USGS Newsroom

Invasive Snails are Target of UI, USGS Environmental DNA Study

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:03:55 EDT

MOSCOW, Idaho – Researchers at the University of Idaho and the U.S. Geological Survey have developed a way to identify New Zealand mudsnail infestations in their earliest stages – using only the small bits of DNA the snails shed in the water.

When New Zealand mudsnails move into a stream, they can wreak havoc on their new habitat. The tiny, invasive mollusks – barely larger than a sesame seed – multiply rapidly, pushing out native species. Salmon that pass through and eat the snails receive less nutrition than from their usual diet, resulting in smaller fish.

The team’s work could help stream managers control mudsnail invasions before they cause significant damage to an ecosystem.

“For invasive species, we really want to catch them long, long before they get to the point of being obvious,” said Caren Goldberg, a research scientist in UI’s fish and wildlife department, who led the study.

The team used a recently developed method of testing for a species’ presence that analyzes environmental DNA, or eDNA, which is collected from skin and other cells an animal sheds into the environment. Their procedure compares DNA in the water to known mudsnail DNA sequences.

“eDNA monitoring for New Zealand mudsnails is a significant advance in aquatic invasive species management because eDNA is more sensitive, faster and often cheaper than traditional monitoring approaches,” said USGS scientist Adam Sepulveda, co-author of the study. “Another benefit is that citizen science groups can become easily involved because collecting water samples in the field requires simple equipment and minimal training.”

“We can just take a water sample, filter it to catch the DNA and test it to see what species are in the water,” Goldberg said.

Researchers in France proved in 2008 that eDNA could effectively show the presence of animals in wetland. In 2011, a UI-based team first demonstrated the same technique worked in moving water, even though much of the DNA is diluted or washed downstream.

The New Zealand mudsnails added another layer of challenge because their hard shell may keep them from leaving behind large amounts of DNA, unlike fish or amphibians, which frequently shed scales or skin.

The team developed and tested their technique in UI’s Laboratory for Ecological, Evolutionary and Conservation Genetics. They also tested it in southern Idaho’s Portneuf River, in areas the mudsnail is known to live.

“It’s a challenge to catch that fragment of DNA,” Goldberg said. “We show we can do it, and reliably, too.”

The researchers are now hoping to attract interest from stream and fish hatchery managers who could use the technique to track and prevent mudsnails, which are considered invasive species around the world and have been spreading across the West since the late 1980s.

The snails can be spread by watercraft or by tagging along with other species. Just one snail can start an infestation, because the species is parthenogenetic – the snails have the ability to reproduce asexually, giving birth to clones of themselves.

“We hope this test will help agencies to detect mudsnails early enough to protect systems from invasion,” Goldberg said.

The study, “Environmental DNA as a new method for early detection of New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum),” is available online in the journal Freshwater Science.

Crowd-Sourcing the Nation: Using Volunteers for Enhanced Data Collection

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 1 Apr 2013 18:41:01 EDT

The USGS is expanding the involvement of volunteers to enhance data collection about structures for The National Map.

This program, known as The National Map Corps, focuses on encouraging citizens to collect data relating to structures by both adding new features and/or correcting existing data within The National Map database. These structures can include schools, hospitals, post offices, police stations and other important public places.

Collaborative pilot projects in Colorado were recently used to test the concept of crowd-sourcing. While the project is on-going, early indications point to positive results and show the success of using TNMC volunteers to enhance data sets.

Over a trial period of ten months, 143 volunteers collected, improved, or deleted data on more than 6,400 structures in Colorado. The volunteers’ actions were accurate and exceeded USGS quality standards. In the Colorado pilot project the volunteer-collected data showed an improvement of approximately 25 percent in both location and attribute accuracy for existing data points. Completeness, or the extent to which all appropriate features were identified and recorded, was nearly perfect.

The significant results of the Colorado pilot have led to a phased, nation-wide expansion of the crowd-sourcing /volunteer project. The states in the first expansion of TNMC are: Arkansas, Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia

After an evaluation of the quality and procedures of the first group of states, the second set will be made available. Ultimately, by the end of 2013, the third batch of states will complete the expansion of the program.

"The response by volunteers in Colorado exceeded our expectations both in terms of the number of volunteers and the quality of the data they collected”, said Kari Craun, the Director of the USGS National Geospatial Technical Operations Center. “The Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) community represents a fantastic, untapped resource to assist USGS in maintaining data that are part of The National Map.”

While some familiarity with the area that a volunteer chooses is helpful, one doesn’t have to live near a particular place to contribute. The tools on TNMC website, along with ancillary information available on the Internet, are generally sufficient to edit a distant area.

There have been several instances of crowd-sourced geographic information making significant contributions to research and databases in government, private sector, and non-profit organizations. The goal of the TNMC is to provide data for the nation’s primary federal mapping agency in its effort to provide accurate and authoritative spatial data via the web-based National Map.

The citizen geographers/cartographers who participate in this program will make a significant addition to the USGS’s ability to provide accurate information to the public. Data collected by volunteers become part of TNM Structures dataset which is available to users free of charge.

Without a network of volunteers, the desired information would not be collected this year and the existing data would not be updated. TNMC volunteers perform important work that otherwise will not be accomplished in the foreseeable future.

Becoming a volunteer for TNMC is easy; go to the National Map Corps website to learn more and to sign up as a volunteer. If you have access to the Internet and are willing to dedicate some time to editing map data, we hope you will consider participating!

Lidar Yields New Insights into Desert Fire Ecologies

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EDT

MENLO PARK, Calif. —New insights into the differences between fire ecologies of the Chihuahuan and Mojave Deserts in the southwestern United States are coming through the use of terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging, or lidar, technology. Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey show that while fire is detrimental to some areas of the desert, it is beneficial to others.

