U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2015–3057

August 2015 Printed on recycled paper

Science from Genes to Landscapes

Wherever flowering plants flourish, 

pollinating bees, birds, butterflies, 

bats, and other animals are at work, 

providing vital and often unnoticed 

services. Many of these species are 

in serious decline, a situation if 

unabated, threatens agricultural 

production, maintenance of natural 

plant communities, and other important 

services. Responding to this urgent 

challenge, the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) is part of efforts to provide 

scientific information to support 

pollinator conservation, including the 

implementation of a national pollinator 

health strategy1

. 

This science is but one example of 

how the Ecosystems Science Mission 

Area of the USGS conducts science 

to support sound management and 

conservation of our Nation’s biological 

resources. It does this through 

research, technical assistance, and 

education conducted by Cooperative 

Research Units and Science Centers 

located in nearly every State. 

The quality of life and economic 

strength in America hinges on healthy 

ecosystems that support living things 

and natural processes. Ecosystem 

science better enables society to 

understand how and why ecosystems 

change, to predict and forecast future 

changes, and to guide actions that can 

prevent damage to, and restore and 

sustain ecosystems. It is through this 

knowledge that informed decisions are 

made about natural resources that can 

enhance our Nation’s economic and 

environmental well-being.

1

http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/wildlife/pollinators/.

 Today the Ecosystems Science Mission Area concentrates its 

research in eight areas that address modern ecological and social issues 

and the interests of public and private groups.

Developing the knowledge base and tools to 

assess, conserve, and restore species of concern.

Species of Concern

Ecosystems Focal Areas and Examples of USGS Science

The USGS conducts research on species of concern to Federal 

land- and resource-management agencies. These include federally 

threatened, endangered, and candidate species; marine mammals; 

and inter-jurisdictional and migratory species. The USGS also works 

cooperatively with States to address species of concern to them. 

This often occurs through the Cooperative Research Units Program 

established by Congress, in part, for that purpose.

An example of a Federal species of concern is the polar bear, which 

is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and listed as 

threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The USGS conducts 

long-term research on polar bears and their habitat. The goal of 

current research is to refine scientific models to project the status of 

polar bears. Much of this research occurs under the Changing Arctic 

Ecosystems Initiative, which informs resource management decisions 

for Arctic Alaska with scientific information about ecosystem response 

to a warming climate. 

http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/interdisciplinary_science/cae/index.php
Understanding biological and physical processes and the influences of changing 

conditions across large geographic areas and over long periods of time to support 

landscape-scale management decisions.

In sagebrush-steppe landscapes, fires and related invasion of cheatgrass 

threaten land use and healthy ecosystems. A U.S. Department of the Interior 

rangeland fire-management strategy describes actions to help prevent and 

suppress rangeland fire and restore fire-affected landscapes across the West. 

The USGS contributes to this strategy by providing science needed by managers 

to understand and reduce the threat of rangeland fire and to effectively restore 

landscapes to sustainable conditions. Combined with additional understanding 

of ecosystem resistance and resilience to change, the USGS informs adaptive 

management at the landscape-scale.

http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/

as-fires-ravage-the-west-usgs-responds/

Developing and adapting new technologies and tools to increase effectiveness, efficiency, 

safety, and accuracy in answering natural resource management questions.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is shed from an organism into an environment. It can be detected 

from water, soil, air, or other non-biological sources within that environment using various 

molecular techniques. These techniques are widely used to determine if species are present 

that are rare, nocturnal, invasive, or otherwise difficult to detect, such as manatees, Asian 

carp, or Burmese pythons. Currently, the USGS is working with industry to develop a fielddeployable eDNA test kit that would allow managers to conduct even quicker, more costeffective surveillance to determine if key species are present. 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3146/

Understanding environmental effects of energy development, and developing tools and strategies to 

assist in responsible development of energy resources while minimizing negative effects to wildlife.

