Science Priorities

Research activities at the Fort Collins Science Center are conducted as part of one the following science programs:

 Aquatic Systems (ASB)
FORT Scientists in the Aquatic Systems Branch conduct research in riverine and riparian environments; provide modeling expertise including aquatic habitat mapping and modeling and development of decision-support systems; design and monitor efficacy of constructed wetlands; and investigate population dynamics, biological requirements, and recovery possibilities of at-risk or declining species such as native fish, amphibians, and riparian vegetation.

 

 Ecosystem Dynamics (ED)
FORT scientists in the Ecosystem Dynamics Branch investigate a diversity of complex natural resource problems at the landscape and systems levels related to energy development and land-use change, ecosystem responses to climate change and atmospheric deposition, herbivore-ecosystem interactions, and fire effects on ecosystems.

 

 Information Science (ISB)
The FORT Information Science Branch staff enhance discovery and management of our natural world and turn information into knowledge. Branch staff offer expertise in information management and delivery, information technology and security, GIS and remote sensing applications, and other environmental information science products including Web applications, decision-support systems, and integrated access to distributed databases.

 

 Invasive Species Science (ISS)
FORT scientists in the Invasive Species Science Branch develop models to understand and forecast invasive species distribution and spread, and conduct research to develop methods for control and prevention of invasive reptiles and amphibians.

 

 Policy Analysis & Science Assistance (PASA)
FORT scientists in the Policy Analysis and Science Assistance Branch conduct and integrate biological, social, economic, and institutional analyses of conservation policies and management practices to help land and resource managers make informed decisions and resolve resource management conflicts.

 

 Trust Species & Habitats (TSH)
FORT scientists in the Trust Species and Habitats branch conduct research and provide technical assistance on the ecology, habitat requirements, distribution, and abundance of trust species, including inventory and monitoring, development of reintroduction and restoration techniques, modifying or developing new statistical methods for data analyses, and utilizing technologies such as molecular genetics and stable isotopes to address a wide range of ecological questions.