The Pacific Southwest --California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona-- is the country's
most ecologically rich and diverse area. It contains a dazzling array of habitats
from below-sea-level deserts to alpine tundra to coastal mountains, seashores, and
marine ecosystems. The scientists of the Western Ecological Research Center reflect
the diversity of this region with expertise in a wide range of disciplines. Their
capabilities fulfill the varied needs of clients and partners, from ecological research,
monitoring and technology development to basic biology and modeling.
WERC is one of 18 Centers of the Biological Resources
Discipline of the U.S. Geological Survey.
Unlike most of BRD's Centers
whose personnel are geographically centralized, WERC's scientists and staff are
based in offices located throughout the Pacific Southwest. This diversity in location
gives the scientists an in-depth understanding of the bioregions
in which they reside that enables them to quickly meet high-priority client needs.