Global Change Projects (2004-2008)
The following are Global Change Research projects that are from the second cycle (2004-2008) of the program:
Arctic Ecosystems
Carbon Sequestration
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Coastal Ecosystems
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Forest Ecosystems
- Sensitivity of Pacific Island Tropical Mountain Cloud Forests to Climate Change - (Principal Investigator: David Foote, PIERC)
High Altitude Ecosystems
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Invasive Species
Wetlands Ecosystems
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Polar Bear and Sea Ice Environments 
According to scientists at the US Geological Survey, reduction of sea ice in the Arctic could result in a loss of 2/3 of the world's polar bear population within 50 years.
Newly-released USGS information from 9 recent studies presents relationships of polar bears to present and future sea ice environments. More on USGS Polar Bears >
Read more about Polar Bears:
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Additional Resources
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In the Spotlight
Western Mountain Initiative: Predicting Ecosystem Responses to Climate Change - Irreplaceable resources such as water, timber, biodiversity and recreational opportunities are all being affected by the earth's global changing climate. Ecological disturbances - wildfire, insect outbreaks, and the spread of invasive species - are also accelerating and changing the earth's ecosystems. US Geological Survey (USGS) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) scientists are collaborating with WMI and university partners to study and better understand global trends in mountain ecosystems in the western United States, and to be able to predict the responses, with an emphasis on sensitivities, thresholds, resistance, and resilience to climatic variability and change. Access the recent WMI Factsheet, Predicting Ecosystem Responses to Climate Change.
Go to the Western Mountain Initiative website for more information, and access the WMI Fact Sheet Overview.
Photo: Tripod Fire, Washington State. Photograph by Philip Higuera, National Parks Ecological Research.
Related USGS Resource
 The Western Mountain Initiative - (From the WMI website): "The Western Mountain initiative is a team of USGS and USDA Forest Service scientists working together to better understand and predict the responses of Western mountain ecosystems to climatic variability and change, emphasizing sensitivities, thresholds, resistance, and resilience." Go to the Western Mountain Initiative website.
Related USGS Resource
 Loch Vale Watershed Research Project - This project was established to "share results and information on real and potential threats to natural alpine and subalpine resources with the public, scientific community, and air, water, and land managers." Learn More >
Related USGS Resource
 The Fire and Mountain Ecology (FAME) Laboratory of the University of Washington College of Forest Resources, in collaboration with U.S. Geological Survey and the UW Climate Impacts Group, conducts a variety of research projects and other scientific activities on climatic change, fire, and forest ecology in mountain ecosystems of western North America, reporting on the effects of climatic variability and change on forest resources, as well as broad synthesis efforts on climatic change. Visit the FAME website >
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
Global Change Projects (2004-2008)
