Southwest Biological Science Center As a unit of the USGS, the mission of the Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) is to provide quality scientific information needed to conserve and manage natural and biological resources, with an emphasis on the species and ecosystem of the southwestern United States. SBSC research includes water use and the effects of livestock grazing, wild land fires, invasive species, environmental contaminants, declining populations of native species, and urban development on the Southwest region. Specifically, SBSC's goals include the following: Evaluate responses of fauna and flora to natural and anthropogenic influences; Develop the biological knowledge needed to sustain and restore ecosystems; Develop [...]
Summary
Southwest Biological Science Center
As a unit of the USGS, the mission of the Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) is to provide quality scientific information needed to conserve and manage natural and biological resources, with an emphasis on the species and ecosystem of the southwestern United States. SBSC research includes water use and the effects of livestock grazing, wild land fires, invasive species, environmental contaminants, declining populations of native species, and urban development on the Southwest region. Specifically, SBSC's goals include the following: Evaluate responses of fauna and flora to natural and anthropogenic influences; Develop the biological knowledge needed to sustain and restore ecosystems; Develop tools for assessing status and trends of animal and plant populations; Use integrated, long-term research to model linkages among ecosystem components; Provide a scientific foundation for federal policies and management strategies related to natural resources in the arid southwest; and Disseminate the latest in technical information and research findings in a timely manner to client agencies, conservation organizations, and others responsible for the management of our Nation's natural resources.
Terrestrial Dryland Ecology Branch
The Terrestrial Dryland Ecology (TDE) Branch of the SBSC studies the biology, ecology,and processes of semi-arid and arid lands (known as drylands). TDE researchers study plant-soil-water relationships and the wildlife found in drylands.
River Ecosystem Science Branch & GCMRC
The River Ecosystem Science (RES) Branch of the SBSC, which includes the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC), studies the biology, ecology, and processes of rivers in the western United States, with an emphasis on the Southwest.
Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) measures effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on the resources along the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam, near Page, Arizona to the inflow of Lake Mead.
