews and Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Daniel Winkler is pictured at top right, and Morgan Andrews is pictured at bottom left.
Flowering and fruiting saguaro, Saguaro National Park
Saguaro cacti flower and produce fruit in the spring in Tucson, Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo by Daniel Winkler, SBSC, USGS.
Saguaro cacti flower and produce fruit in the spring in Tucson, Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo by Daniel Winkler, SBSC, USGS.
USGS researcher collects data on saguaro blooming patterns for phenology study
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
A nurse tree cohort of Saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert, AZ
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Saguaro cacti on a rocky slope in the Sonoran Desert, AZ
Steep, rocky slopes in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, AZ provide habitat for saguaros and may buffer populations from the negative effects of drought. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Steep, rocky slopes in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, AZ provide habitat for saguaros and may buffer populations from the negative effects of drought. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Science and Products
The iconic giant saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert
The saguaro cactus ( Carnegiea gigantea ) is a keystone species that grows only in the Sonoran Desert of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. The USGS’ Southwest Biological Science Center is working to better understand the species’ biological features, its role as a keystone species that supports greater than 100 other plant and animal species, and its responses to climate change...
Informing seed transfer guidelines and native plant materials development: Research supporting restoration across the Colorado Plateau and beyond
As restoration needs for natural landscapes grow due to higher frequency and/or intensity disturbances, pressure from invasive species, and impacts resulting from changing climates, considerable time and resources are being invested to guide the development and deployment of native plant materials (NPMs). Across lower elevations of the Colorado Plateau, a region composed primarily of public land...
Genetics for Western Restoration and Conservation (GWRC)
Research using genetic principles, methods, and data provides critical information for restoration and conservation science. Genetic research may rely only upon genomic sequencing techniques, which generate abundant, genome-wide DNA sequences that can provide a glimpse into a species’ evolutionary history and adaptations. Genetic research may also look at an organism’s physical traits to...
Genomic Research Supporting Western Conservation
In the western United States (U.S.), there are many regionally restricted, rare species resulting from complex demographic and ecological processes through time. In addition to the inherent risks associated with being rare (i.e., having few individuals spread over a limited area that could be disproportionately affected by chance events), anthropogenic disturbances are increasing in magnitude...
Saguaro flowering, Tucson, AZ
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
Saguaro flowers with a bee, near Tucson, AZ
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Joshua tree research - a composite of 4 photos taken during fieldwork
A composite of four photos taken during research on Joshua trees, Arizona Joshua Tree Forest, Mojave Desert. Photos by Morgan Andrews and Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Daniel Winkler is pictured at top right, and Morgan Andrews is pictured at bottom left.
A composite of four photos taken during research on Joshua trees, Arizona Joshua Tree Forest, Mojave Desert. Photos by Morgan Andrews and Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Daniel Winkler is pictured at top right, and Morgan Andrews is pictured at bottom left.
Flowering and fruiting saguaro, Saguaro National Park
Saguaro cacti flower and produce fruit in the spring in Tucson, Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo by Daniel Winkler, SBSC, USGS.
Saguaro cacti flower and produce fruit in the spring in Tucson, Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo by Daniel Winkler, SBSC, USGS.
USGS researcher collects data on saguaro blooming patterns for phenology study
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
A nurse tree cohort of Saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert, AZ
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Saguaro cacti on a rocky slope in the Sonoran Desert, AZ
Steep, rocky slopes in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, AZ provide habitat for saguaros and may buffer populations from the negative effects of drought. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Steep, rocky slopes in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, AZ provide habitat for saguaros and may buffer populations from the negative effects of drought. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.