Branch Chief: Zack Bowen
FORT scientists in the Ecosystem Dynamics Branch investigate a diversity of complex natural resource problems at the landscape and systems levels related to energy development and land-use change, ecosystem responses to climate change and atmospheric deposition, herbivore-ecosystem interactions, and fire effects on ecosystems.
The STEM institute offers week long classes to students with the goal of increasing children’s exposure to science, math, engineering and technology. Six students from the GALACTIC STEM (Girls Adventures in Learning… A Chance to Investigate Careers) visited the Fort Collins Science Center on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 to learn about careers for women in the natural resources. With the help of Center Director David Hamilton and scientists Sara Oyler-McCance, Jennifer Fike, Kate Schoenecker, and Amy Yackel-Adams the girls were able to receive an overview of FORT’s research capabilities, wildlife genetics, and wildlife tracking. The STEM students were introduced to wildlife genetics by Sara Oyler-McCance and Jennifer Fike who discussed how they use DNA from wildlife species to address wildlife conservation and management questions. They were taught how to extract DNA from a strawberry, and were taken on a tour of the FORT Molecular Ecology Lab. The girls then learned about radio telemetry and put their knowledge to work finding radio collars that were hidden outside the building by Kate Schoenecker and Amy Yackel-Adams.
Click here to learn more about the STEM Institute
More Ecosystem Dynamics Headlines
Publications: 
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2011 annual report
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.fort.usgs.gov/ED/Default.asp
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