The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) are home to an array of diverse and stunning habitats. The beauty of the islands has continued to attract visitors and residents, which overtime has increased human development and impact. The resulting land-use change increases sediment loads and the...

Forest composition and structure in the Colorado Front Range has been altered by changing wildfire regimes. In particular, increased moderate- and high-severity fire significantly reduces forest cover following fire and often results in reduced seedling regeneration. Reduced tree canopy regrowth...

Wildfires in the southeastern US are understood less than those in other portions of the nation. In October and November 2016, over sixty individual wildfires ignited among seven states in the Southern Appalachian region. These fires damaged hundreds of buildings, caused numerous power outages, and...

Wildfires in the southeastern US are less understood compared to other portions of the nation. In October and November of 2016, over 60 individual wildfires ignited among seven states in the Southern Appalachian region. These fires damaged hundreds of buildings, caused numerous power outages...

The Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound region comprise the majority of the coastal estuaries along the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast. These bodies of water provide the salinity conditions needed to sustain diverse wildlife species and coastal habitats. Changes in water quality parameters directly impact...

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) contains a diverse suite of culturally and historically significant archaeological sites that are threatened by erosion and changing land cover dynamics. The National Park Service (NPS) is tasked with monitoring, studying, and preserving these archeological sites, many of which...

Asheville, North Carolina has had a population growth of approximately 10 percent over the past decade, while the city’s tree canopy cover has simultaneously decreased by 6.4 percent. A well-known benefit of urban tree cover is the mitigation of the...

Both wildfires and conifer-defoliating insect outbreaks have increased in frequency and severity in recent years. Western spruce budworm (Choristoneura freemani), a widespread defoliator in western U.S. forests, has impacted over 6,000 hectares of forest in southern Colorado. The forest managers for southern Colorado’s Tercio and...

In recent years, Austin, Texas has experienced an increase in population and urban development. Additionally, the City’s climate continues to change and currently faces extreme heat and drought. As temperatures and demand for utilities and resources rise, the number of...

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is an important species for wildlife, watershed health, and ecosystem resilience across its range. Heavy ungulate browsing and factors influenced by a changing climate including seasonal temperature changes and moisture deficit have led to...