“Just as some ecosystems require periodic flooding for their rebirth and health maintenance, this new lidar information shows that some grasslands depend on periodic fires to give the native vegetation a competitive advantage," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "This new science is important in informing management because the natural human tendency is to suppress hazardous events like floods and fires.”

Scientists used terrestrial or ground-based lidar to study the soil and vegetation characteristics of two desert ecosystems. In the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, historically a grassland, they confirmed that fire can prevent the incursion of invasive shrub vegetation, while in parts of the Mojave Desert that are historically covered in shrubs, they showed that fire can harm the fertile shrub mounds, leading to loss of vegetation and increased erosion.

“Fire can hinder conservation in areas naturally covered by shrubland, but may help remove shrubs and restore native vegetation in areas naturally covered by grasslands,” said USGS geographer Chris Soulard. “These research studies are collaborative efforts aimed at building a long-term, ecosystem specific understanding of the ecological effects of fire and the possible beneficial roles of fire in land management.”

Terrestrial lidar uses lasers typically mounted on tripods to generate high-resolution, three-dimensional models of the sampled area. The level of detail is higher than in aerial lidar, aerial photography, or satellite imaging and T-lidar scanning instruments are easier and faster to deploy.

The Chihuahuan Desert study area was in the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge of New Mexico, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In spring 2007, sample plots were burned, clipped, or left undisturbed, and in the summer of 2011 terrestrial lidar was used to measure soil and vegetation characteristics. In their burn experiments, a team of scientists including Joel Sankey of the USGS and Sujith Ravi with the University of Arizona, observed shrub-vegetated areas disappearing and the formation of numerous, small grass-dominated areas indicating the progression of the system towards a state more characteristic of the native grasslands found in this area.

Woody plant encroachment can degrade desert grasslands, leading to areas of shrub vegetation surrounded by patches of nutrient-depleted bare soil. “The results of our Chihuahuan Desert study suggest that fire (prescribed, accidental, or natural) might reverse the shrub encroachment process, if it occurs in the early stages of vegetation shift,” said Sankey, a USGS research physical scientist. “This may inform the use and role of fire in the context of changing disturbance regimes and climate.”

The Mojave Desert project study area was in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Arizona. Prescribed fires were set in 1998, and in 2009 T-lidar data was collected on both burned and unburned sample plots by a team of USGS scientists. The recovering vegetation in the burned sites had smaller dimensions, which exposed the soil mounds to erosion. Consequently, post-fire erosion led to the reduction in the soil mound volume and surface roughness in these sites. Soil surface changes alter physical and nutrient conditions that promote shrub health, and lead to decreased chances of seed germination and decreased ability to retain water.

For more information, see the full journal articles. The Chihuahuan Desert study, “Quantifying soil surface change in degraded drylands: shrub encroachment and effects of fire and vegetation removal in a desert grassland”, was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research and is authored by J.B. Sankey, S. Ravi, C.S.A. Wallace, R.H. Webb, and T.E. Huxman. The Mojave Desert study, “The role of fire on soil mounds and surface roughness in the Mojave Desert” was published in the journal Earth Surface Processes and Landforms and is authored by Chris Soulard, Todd Esque, Dave Bedford, and Sandra Bond.

Volcanism in the American Southwest

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EDT

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Experts in volcano hazards and public safety have started a conversation about volcanoes in the southwestern United States, and how best to prepare for future activity. Prior to this meeting, emergency response planning for volcanic unrest in the region had received little attention by federal or state agencies.

Though volcanic eruptions are comparatively rare in the American Southwest, the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah host geologically-recent volcanic eruption deposits and are vulnerable to future volcanic activity. Compared with other parts of the western U.S., comparatively little research has been focused on this area, and eruption probabilities are poorly understood.

“A volcanic eruption in the American southwest is an example of a low-probability, but high-impact event for which we should be prepared to respond,” said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. “No one wants to be exchanging business cards during an emergency, and thus a small investment in advance planning could pay off in personal relationships and coordination between scientists and first responders.”

"The goal of the conference is to increase awareness of volcanism and vulnerabilities in the American Southwest, and to begin coordination among volcano scientists, land managers, and emergency responders regarding future volcanic activity," said Dr. Jacob Lowenstern, one of the organizers of the conference, and the U.S. Geological Survey Scientist-In-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. "This is the first time these federal, state, and local agencies have met to discuss their roles, responsibilities, and resources, should an eruption occur."

The "Volcanism in the American Southwest" conference on Oct. 18-19 in Flagstaff, Ariz. was organized by the USGS, Northern Arizona University, University at Buffalo, and New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the meeting included interdisciplinary talks, posters, and panel discussions, providing an opportunity for volcanologists, land managers, and emergency responders to meet, converse, and begin to plan protocols for any future volcanic activity.

More information about the meeting, including presentation abstracts, is online.

Modeling Predicts Excessive Nitrate and Arsenic in Southwestern U.S. Aquifers

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EDT

Modeling results from the U.S. Geological Survey indicate that groundwater in basin-fill aquifers (sediment-filled valleys) beneath about 2.4 percent of the area in the southwestern U.S. may equal or exceed the drinking-water standard for nitrate, and groundwater beneath about 43 percent of the area may equal or exceed the standard for arsenic. These aquifers are an important resource, providing about 40 percent of the water used in that region. While several compounds occur in groundwater from these aquifers, nitrate and arsenic are among those most frequently found to exceed drinking-water standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for protection of human health.

While public water supplies are treated to ensure that water reaching the tap of households meets federal requirements, there are no such requirements for private supplies. The results highlight the importance of private well owners testing and potentially treating their water. All of the contaminants identified in the aquifers can be reduced or eliminated through a variety of treatments.