Recent exponential growth in wind-energy capacity has raised concerns about negative effects 

on wildlife. USGS science helps discover reasons why some flying species, bats for instance, 

are susceptible to collision with turbines and to develop innovative tools to reduce injury and 

fatalities. Managers and industry operators now use the statistical tools developed by the USGS 

to estimate wildlife fatalities at wind facilities. New monitoring protocols and habitat models 

will provide the basis for understanding how species such as golden eagles could be affected 

by wind energy development, support permitting and siting of new facilities, and guide potential 

strategies for mitigation. http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/energy_wildlife/

Advanced Technologies

Landscape Science

Energy and Wildlife
Quantifying the production and value of services provided by species, communities, or 

ecosystems for the benefit of everyone.

Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide is an important ecosystem 

service helping to regulate the Earth’s climate. In collaboration with the National Park 

Service, the USGS is calculating the economic value of climate regulation from carbon 

sequestration in National Parks. They estimate that parks in the conterminous United 

States store 14.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, a service worth more 

than $580 million annually. This information reveals one of many nonmarket economic 

benefits produced by National Parks.

http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/

pricing-the-priceless-ecosystem-services-science-at-usgs/

Advancing the understanding of water-flow needs of species or aquatic communities and developing 

tools to evaluate tradeoffs in water-allocation decisions.

The Delaware River Basin, covering portions of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, 

provides water to 15 million people and a variety of fish and wildlife. An integrative decision-support 

system developed by the USGS provides habitat data for key aquatic species, including both sport and 

migratory fish and federally endangered species. This decision-support system provides useful data for 

managers who must meet the diverse human and ecological water needs within the basin. 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1384/support/c1384.pdf

 Ecosystem Services

Ecological Flows

Photograph of Great Smoky Mountain National Park courtesy of the 

National Park Service, taken by Robert Crootof. 
EXPLANATION

Cooperative Research Units

Science Centers

Author: U.S. Geological Survey

For more information:

Ecosystems Mission Area

http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/

http://www.usgs.gov/ask/

1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747)

Images used in banner:

DNA image: ©iStock.com/Andrey Prokhorov

Tetons image: ©iStock.com/aimintang

All other photographs from USGS unless otherwise noted.

Publishing support provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, 

Science Publishing Network, Tacoma Publishing Service Center

Design: Bill Gibbs

ISSN 2327-6916 (print)

ISSN 2327-6932 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20153057

USGS Cooperative Research Units and Science Centers are located 

throughout the United States. Congress provides funding to the 

Ecosystems Mission Area through six programs: Cooperative Research 

Units, Environments, Fisheries, Invasive Species, Status and Trends, 

and Wildlife.

Describing the ecology of fish and wildlife diseases, and developing 

surveillance, control, and risk-assessment tools to support natural resource 

management and Federal biosecurity efforts.

White-nose syndrome, a fatal fungal infection of hibernating bats, has killed 

at least 6 million bats since 2006, threatening the survival of vulnerable 

populations of bats and even some species. The USGS is a national leader in 

white-nose syndrome research, discovering and understanding the disease in 

collaboration with partners, and supporting a national plan for managing the 

disease by developing treatment options. 

http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/

trick-or-treat-the-frightening-threats-to-bats-2/

Developing early detection methods, control technologies, and risk assessments 

of economically or ecologically damaging invasive species.

USGS scientists work with Federal, State, local, and other agencies to deploy 

new technologies to protect a multi-billion dollar fishery by preventing the 

spread of Asian carp to the Great Lakes. USGS research is leading to molecular 

detection technologies to rapidly detect carp presence at low abundances in 

new areas, behavioral deterrents to prevent the spread of carp, and selective 

toxicants and targeted delivery technologies to reduce carp populations 

without harming native species. 

http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/invasive_species/

Invasive Species

Emerging Diseases and Biosecurity

Photograph from ©iStock.com/AZ