The U.S. Geological Survey's Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON) system has launched, offering a vast repository of nearly 100 million mapped records of living US species. The database provides detailed information on species occurrences, including location, collector data, and environmental context.
These tiny crustaceans feed on nuisance algae that grow on seagrasses, helping to maintain healthy seagrass beds and provide nurseries for commercially important fish and shellfish. Grazers also serve as a food source for larger animals in the ecosystem.
Climate change is projected to place the endemic Haleakalā silversword species at risk of extinction due to increasing water stress and lethal conditions. The plant's recovery from early threats has stalled, with annual population growth rates linked to precipitation patterns and warmer-drier climate trends.
A magnitude-8.6 East Indian Ocean earthquake triggered a global increase in seismic activity, with unprecedented large aftershocks occurring worldwide. The study highlights the predictable changes in seismicity, shedding light on more than a decade-long debate about remotely triggered earthquakes.
A new database allows users to search for information on Florida's endangered species with ease. The tool, developed by a team of researchers, provides access to comprehensive data on threatened and endangered vertebrates in the state.
Scientists used fossil pollen to augment historical records of ancient Egyptian droughts and fires, including a massive 4,200-year-old drought that contributed to the demise of Egypt's Old Kingdom. The study provides insights into the evolution of societies tied to climate variability.
A new study reveals that groundwater in the upper Patapsco aquifer underlying Maryland is tens to hundreds of thousands of years old, with some samples dating back over a million years. This ancient water was recharged during cooler periods in earth's history and is now being rapidly pumped out by human activity.
A study published in Biological Conservation found two previously unknown feeding hotspots for loggerhead sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. The hotspots, located off the coast of Southwest Florida and the Yucatan Peninsula, provide valuable habitat for at least three separate populations of the turtles.
A USGS study found that climate-driven changes in elk behavior are causing cascading effects on plant and bird communities in mountainous Arizona. Elk's increased ability to browse on plants during winter is leading to decreased tree populations and habitat quality for songbirds.
Research suggests that Burmese pythons from the Florida Everglades can survive in marine and estuarine environments for several months, raising concerns about their potential spread to nearby islands. The study found that hatchling pythons could live up to five months with only salt water to drink.
A recent USGS literature review emphasizes the importance of studying the impact of large-scale solar energy developments on wildlife, particularly in sensitive habitats like the desert Southwest. The study found that only one peer-reviewed study has addressed the direct impacts of solar energy development on any kind of wildlife.
Researchers investigate bighorn sheep's seasonal habitat selection behaviors to cope with migration loss due to human development. The study also explores ecosystem services in the American Southwest using biodiversity metrics, while developing an agent-based model to assess disease transmission in fragmented landscapes.
Research suggests climate change is increasing avian malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases in Hawaiian forests, threatening the survival of endemic bird species. Native birds have adapted to these changes by developing tolerance to malaria, allowing them to expand their ranges into previously inhospitable areas.
Alaska Natives have reported warming temperatures, changes in vegetation patterns, and unpredictable weather conditions, affecting their traditional way of life. Thinning ice shortens winter travel seasons and hampers subsistence activities, while lower snowmelt flows strain local economies.
The USGS presented several studies on various fish-related topics, including the benefits of habitat restoration for juvenile salmon and the importance of targeting younger silver carp to control their population. Climate change may impact smallmouth bass populations, with warmer temperatures affecting growth in southern climates.
Researchers discovered that colonizing rice plants with fungal spores from naturally salt-tolerant plants enhances their ability to withstand cold, salt, and drought. This emerging strategy, called symbiogenics, could help mitigate climate change impacts on global food security.
A USGS-led study found that the population health of the red knot is directly tied to the number of egg-laying horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay during the red knot's northward migration each spring. The research suggests that managing horseshoe crab populations and their harvest may help conserve red knots.
A USGS study found that native bee communities are shaped by local factors, such as soil type, tree density, and fire frequency, rather than the composition of a plant community. Specialist bees tend to live in open areas with native plants, particularly in disturbed habitats like burned areas and residential zones.
USGS research suggests that certain lichens can break down the infectious proteins responsible for chronic wasting disease, a prion disease fatal to wild deer and elk. The study found that some lichen species contain a protease enzyme capable of significantly breaking down prions in the lab.
A recent study reveals that bats save the US agricultural industry at least $3 billion a year by controlling insect pests. The analysis also warns of potential losses due to white-nose syndrome and wind-energy facility fatalities, emphasizing the need for bat conservation.
A new study projects that climate change will likely eliminate Joshua trees from 90 percent of their current range within 60 to 90 years. The species' ability to migrate via seed dispersal may be severely limited due to its reliance on seed-caching rodents.
New research suggests that wild migratory birds, such as bar-headed geese, may contribute to the spread of bird flu by carrying the virus between domestic farms and wetlands. The study found a significant link between Tibet, Qinghai Lake, and H5N1 outbreaks in both wild and domestic birds.
A three-year study on the Nauset Marsh Estuary's red tide problem begins next week. The researchers will collect water samples and analyze them for concentrations of toxic algae to better understand environmental factors influencing the incidence of red tides.
The U.S. Geological Survey has launched an updated version of its Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) website, featuring improved data collection and dissemination technologies. Verified sighting records are now immediately available on the site's home page, allowing for more efficient monitoring of pollinator populations.
Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, is the oldest known US wild bird, returning to Midway at age 60 to raise her chick. She has likely raised over 30 chicks in her breeding life, demonstrating remarkable longevity and parenting skills.
A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey and University of California, Los Angeles, found that climate change will lead to increased dust storm activity in the Southwest due to reduced perennial vegetation cover. However, biological soil crusts prevented wind erosion from occurring at most sites.
A USGS report found that 68 percent of beaches in the region are eroding at an average rate of 1.6 feet per year. The study used historical data to assess coastal change over 150 years and provides valuable information for managing the impacts of sea-level rise.
New research predicts increased frequency of drought in eastern Africa, exacerbating existing food shortages and population growth. Scientists link warming Indian Ocean temperatures to decreased rainfall in the region.
A new USGS study models the impact of reduced greenhouse gas emissions on Arctic sea-ice loss and polar bear habitats. The research indicates that lowered emissions could help preserve polar bears in all four ecoregions where they exist, reversing projected declines in population size.
A USGS study has found large differences in arsenic concentrations from well to well, even at the town level, highlighting the need for private well owners to test their water. Elevated arsenic levels have been detected in multiple towns across Maine, posing a risk to residents' health and requiring prompt action.
Global coastal wetlands are likely to disappear near the end of the 21st century, with limited sediment supplies and tidal ranges making them vulnerable. Wetlands with higher sediment availability may survive under slow sea-level rise projections.
A USGS study reveals that growing corn for biofuels production has significant effects on water quality and quantity in northwestern Mississippi. Increased irrigation withdrawals from the MRVA aquifer contribute to declining water levels, while nitrogen fertilizer use can lead to low dissolved oxygen conditions in the Gulf of Mexico.
The US Geological Survey estimates approximately 13 million metric tons of rare earth elements exist in known deposits across the country. Significant deposits have been found in 14 states, including California, Alaska, and Wyoming.
Two new tools, Wildlife Health Event Reporter and Outbreaks Near Me, enable public reporting of sick or dead wild animals to detect wildlife disease outbreaks that may pose a risk to humans. These tools can also provide early warnings of emerging diseases.
The USGS has developed a new method for tracking the progress of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus delivery from the watershed to the Bay. Analysis reveals both good and bad news about progress over the past 31 years, with significant improvements in some watersheds but increases in others.
The genetic study confirms Antillean manatees in Belize as a separate subspecies from Florida manatees. However, the Belizean population has extremely low genetic diversity, posing a long-term viability threat.
A USGS study found that taste-and-odor compounds are commonly associated with cyanotoxin presence, highlighting the need for increased surveillance and public alert systems. Cyanotoxins can be poisonous to people, aquatic life, pets, and livestock, causing symptoms like skin rashes, stomach upset, seizures, or death.
Native submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) cover increased tenfold and diversity of plant species rose as nutrients declined and water clarity improved. Improved restoration efforts have boosted SAV abundance, benefiting ecosystem health.
A study using genomics found a clear decline in horseshoe crab populations that parallels climate change, affecting reproduction and distribution. Climate change projections predict further declines, impacting species like Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles and millions of migrating shorebirds.
The USGS has released a detailed national map of land-cover vegetation, which will enable conservation professionals to identify places with suitable habitat for wildlife. The map, produced by the USGS Gap Analysis Program, provides critical data for determining biodiversity status and assessing climate change impacts.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are a significant source of pharmaceuticals in surface waters, according to a USGS study. Outflow from wastewater treatment plants that receive pharmaceutical wastewater had concentrations 10-1000 times higher than those without.
A USGS study reveals that atrazine concentrations in agricultural streams and rivers can cause reduced reproduction and spawning in fish. Fathead minnows exposed to atrazine showed lower total egg production and reproductive tissue abnormalities.
The USGS is providing $7 million in funding for earthquake monitoring to support the development of the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). This initiative will enhance the country's ability to detect and respond to earthquakes, ultimately saving lives and reducing economic losses.
Climate change projections indicate major reductions in wetland volume, shortening of water retention time, and changes in vegetation dynamics in the prairie pothole region. This will negatively impact millions of waterfowl depending on the region for their life cycles.
USGS scientists identify Northern Pintail birds with genetic variations closely related to Eurasian influenza viruses, highlighting the need for targeted surveillance efforts. The study proposes refining priority species lists based on genetic analysis to reduce time and effort in surveillance sampling.
Scientists find evidence that Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas may experience seasonally ice-free conditions and much warmer temperatures in the future. USGS research suggests that current climate models underestimate sea ice loss, with potential consequences including accelerated coastal erosion and impacts on polar bears and seals.
Researchers have discovered that the deep ocean's temperature variability and circulation system are more complex than previously thought, leading to more accurate predictions of sea level rise and ice volume changes. The study uses a 3-D reconstruction of an ocean during a past warm period to gain insights into global climate dynamics.
A recent study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that the climate may be 30-50 percent more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide than previously thought. This increased sensitivity could lead to more accurate long-term projections and a better understanding of climate change's impacts on global temperatures.
The USGS estimates that the nation's forests and soils could store an additional 3-7 billion metric tons of carbon, equivalent to 2-4 years of US CO2 emissions. This potential is achieved by using agricultural lands for planting forests.
State agencies and universities nationwide will receive funding to upgrade their volcano monitoring networks, producing high-resolution maps of high-threat volcanoes and analyzing recent eruption data. This investment aims to provide more reliable information for emergency responders and create jobs in the equipment manufacturing sector.