"The alluvial basins of the American Southwest can provide a valuable water resource to growing populations who often lack other sources of fresh water," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "However, the results of this modeling study raise a cautionary flag for private well owners of the need to test water to ensure its safety and to take action to remediate any contamination that is found."

Areas where nitrate concentrations are predicted to equal or exceed the EPA drinking-water standard (10 milligrams per liter as nitrogen) occur in several basins in central Arizona near Phoenix; the southern part of California’s Central Valley; as well as several basins near Los Angeles along the southern coast; and the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado.

Much of the area where arsenic concentrations are predicted to equal or exceed the drinking-water standard (10 micrograms per liter) is within several basins in parts of southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, western Nevada, and western Utah. Most of the area with predicted high arsenic concentrations is in sparsely populated rangeland, whereas most of the area with predicted high nitrate concentrations occurs where agricultural or urban communities are located.

The USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program study, which included parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, applied a statistical modeling approach that extrapolates nitrate and arsenic occurrence from areas where concentrations are known, to other areas where such data are unavailable. The extrapolation is based on nitrate and arsenic analyses from well-water samples collected from 1980 to 2010, and a wide variety of hydrologic, geologic, climatic, soil, land use, water use, agricultural, and biotic conditions that local-scale geochemical studies have found to be relevant to nitrate or arsenic occurrence in groundwater.

Results from this study are available online.

From Pikas to Plague, Climate Change and Wind Energy

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 9:00:00 EDT

USGS Science at the Society for Conservation Biology

More than 800 people are expected to attend the first North America Congress for Conservation Biology from July 15-18, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. The theme of this year's conference is “Bridging the Gap: Connecting People, Nature, and Climate.” This conference provides a forum for presenting and discussing new research and developments in conservation science, practices and challenges.

Fighting Plague with a Peanut Butter-Flavored Vaccine: Prairie dogs and highly endangered black-footed ferret populations in North America are quite susceptible to sylvatic plague, an often deadly, non-native disease of people and wildlife. Currently, wildlife managers contain the disease by dusting prairie dog burrows with an insecticide that can kill disease-carrying fleas, but this is labor-intensive and costly. As an alternative, USGS researchers and colleagues at University of Wisconsin have developed a new oral vaccine, flavored with peanut butter, which can be administered orally through baits. Laboratory tests showed that the oral vaccine protects prairie dogs against plague; tests in some wild prairie dog populations begin this year. If the vaccine is effective in the wild, it could be used in selected prairie dog populations to decrease the occurrence of plague and help in the recovery of black-footed ferrets. Ultimately, a successful vaccine could help stabilize wildlife populations in grassland ecosystems and may benefit public health, since this bacterium is also responsible for plague in people. This presentation, Sylvatic Plague Vaccine: A New Tool for Conservation of Threatened and Endangered Species, will occur in Room JRB 1 on July 16 at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Tonie Rocke, trocke@usgs.gov, 608-270-2451.

Shorebird, Duck, Food Enough? With loss of natural wetlands, wintering shorebirds and diving ducks have become increasingly dependent on managed wetlands. Yet studies are limited about food availability in managed coastal estuaries, such as the ponds in the San Francisco Bay’s South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. USGS researchers and colleagues will discuss their surveys of invertebrate prey density in the pond bottoms. They will discuss whether there is enough food to support the 45,000 diving ducks and 108,000 shorebirds that depend on this area in winter, and whether pond management could increase available energy. This presentation, Effects of Wetland Management on Carrying Capacity of Duck and Shorebird Benthivores in a Coastal Estuary, will occur in Room JBR 1 & 2 on July 16. Contact Arriana Brand, 707-562-2002, arriana_brand@usgs.gov, or John Takekawa, 707-562-2000, john_takekawa@usgs.gov.

Climate Change and Pliable Pikas? Animals that live in mountain ecosystems are sensitive to small changes in climate and are often exposed to frequent swings in temperature and wind speed, poorly developed soils and generally harsher conditions than animals living at lower elevations. The American pika is a small, mountain-dwelling, hamster-like animal that lives in rocky talus slopes and lava flows typically in mountain ecosystems throughout the western United States. Recently, researchers concluded that the rate of local pika extinction in the hydrographic Great Basin over the last 10 years has increased to about five times faster than averaged during the 20th century. Analogously, the lowest elevation that pikas are occupying moved upslope 11 times faster during that decade than during the 20^th century, suggesting that what constitutes suitable habitat is now shrinking more rapidly. A USGS researcher will present findings that illustrate how hydrological variables – such as snow-water equivalent and growing-season precipitation – are important predictors of pika abundance for this region. In addition, the scientist will show how pika behavioral flexibility – such as use of non-traditional habitats and drinking free water – can, in some cases, allow pikas to live on the edges of their climatic niche. This presentation, Temporally shifting determinants of distribution and abundance of American pikas, and behavioral plasticity ‘softening’ ecological-niche boundaries,” will occur in Symposium 8 (Grand Ballroom, Rooms 1 & 2) on July 16 at 3 p.m. The presentation leads off the symposium, Pikas in Peril? Distribution, Population Trends and Resilience of the American Pika. Contact Erik Beever, ebeever@usgs.gov, 406-994-7670.

Restoring South San Francisco Bay Wetlands in the Face of Sea Level Rise: The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is attempting to restore ecosystem services such as flood control, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation to some 15,000 acres of wetlands in San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley. But to do so requires a long-term adaptive management plan with rigorous monitoring and scientific support. Project Executive Director John Bourgeois of the California State Coastal Conservancy will discuss how public and private research partners -- including USGS -- are clarifying the uncertainties involved in such a major restoration project -- such as sea level rise resiliency, sufficient sediment flow for marsh accretion, and disturbance of legacy mercury. This presentation, Restoring South San Francisco Bay Wetlands in the Face of Sea Level Rise will occur in Room JBR 1&2 on July 16 at 3:45 p.m. Contact Laura Valoppi, USGS biologist and Restoration Project's Research Coordinator, laura_valoppi@usgs.gov, 916-704-6198.

