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Scientists at the Las Vegas Station focus on ecological patterns and processes of desert plants and animals, the effects of human impacts on these ecological characteristics, and the effectiveness of approaches to mitigate the negative effects of human impacts. Studies occur in Nevada, California, Arizona and Utah and range from below sea level to alpine habitats and isolated desert wetlands in the Mojave, Sonoran, and Great Basin deserts.
Examples of ongoing research include: translocation, reproduction, and survivorship of the desert tortoise; the impact of human disturbance on desert bighorn sheep populations and habitat modeling with geographic information systems; carnivore ranging behavior and sensitivity to human impacts; population status and reproductive ecology of western burrowing owls; interrelationships between invasive plants and wildfire, and their effects on native species and the availability of soil nutrients; impacts of dust deposition on endangered plants; plant-animal interactions related to disturbance and habitat restoration; and efficacy of arid land restoration practices.
PROJECTS
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