Biology

Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC)

The Southwest is one of the most ecologically rich and diverse areas of the United States. Its habitats vary from Sonoran desert to alpine tundra atop the San Francisco Peaks in Northen Arizona. Along with its ecological value, the southwest is also home to explosive population growth. This growth leads to increased competition for natural resources, especially water. Created to address critical research needs in the Southwestern U.S. the SBSC was formed on October 1, 2002 in Flagstaff, Arizona. The center has a staff of approximately 60 Federal employees and more than 40 university and contract employees. SBSC research includes water use and the effects of livestock grazing, wild land fires, invasive species, environmental contaminants, declining populations of native species, and urban development on the Southwest region.

Southwest Biological Research Center - learn more about the activities and research of Biological Resources discipline in the southwestern United States, access products and publications, and get information about the various research stations.

SBSC Flagstaff Research Stations

Four Research Stations located in Arizona and Utah comprise the core of the SBSC. Two of those stations are located here in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Colorado Plateau Research Station - The CPRS consists of state and federal employees who work in cooperation with such organizations as Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon National Park, and the Arizona Game & Fish Department. Major categories of research include ecoregional studies and conservation planning; endangered species studies; vegetation distribution, ecology, and dynamics; data management and dissemination; inventory and monitoring studies; and wildlife ecology.

Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center - The Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC), the cornerstone of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (AMP), was formally established in October of 1996. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, the GCMRC measures effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on the resources along the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead.