NRI conducts applied research to support the conservation and recovery of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species, both flora and fauna, across diverse ecosystems. Our work integrates field studies, population monitoring, landscape and ecosystem evaluations, genetics, habitat modeling, and policy analysis to better understand species needs and reduce regulatory uncertainty for private and public landowners and agencies. By developing science-based strategies that balance conservation with the realities of working and military land, NRI helps partners proactively address species concerns and maintain resilient landscapes for wildlife and communities alike. Here are a few of our research species, and the approach through Species Status Assessments.
Species Status Assessments
The NRI Ecological Resilience Team conducts Species Status Assessments for species of conservation concern, including species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, the diamondback rattlesnake, the lake sturgeon, the Key deer, the wood turtle, and the gopher tortoise. The team works directly with multiple state and federal agencies, and private entities, in compiling the best available science that will serve as the basis of Endangered Species Act (ESA) decisions from listing, delisting, and downlisting.
To accomplish the institute’s goals, the team works to develop and promote conservation strategies and delivery systems to support species of concern through innovative ESA-based solutions, and to identify and encourage revitalized, reshaped collaborative relationships between key partners, particularly state and federal wildlife agencies.
Freshwater mussels research
Freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled freshwater organisms globally, and Texas is no exception—15 species are state-listed as threatened and 12 are under federal review. These mussels play vital roles in nutrient cycling, stabilizing streambeds, and supporting aquatic habitat diversity, making their decline a significant concern for ecosystem health. Since 2011, NRI’s freshwater mussel research program has worked to fill critical gaps in biology, taxonomy, distribution, and habitat needs to support conservation and recovery efforts. Centered around a 2,000-square-foot wet lab in Dallas, current studies focus on reproductive biology, thermal and salinity tolerances, and molecular analyses. Findings from this work inform listing decisions, guide management actions, and help protect Texas’ rare and sensitive aquatic species.
Understanding the keystone gopher tortoise
The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a keystone species whose burrows support more than 360 other wildlife species. Populations have declined due to habitat loss and fragmentation, leading to state and federal protections across its range. Because the tortoise occurs on numerous DoD installations, conservation requirements can conflict with training activities.
To address this, the Gopher Tortoise Conservation and Crediting Strategy was developed—an innovative policy that protects military readiness while directing conservation to the habitats of highest ecological value. Working with private landowners and partners, NRI has helped relocate and protect more than 1,000 at-risk tortoises, establishing long-term habitat and supporting population recovery. This collaborative approach offers a promising model for other at-risk species facing similar human–wildlife challenges.
Spot-tailed earless lizard populations
The spot-tailed earless lizard (Holbrookia lacerata) is believed to be declining across its range, but limited information on population size and distribution in Texas has hindered conservation planning. To address this, NRI is conducting statewide road surveys to identify where the species persists and to refine habitat models based on field observations.
Researchers have also assessed genetic connectivity among populations using tissue samples collected during surveys, helping define conservation units within Texas. Radio-telemetry and mark-recapture studies further clarify habitat needs, movement patterns, and population densities. By filling key gaps in the species’ biology, NRI’s work provides the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the best available science to inform listing decisions and support future conservation efforts.
Houston toad reintroduction
As one of the first amphibians listed under the Endangered Species Act, the Houston toad (Anaxyrus houstonensis) experienced severe population declines due to habitat loss, drought, and urban expansion across its limited range in Central Texas. NRI works alongside federal, state, and local partners to support the recovery of this critically endangered species through habitat assessments, breeding and release support, landowner engagement, and long-term monitoring of occupied and potential habitats. By combining science-based management with collaborative conservation strategies, NRI helps restore the fire-adapted forests and wetlands essential to the Houston toad’s survival while promoting land stewardship practices that benefit broader ecosystem health.
Longleaf pine restoration
Longleaf pine forests once dominated the Southeast but now cover less than five percent of their original range due to fire suppression and land-use changes. NRI works with the America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative—a coalition of agencies, nonprofits, industry, and private landowners—to restore these legacy ecosystems and the cultural, ecological, and economic benefits they provide.
Restoring longleaf forests supports wildlife habitat, clean air and water, sustainable timber opportunities, and compatible land uses near military installations. Since 2007, NRI has played a key leadership role in this effort by providing project management, outreach, geospatial analysis, and policy support.