From Conservation Reserve Land to Ag Land: Substantial Losses for Amphibians: High commodity prices for agricultural crops, especially for biofuel feedstocks, is rapidly resulting in the conversion of USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands to agricultural production in the northern Great Plains. USGS scientists used an ecosystem services model to evaluate the potential effects of this land-use change on amphibians, which have been declining worldwide, primarily because of land-use change. Their scenarios focused on CRP conversion rates of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent in different parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. They then compared present amphibian habitat quality and quantity under the projected conversion rates. They found that if all CRP lands were converted to cropland, one-fourth to over one-third of all amphibian habitat could be lost, which could have devastating effects on amphibian populations in the northern Great Plains. The scientists noted that even at the lowest conversion rate of 10 percent, habitat losses and potential effects on amphibians were still substantial. This presentation, Effects of Land-Use/Land-Cover Change on Amphibian Habitat in the Northern Great Plains, will take place in Room 208 on July 17 at 8:30 a.m. Contact David Mushet, dmushet@usgs.gov, 701-253-5558.

Developing Solutions to Reduce Harmful Effects of Wind Energy on Bats: U.S. Geological Survey researchers and their U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service colleagues are working together to help provide solutions for reducing harmful effects of wind turbines on bats. This joint project is prioritizing research topics such as predicting mortality of bats by wind turbines and using bat life-history information to develop ways to reduce the number of bat deaths. Projects funded through this collaborative process will focus on addressing the most critical research needs to ensure that wind energy development can grow while minimizing costs to wildlife. This presentation, Bats and Wind Energy: State of Knowledge and Research Priorities for USFWS and USGS, will take place in Room JBR 1 & 2 on July 17 from at 12:30 p.m. It is one of eight presentations in a symposium entitled Cultivating a Role for Wildlife Conservation in Energy Development. Contact Laura Ellison, ellisonl@usgs.gov, 970-226-9494.

Renewable Energy and Terrestrial Wildlife: Large areas of the Desert Southwest have been developed for utility-scale renewable energy projects, including both wind and solar facilities. The Desert Southwest is also an area of exceptional biodiversity, providing habitat for many sensitive terrestrial species, including the federally protected desert tortoise. USGS scientists and their colleagues reviewed the scientific literature on the effects of utility-scale energy development (wind and solar) and operation on terrestrial, non-flying wildlife. They found that while there is a growing and comparatively large body of information on the effects of wind energy on birds and bats, little information exists in the peer-reviewed scientific literature to evaluate the effects of wind or solar facilities on terrestrial wildlife in the world, including in offshore environments. Potential effects of such facilities include habitat modification and fragmentation, as well as effects from noise, dust, and roads and traffic. Before and after studies of utility-scale renewable energy sites are needed to adequately assess their effects on terrestrial wildlife and to develop methods to address those effects. This presentation, Terrestrial Wildlife Conservation and Renewable Energy Development in the Desert Southwest United States: A Review, will occur in Room JBR 1 & 2 on July 17 at 11:30 a.m. It is one of eight presentations in a symposium entitled Cultivating a Role for Wildlife Conservation in Energy Development. Contact Jeff Lovich, jeffrey_lovich@usgs.gov, 928-556-7358.

Wildlife Response to Fire: Climate Change and Corridor Conservation in Southern California: In southern California, wildfires are expected to become more frequent as climate change occurs, so understanding how increased fire will impact wildlife habitats and behavior is critical for effective resource planning. Researchers analyzed GPS tracking data on bobcats, coyotes and mountain lions in southern California to understand how mammalian carnivores respond to burned landscapes, and whether the home ranges and movement patterns of these species changed with wildfire and urban development. Researchers from San Diego State University, USGS, Colorado State University, and University of California, Davis, participated in this study. This presentation, Corridor Conservation in Southern California under Climate Change: Understanding Wildlife Response to Burned Landscapes, will occur in Room OCC 210/211 on July 17 at 3:45 p.m. Contact Erin Boydston, eboydston@usgs.gov, 805-370-2362, or Lisa Lyren at llyren@usgs.gov, 760-931-1101.

San Francisco Bay: Water and Climate Change Projections, 2000-2100: Just-completed climate change scenarios for the years 2000-2100 in the San Francisco Bay project an increased variability in the bay’s water runoff, recharge and stream discharge, as well as a shifting of the seasonal timing of the bay’s water cycles. The four scenarios, completed by USGS researchers, used IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) projections of future climate changes to create a regional water balance model. For both drier and wetter scenarios, seasonal warming amplified the climatic water deficit, a measure of drought stress on soils and vegetation. This state-of-the-art climate science should help managers plan for the future. This presentation, Ensemble Hydrologic Modeling for the Next Century: Implications for San Francisco Bay Area Natural Resources, will take place in Room GBR 1&2 on July 18 at 8:50 a.m. Contact A.L. Flint at aflint@usgs.gov, 916-278-3221.

California Climate Change and Landscape Connectivity: By analyzing the present and expected future climate conditions of protected areas within California, USGS researchers were able to identify the stability of those areas with respect to climate change; they then identified where increased landscape connectivity might help offset the negative effects of climate change. Because changing climate conditions will not affect all areas in California equally, researchers examined which protected areas would likely benefit most from expanded landscape connectivity via corridors. This information can help resource managers and policy-makers prioritize decisions about the most effective ways to mitigate the effects of climate change with limited resources. This presentation, California Climate Change and Landscape Connectivity, will occur in ROOM GBR 1&2 on July 18 at 11 a.m. Contact Jason Kreitler, jkreitler@usgs.gov, 208-426-5217.

