July 2007 | Publisher: Other (Ecological Society of America (ESA) Journal) | Format: URL
www.esajournals.org — Periodic wildfire maintains the integrity and species composition of many ecosystems, including the Mediterranean-climate shrublands of California. However, human activities alter natural fire regimes, which can lead to cascading ecological effects. Increased human ignitions at the wildland-urban interface (WUI) have recently gained attention, but More...
Publisher: USGS (San Diego Field Station) | Science Center: Western Ecological Research Center (WERC, Sacramento) | Format: URL
www.werc.usgs.gov — The Pacific iguanas of the Fijian and Tongan archipelagos are a biogeographic enigma in that their closest relatives are found only in the New World, separated by 8,000 km of ocean. The Pacific iguanas have been dramatically affected by human activities; two species were eaten to extinction after human arrival in the Pacific some 2,800 years ago. More...
Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NRMSC, Bozeman) | Format: URL
www.nrmsc.usgs.gov — A study overview related to the role of the National Bison Range in the long-term management of Federal bison herds. This research will provide the data necessary to assess the impacts of management actions implemented under the new management plan, and examine the plan`s underlying assumptions regarding demographic responses of the Yellowstone More...
Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Fort Collins Science Center (FORT, Ft. Collins) | Format: .PDF
www.fort.usgs.gov — Migratory birds face many changes to the landscapes they traverse and the habitats they use. Wind turbines and communications towers, which pose hazards to birds and bats in flight, are being erected or proposed across the United States and offshore. Human activities can also destroy or threaten habitats critical to birds during migratory passage, More...
Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC, Seattle) | Format: URL
wfrc.usgs.gov — There are approximately 500,000 abandoned mines in the western US. Collectively, these mines pollute rivers, streams, and western reservoirs with millions of tons of metals annually that degrade aquatic habitat and water used by humans for drinking, recreation, and irrigation. However, there is great potential in decreasing or eliminating the flow More...
Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Western Ecological Research Center (WERC, Sacramento) | Format: URL
www.werc.usgs.gov — Once an abundant frog throughout much of central and southern California, the California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) is now rare in the Sierra Nevada foothills and the southern portion of its range. In parts of the central Coast Range, however, large, vigorous populations do remain. Most protection efforts for this threatened species have More...
Publisher: USGS | Format: URL
www.usgs.gov — Long-term trends in landscape conditions have significantly reduced sagebrush habitat and populations of greater sage-grouse, according to a new study examining the bird's chances of survival. The species, which is being considered for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act, has experienced significant population declines in recent More...
Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC, Seattle) | Format: URL
wfrc.usgs.gov — Scientists at the Columbia River Research Laboratory and the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center are developing geographic information system, or GIS, based tools to assist managers with making decisions regarding the natural resources in and around the John Day Reservoir. The reservoir hosts many species of fish and wildlife, including More...
Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC, LaCrosse) | Format: URL
www.umesc.usgs.gov — This resource is a species profile and issue overview of the reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). It discusses its increasingly dominating behavior in wet meadows in the Upper Midwest. Reed canary grass is highly tolerant to flooding, resistant to burning, and quickly forms virtual monocultures by shading native grasses and forbs with its More...