USGS FRESC: Research Themes

FRESC Research - Ecosystem & Landscape

FRESC scientists investigate whole-system processes and relationships across space and time in order to advance understanding of natural, managed, and disturbed ecosystems. This includes research, monitoring, remote sensing, modeling, and synthesis to describe the patterns of change across landscapes and the biological and physical processes that generate them.

Research Efforts:

Aquatic

Contaminant Bioaccumulation through Food Webs	Spatial Ecology of Freshwater Ecosystems
Landscape Ecology of Aquatic Ecosystems	Water Temperature in Rivers and Streams
Mercury Cycling and Effects on Ecological Communities	Wildlife-Habitat Relationships

Aridlands

Climate Responses of Dominant Wildland Species and Ecosystems	Indicators of Rangeland Health
Collaborative Partnering in Science and Land Management	Invasive Species Ecology
Conservation Issues for Sage-Grouse and Sagebrush Ecosystems	Role of Human and Natural Disturbance in Shaping Sagebrush Ecosystems
Habitat and Population Connectivity in Sagebrush Ecosystems

Forests

Climate and Ecosystem Biogeochemistry	Landscape Patterns and Disturbance
Disturbance History in Natural Communities	Nitrogen Deficiency and Excess in Forests: Patterns, Mechanisms and Management
Ecosystem Baselines and Restoration	Riparian Forests
Fire Effects and Forest Recovery

Tools and Techniques

Developing Tools for Climate Change Adaptation	Modeling Disturbance and Ecosystem Change at Landscape Scales
Habitat Mapping and Modeling	Terrestrial Vegetation Dynamics