A Big Day for Science: Citizens Have Contributed One Million Observations to Top Nature Database

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 3 May 2012 9:00:00 EDT

RESTON, Va. — Thanks to citizen-scientists around the country, the USA National Phenology Network hit a major milestone this week by reaching its one millionth nature observation.

The millionth observation was done by Lucille Tower, a citizen-scientist in Portland, Ore., who entered a record about seeing maple vines flowering. Her data, like all of the entries, came in through USA-NPN’s online observation program, Nature's Notebook, which engages more than 4,000 volunteers across the country to observe and record phenology – the timing of the recurring life events of plants and animals such as when cherry trees or lilacs blossom, when robins build their nests, when salmon swim upstream to spawn or when leaves turn colors in the fall.

Each record not only represents a single data point — the status of a specific life stage of an individual plant or animal on one day – but also benefits both science and society by helping researchers understand how plants and animals are responding to climate change and, in turn, how those responses are affecting people and ecological systems.

"My dream is that through the wonders of modern technology and the National Phenology Network we could turn the more than six billion people on the planet into components of our scientific observing system," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "We could make giant leaps in science education, improve the spatial and temporal coverage of the planet, lower the cost of scientific data collection, and all while making ordinary citizens feel a part of the scientific process."

Jake Weltzin, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist and the executive director of USA-NPN, concurs. "Hitting the one millionth observation is exciting because researchers and decision-makers need more information to understand and respond to our rapidly changing planet. More information means better-informed decisions that ensure the continued vitality of our natural areas that we all depend on and enjoy."

For example, said Weltzin, the data in Nature's Notebook are already being used to benefit society, including the development of more accurate indicators of spring, forecasting the onset of allergy seasons or the chances of western wildfires, managing wildlife and invasive plants, and setting goals for habitat restoration. Ultimately, such information can be used for better managing water resources, wildlife and ecosystem management, and even help farmers and ranchers across the nation.

Changes in phenology are among the most sensitive biological indicators of global change. Across the world, many springtime events are occurring earlier — and fall events happening later — than in the past. These changes are happening quickly for some species and more slowly, or not at all, for others, altering relationships and processes that have been dynamically stable for thousands of years. Some wildlife —like caribou and butterflies — are becoming mismatched from their plant food resources, which are responding differently. Migrations for some birds are changing too, as they can now overwinter instead of moving south for the winter, or as they fly north more quickly to keep pace with an advancing front of spring flowering.

Because of this, said Weltzin, scientists need more and better information about the pace and pattern of nature — locally to nationally — to answer important scientific and societal questions, and to build the tools and models needed to help people understand and adapt to the changes.

"So much of our improved understanding about global environmental changes is driven by varied and valuable sources of information that include networks of citizen-scientists," said John Wingfield, National Science Foundation’s assistant director for biological sciences. "The public at large has played an important role collecting observations and data for a hundred years and more. Knowledge and data gained from their work will continue to have a lasting effect on how we understand regularly recurring biological phenomena for hundreds of plant and animal species and contribute to the policy arena."

Gwen Lundburg in Seattle is one citizen-scientist who has contributed hundreds of entries into Nature’s Notebook. "Just noticing small changes like tiny purple lilac buds suddenly turning green has taught me to look more closely at my plants," Lundburg said. "I see things in my garden I never saw before."

With the help of citizen-scientist volunteers, working in concert with professionals, the USA-NPN, which was established in 2007, collects, stores and freely shares phenological data on more than 800 species of plants and animals. The Nature’s Notebook observing program has been in operation since 2009. The coordinating office of the organization is located at 1955 E. 6^th St., Tucson, Ariz., 85721. For more information, visit the USA National Phenology Network, or contact Jake Weltzin at 520-626-3821 or jweltzin@usgs.gov.

USGS Releases Regional Ecological Assessment of Sagebrush Wildlife and Habitats

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EDT

BOISE, Idaho - For the first time, managers of sagebrush habitats in several western states have comprehensive, comparable information about the distribution and habitats of greater sage-grouse and 14 other wildlife species, as they consider how to manage land for wildlife and accommodate other uses, including agriculture, recreation, and energy development. The U.S. Geological Survey in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have published this study in the book, "Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation and Management: Ecoregional Assessment Tools and Models for the Wyoming Basins," providing land managers with valuable information for critical decisions.

"Iconic ecosystems of the American west, such as the sagebrush, can and must be managed to accommodate wildlife, recreation, and compatible economic development, but to do so requires scientific understanding of complex feedbacks," explained USGS director Marcia McNutt. "This multiagency, multistate study is a landmark in providing information and solutions on the scale that this challenge demands and deserves."

The 133,000 square-mile ecological study area, involving most of Wyoming and parts of Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho, contains about one quarter of the sagebrush ecosystem in the United States and is a stronghold for wildlife that depend to varying degrees on sagebrush for habitat. The area also is poised for rapid change because of growing interests in many forms of development, especially renewable and non-renewable energy facilities.

The species addressed in the book include birds, mammals, lizards, and insects. The variety of species’ responses to change illustrates the complexity of managing habitats for more than one species in a rapidly changing landscape. The occurrence of three species, including the greater sage-grouse, was negatively influenced by features associated with humans, such as roads, oil and gas wells, and power lines. In contrast, human-associated features were a positive influence for three species, including the pronghorn, and one species showed no measurable influence one way or the other.

"We used a process called an ecoregional assessment," said Steve Hanser, USGS wildlife biologist and the lead editor of the book. "Assessments like these yield data about species and the systems in which they occur across large geographic regions. Information from this assessment can be directly integrated into planning processes and provide understanding of the effects of proposed developments on species of concern."

