The scientists from the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center capitalize on their diverse
expertise to answer critically important scientific questions shaped by the equally diverse environments
of the western United States. FRESC scientists collaborate with each other and with partners to provide
rigorous, objective, and timely information and guidance for the management and
conservation of biological systems in the West and worldwide.
In the Spotlight
Red Alder Inputs Important to Oregon Coast Range Streams
Riparian vegetation sheds dead leaves, branches, and other plant parts that fuel both aquatic and land-based food webs. USGS scientist Steven Perakis, with colleagues...
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Secretive Aquatic Organisms are Revealed with Environmental DNA Methods
DNA, the hereditary material in all organisms, contains unique sequences that can identify species and even individuals. Aquatic organisms naturally shed DNA into the...
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Monitoring Alpine Headwaters Based on the ‘Geohydrologic’ Landscape
High-elevation mountain headwaters are some of the most sensitive environments to climate change. To effectively manage the unique physical and biological attributes of...
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Slow, but Steady Progress toward Appreciation of Western Pond Turtles
One of only two native, freshwater turtle species in the western United States, western pond turtles are declining in portions of their original range. Declines are...
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Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Genetics of Endangered Brazilian Parakeet
Habitat loss and fragmentation may result in increased isolation of populations and reduced population connectivity. In the dry, deciduous forests of Brazil, habitat...
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Collaboration to Facilitate Control of Invasive Grasses in Semiarid Rangelands
Non-native
Bromus grasses have invaded much of the semiarid rangelands of western North America, resulting in the conversion of...
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Featured Scientist
Collin Eagles-Smith provides expertise in contaminant accumulation and transfer in
food webs, contaminant cycling, mercury toxicity, and lake and wetland ecology. Collin broadly applies
his research to a variety of animal species, especially waterbirds and fish. In 2011, he led the
development of the new FRESC Contaminant Ecology Laboratory, with capabilities that include mercury
determination and speciation in biological tissues, ecosystem energetics and calorimetry, water
quality analysis, and stress hormone activity quantification.
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Featured Research
Contaminant Bioaccumulation through Food Webs is one of the key threats to the viability of the diverse aquatic
habitats and the species they support in the western United States. Although the proximity of water bodies to
contaminant sources is important, the intrinsic ecological properties of each habitat type can affect contaminant
cycling and effects. The Contaminant Ecology Program is working to evaluate contaminant exposure, assess accumulation
through food webs, and quantify the biological effects in wildlife.
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