Projects and Research
Research
Inventory and monitoring projects are done to help further Refuge purposes; inform management of biological diversity and environmental health; and federally threatened and endangered species.
Surveys or research done by Refuge staff or partners in recent years include:
- Inventory and mapping of native plant communities
- Condition and health of native grasslands as measured by plant composition and structure
- Invasive plant distribution and abundance
- Prairie grouse abundance
- Breeding bird species occurrence and abundance
- Bison health and abundance
- Bison genetics
- Elk health, abundance, and movements
- Mountain lion distribution and abundance
- Northern long-eared bat winter hibernacula
- White-nose syndrome surveillance in bats
- Bat species composition and abundance (NAbat)
- American burying beetle distribution and abundance
- Streamflow and water quality of the Niobrara River and tributary streams
- Wilderness character