The complex study had multiple phases. Field surveys were used to identify species relationships with vegetation, soils, climate, and human developments. Scientists used the field data and computer programs to characterize species and environmental relationships. These relationships were then used to create maps of where species can be found on the landscape and interpret the importance of habitat features and human land-use in determining species distributions.

The book and the data developed as part of this study are available at Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation and Management.

Dramatic Links Found Between Climate Change, Elk, Plants, and Birds

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EDT

Missoula, MT – Climate change in the form of reduced snowfall in mountains is causing powerful and cascading shifts in mountainous plant and bird communities through the increased ability of elk to stay at high elevations over winter and consume plants, according to a groundbreaking study in Nature Climate Change.

The U.S. Geological Survey and University of Montana study not only showed that the abundance of deciduous trees and their associated songbirds in mountainous Arizona have declined over the last 22 years as snowpack has declined, but it also experimentally demonstrated that declining snowfall indirectly affects plants and birds by enabling more winter browsing by elk. Increased winter browsing by elk results in trickle-down ecological effects such as lowering the quality of habitat for songbirds.

The authors, USGS Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit scientist Thomas Martin and University of Montana scientist John Maron, mimicked the effects of more snow on limiting the ability of elk to browse on plants by excluding the animals from large, fenced areas. They compared bird and plant communities in these exclusion areas with nearby similar areas where elk had access, and found that, over the six years of the study, multi-decadal declines in plant and songbird populations were reversed in the areas where elk were prohibited from browsing.

"This study illustrates that profound impacts of climate change on ecosystems arise over a time span of but two decades through unexplored feedbacks," explained USGS director Marcia McNutt. "The significance lies in the fact that humans and our economy are at the end of the same chain of cascading consequences."

The study demonstrates a classic ecological cascade, added Martin. For example, he said, from an elk’s perspective, less snow means an increased ability to freely browse on woody plants in winter in areas where they would not be inclined to forage in previous times due to high snowpack. Increased overwinter browsing led to a decline in deciduous trees, which reduced the number of birds that chose the habitat and increased predation on nests of those birds that did choose the habitat.

"This study demonstrates that the indirect effects of climate on plant communities may be just as important as the effects of climate-change-induced mismatches between migrating birds and food abundance because plants, including trees, provide the habitat birds need to survive," Martin said.

The study, Climate impacts on bird and plant communities from altered animal-plant interactions, was published online on Jan. 8 in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Grouse's Top-flight Nest Sites are High, Wide, and Lonesome

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EDT

Displaying Gunnison sage-grouse males, Gunnison Basin, Colorado, April 2007. Photo copyright, Helen Richardson, The Denver Post. Used with permission.

When it comes to nesting, birds are no different than people – they want the best for their young, places with abundant food and shelter and a safe place to successfully raise their young. For the imperiled Gunnison sage-grouse, the more lonesome the nest site the better, according to a joint study between Colorado State University (CSU), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the National Park Service just published in the Journal of Wildlife Management.

Previous research has documented that loss and fragmentation of sagebrush landscapes has resulted in a drastic contraction of the bird’s range and population numbers. Only seven disconnected populations of this unique bird remain in Colorado and Utah, six of which are small and at great risk of local extinction, though all seven populations have declined over recent years. Both states consider the chicken-sized bird a species of conservation concern, and it is also listed as a candidate species being considered for listing as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

"Of about 4,000 remaining birds, some 3,500 reside in the sagebrush-dominated Gunnison Basin in Colorado, where increased anthropogenic disturbances reduce and fragment habitats the Gunnison sage-grouse requires — either directly through habitat loss and degradation, or indirectly through habitat avoidance due to human use, noise, or changes in predator communities," said Cameron Aldridge, a Colorado State University assistant professor and lead investigator who works collaboratively with the USGS.

"Federal, state, and local natural resource managers need scientific information about which habitats are critical, identifying those that require protection and those that might need careful management," said Aldridge.

So, working closely with land managers, Aldridge and his team – including CSU’s Joanne Saher and Theresa Childers from the National Park Service – developed models which identify crucial nesting habitat for the species. The models accurately predicted independent data locations of nest sites, highlighting their utility for managers.

First, researchers captured female grouse from known lek sites – places where breeding activities occur – and outfitted them with radio transmitters. Then they remotely tracked the hens to locate their nests and monitor nest fate. Once the hens vacated their nests, the scientists recorded the precise location of each nest using global positioning system coordinates.

The team assessed which habitats were important for nesting, using remotely sensed vegetation characteristics such as vegetation type, height, and amount of cover. They then evaluated nest locations in relation to residential developments and roads, and how much development in an area birds would tolerate when nesting. They first assessed how birds chose where to nest at the landscape level, then at the more local or "patch" level.

"This is akin to how people first choose a city in which to live, and then decide specifically what neighborhood or which house to live in," Aldridge noted. "People are looking for certain characteristics in a neighborhood, and so are these birds. We learned that these birds elect to nest in large, uninterrupted tracts of sagebrush several miles from roads and human structures. In fact, the best nesting habitats were at least 1.5 miles from human developments, and none were closer than about one-third of a mile."

These nesting models are foundational tools for resource management agencies working to minimize impacts to the imperiled Gunnison sage-grouse. Ultimately, Aldridge stated, "collaborative cross-agency efforts will be required to ensure that the Gunnison sage-grouse is around for our grandchildren to enjoy."

The article is available online.

For more information, see:

Natural Resource Preservation Program: Gunnison Sage-Grouse Habitat Selection: Developing a Landscape-Level Habitat Map Predicting Sagebrush, Herbaceous, and Bare Ground Cover

Cameron Aldridge, http://warnercnr.colostate.edu/~aldridge/ and http://www.fort.usgs.gov/Staff/staffprofile.asp?StaffID=463

Pollutant Mixing in Great Salt Lake To Be Studied by Injection of Red Dye

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EDT

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A harmless red dye will temporarily discolor the south end of Great Salt Lake for scientific research purposes starting on or about Nov. 1.

