Networks
Invasion by non-native species, wildfire, drought, and other disturbances are growing rapidly in extent and frequency, creating novel ecosystem conditions that can outpace the knowledge base of local land managers. These growing problems often cross administrative boundaries, requiring agencies to proactively work together. In light of these challenges, managers can benefit from collaborative, innovative, and dynamic approaches to sharing information. The Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest, which is coordinated by the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, has created a hub for science-based information and tools to help managers identify effective and resource-efficient strategies to successfully restore degraded areas.
The Cottonwood Ecology Group is an interdisciplinary and international research team interested in the genetic basis of community structure and ecosystem processes. As its name suggests, the group focuses on cottonwoods, a species that disproportionately influences a much larger community of understory plants, insects, microbes, birds, and mammals.
Multiyear collaboration with Navajo Technical University and the U.S. Forest Service to understand the status of pinyon-juniper woodlands and develop restoration techniques.