U.S. Geological Survey scientists, in cooperation with Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, will inject a bright red fluorescent dye into the south end of Great Salt Lake (in the vicinity of the Lee Creek outflow) sometime between Tuesday, Nov. 1 and Friday, Nov. 4, 2011.

The dye study is aimed at obtaining useful information on the dispersion, direction of movement, and travel times of potential contaminants entering the south shore area of Great Salt Lake. The south shore of the lake receives inflow from various surface-water sources, some containing pollutants from the Salt Lake valley. The results of the study will provide information that can be used by federal, state, and local agencies, particularly with respect to tracking current and future inputs of pollutants (including the element selenium, which can be toxic to wildlife) into the south part of Great Salt Lake.

The red dye—known as Rhodamine WT—will be injected into Lee Creek prior to its entry into Great Salt Lake and may be visible up to a mile offshore once the dye enters Great Salt Lake. The dye, which has been used in hydrologic studies for decades, has been approved for use as a water tracer by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is safe to aquatic life at the concentrations used in this study. The dye concentration will be measured during the study using a combination of fixed and boat-mounted monitoring stations, as well as an automated underwater vehicle.

"By using low, non-hazardous concentrations of dye, we can identify exactly how and where potential pollutants will travel once they enter the Lake," said Dr. David Naftz, research hydrologist with the USGS Utah Water Science Center. "Understanding the pathways and behavior of lake inputs will allow federal and state officials to better manage lake resources.”

Weather permitting, the dye solution will be slowly and steadily injected into Lee Creek for at least four hours. Fluorometric measurements will be made starting near the injection point and continuing offshore for distances of up to 1 mile. The dye will be monitored using fluorometers, instruments that detect the presence and concentration of the fluorescent properties of the red dye in the water.

Navajo Memory Complements Science in Study of Climate Change

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:12:01 EDT

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The sand dunes among which Navajos have eked out austere livings for generations are growing fast and becoming mobile as the climate changes, says U.S. Geological Survey geologist Dr. Margaret Hiza Redsteer, whose interviews with elders and historical research augment her decade-long research on Navajo Nation land.

Redsteer will discuss her work Friday, Oct. 21 at the annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists in Miami, as part of a panel on "Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples on the Frontlines."

One third of the Navajo Nation is sand dunes, much of it stabilized to varying degrees by vegetation that holds moisture and provides livestock range. Some of the dunes are very old; others date from the 1950s, when drought and wind mobilized sediment from floods on the Little Colorado River. Now, after severe drought has gripped the region with varying but persistent severity from 1996 to 2011, new dunes are increasing in number and previously inactive dunes are on the move. The new dunes form downwind from rivers and washes, largely from dry, wind-blown river sediment. In the Grand Falls area of the southwest Navajo Nation, dunes have grown 70 percent since 1995 and are moving northeast at a rate of 115 feet per year.

Dune mobility can threaten roads and buildings, as well as the livestock raising vital to the Navajo economy and indispensable to its culture. It is one of many signs of the region’s increased aridity. Redsteer and the USGS Navajo Land Use Planning Project, under license to and in collaboration with the Navajo Nation, are mapping the area’s geology and documenting its changes to help Navajo leaders plan for the challenge.

In addition to using ground-based lidar measurements, meteorological monitoring, GPS and aerial and satellite imaging, Redsteer drew on more than 70 elders living in the southwestern Navajo Nation to record observed changes in land use practices, as well as weather, vegetation, location of water sources and the frequency of wind and dust storms. The interviews helped corroborate USGS science.

"Old men told me that they had seen grass grow in areas where no grass grows now," Redsteer said.

"We have aerial photographic surveys of the study area from 1934 and from 1954, but between those years there were big changes. Our interviewing not only provides another line of evidence, but it also fills in a lot of the data gaps."

Redsteer's work also points up the vulnerability of indigenous people who live on land she calls "just on the edge of being habitable."

"The annual moisture here has historically been just enough to get by. When there is even a small change, there is a huge effect," she said.

John Leeper, director of the Navajo Water Management Branch of the Navajo Nation in Fort Defiance, Ariz., called Redsteer's work "critical in understanding the magnitude of the climate challenges facing the Navajo Nation due to sand dune movement and other impacts. If the current trends she identifies continue, much of the Navajo Nation will be severely impacted, and much of the Navajo Nation will become uninhabitable," Leeper said.

"The Navajo Nation is intended to be a permanent homeland for the Navajo people," he said. "However, much of that homeland may be in jeopardy if these trends can not be successfully mitigated. Not only has Margaret's work identified and documented the current trends, her work also gives us perspective on the steps that can, and must, be taken to reverse many of the most damaging of these trends. Her work will help to ensure that the Navajo people will be able to find their livelihoods here long into the future."

As part of their work, Redsteer and the USGS have conducted pilot studies of mitigations to dune movement, such as placing 2m by 2m PLA sand barriers to stabilize dunes and seeding dune areas to encourage vegetation.

"If we're going to do research for people's benefit, we have to try to see what kind of solutions there are," she said.

Redsteer's research in the Great Falls dune area is described in the USGS fact sheet "Monitoring and Analysis of Sand Dune Movement and Growth on the Navajo Nation," available online.

Information on the SEJ conference is available online.

New USGS Science: Groundwater Study of the Eastern Great Basin

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:50:00 EDT

The report can be found online.

Groundwater pumping, which has been increasing since the 1940s, now accounts for about one third of the estimated annual flow from the aquifers of the eastern Great Basin. In parts of this region, groundwater pumping exceeds the rate of natural discharge, leading to land subsidence and declines in water levels and spring flow.

U.S. Geological Survey scientists recently published a report examining groundwater recharge (replenishment) and discharge for the eastern Great Basin. The study examined 110,000 square miles across Utah, Nevada, California and Idaho, and the report covers groundwater conditions from Death Valley in the southwest to Cache Valley in the northeast.

"Groundwater resources are not only a critical part of present water supplies in this area, but are likely to increase in importance in the future because the region is facing population growth and limited surface water supplies," said Kevin Dennehy, coordinator for the USGS Groundwater Resources Program. "The results of the study have the potential to aid state and local agencies to better manage their future water supplies."

"This USGS publication evaluates the groundwater resources of the eastern Great Basin, a part of the United States that is predominantly desert yet is under considerable pressure for continued development," said Hugh Hurlow, a senior scientist with the Utah Geological Survey. "The USGS used the most advanced techniques available and the report thoroughly explains the data sources and methods of analysis. This work improves understanding at a regional scale, providing an essential template for more local, focused analyses."

The primary uses for groundwater withdrawals in this area are for irrigation, municipal purposes and industrial water. There are several large water development projects currently being considered for transporting groundwater from rural valleys to urban areas in order to supply cities with municipal water for future growth.

USGS scientists developed a new three-dimensional model of the area's geology, providing insights into how carbonate (bedrock) and alluvial (loose sediment) aquifers are connected over much of the eastern Great Basin. Hydrologic data from hundreds of previous reports were compiled to map directions of groundwater flow and develop a regional groundwater budget (analysis of recharge and discharge) of the aquifer system.

USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5193, "Conceptual Model of the Great Basin Carbonate and Alluvial Aquifer System," can be viewed online. The report consists of multiple chapters documenting various aspects of the aquifer system, along with plates, appendices, auxiliary files and GIS data sets.

This report is a product from the four-year study funded by the USGS Groundwater Resources Program as part of a national assessment of groundwater availability.

Genetic Analysis Splits Desert Tortoise into Two Species

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:02:08 EDT

Map showing the range of both the Morafka’s desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) and the Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). (High resolution image)

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A new study shows that the desert tortoise, thought to be one species for the past 150 years, now includes two separate and distinct species, based on DNA evidence and biological and geographical distinctions.

This genetic evidence confirms previous suspicions, based on life history analysis, that tortoises west and east of the Colorado River are two separate species.

The newly recognized species has been named Morafka’s desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) and represents populations naturally found east and south of the Colorado River, from Arizona extending into Mexico.

The originally recognized species, the Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. It represents populations naturally found west and north of the Colorado River in Utah, Nevada, northern Arizona and California.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which manages the recovery of threatened and endangered species, had already been treating tortoises on each side of the Colorado River as distinct populations The genetic evidence simply backs up previous observations, such as differences in life history and reproductive strategies.

"The two species have different habitat preferences," says Kristin Berry, a USGS biologist who has studied desert tortoise biology for more than 40 years and a coauthor on the study. "Morafka's tortoise prefers to hide and burrow under rock crevices on steep, rocky hillsides, while the Agassiz’s tortoise prefers to dig burrows in valleys."

Roy Averill-Murray, the desert tortoise recovery coordinator for the Fish and Wildlife Service said, "We appreciate the efforts of USGS and other researchers to increase our scientific knowledge about the taxonomy of the desert tortoise. The study's finding that the Morafka's desert tortoise is a new species confirms the Service's decision to evaluate this population independently from the Agassiz's desert tortoise, and will not change the status of either species under the Endangered Species Act or change existing recovery plans."

Distinguishing the two species required some historical detective work by the researchers. Desert tortoises were first described in 1861 by an Army physician, J.G. Cooper. But two of the original specimens were lost, possibly as a result of the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. Fortunately, Cooper had sent a third specimen to the Smithsonian — and its DNA helped researchers in their analysis 150 years later.

The study is published in the journal ZooKeys and authored by Robert Murphy of the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada, Kristin Berry of the USGS, and colleagues from University of Arizona, California Academy of Sciences and Lincoln University (Mo.).

Field research and travel for this study was supported by contracts from University of California Los Angeles, California State University Dominguez Hills, US Army Fort Irwin, USAF Edwards Air Force Base, USMC Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California Department of Fish and Game, the Bureau of Land Management and the USGS.

Read a detailed FAQ about the study on the USGS Western Ecological Center webpage.

More information on desert tortoise research by USGS biologist Kristin Berry: http://www.werc.usgs.gov/boxsprings

Table comparison that distinguishes the Morafka's desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) from the Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). (Text version of the table)

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Airplane to Make Low-level Flights Over Parts of Northern Utah

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 6 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EDT

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Utah residents should not be alarmed to witness a low-flying airplane over parts of northern Utah during the next two weeks.

Beginning on or about June 8th and lasting approximately one month, an airplane under contract to the U.S. Geological Survey, and in partnership with the Utah Geological Survey, will begin collecting and recording geophysical measurements over parts of northern Utah from Snowville, east to Brigham City, and south to Farmington Bay. The flights will cover the eastern and southern parts of Box Elder County, western parts of Weber and Davis Counties, and the northern tip of Salt Lake County.

Scientific equipment is mounted to the aircraft and is designed to map geologic structures beneath the land surface by measuring the magnetic characteristics of the rocks. This analysis is part of an ongoing USGS federal research program to identify physical occurrences such as changes in rock types, ultimately providing a better understanding of the geology and hydrology of the area.

The plane is controlled by experienced pilots who are specially trained for low-level flying and who are working with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure flights are in accordance with U.S. law.

Editor: In the public interest and in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the USGS is announcing this low-level airborne project. Your assistance in publicizing this information is appreciated.