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Field sampling
Collecting pieces or specimens or making measurements or observations at determined intervals or areas. Results may be used as representative of the whole research area or population.
Subtopics:
Animal tracking (13 items)
Capturing (animals) (20 items)
Drilling and coring (20 items)
Plant and animal tagging (7 items)
Plot sampling (2 items)
Sexing (plants & animals) (3 items)
Specimen collecting (21 items)
Transect sampling (1 items)
Trenching (1 items)
Water sampling (51 items)

Fish inventories (10 items)
Results 1 - 140 of 141 listed by similarity [list alphabetically]
PDF Illustrated field guide for assessing external and internal anomalies in fish [More info]
Links to PDF version of the field guide.
PDF Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program Western Pilot Project - Conditions of North Dakota Perennial Streams for Water Chemistry and Mercury in Fish Tissue, 2000-2003 [More info]
Sixty-five sampling sites, selected by a statistical design to represent lengths of perennial streams in North Dakota, were chosen to be sampled for water chemistry and mercury in fish tissue to establish unbiased baseline data.
PDF Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program Western Pilot Project - Information about selected fish and macroinvertebrates sampled from North Dakota perennial streams, 2000-2003 [More info]
Sixty-five sampling sites, selected by a statistical design to represent lengths of perennial streams in North Dakota, were chosen to be sampled for fish and aquatic insects (macroinvertebrates) to establish unbiased baseline data.
Field Conference on Impacts of Coalbed Methane Development in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. [More info]
Field trip to Powder River Basin coalbed methane (CBM) development areas showing impacts related to drilling, facilities, pipeline networks, access roads, withdrawal, and disposal of co-produced water from CBM wells.
Field manual of wildlife diseases: general field procedures and diseases of birds [More info]
Manual listing field procedures for bird specimen collecting, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral diseases, biotoxins, chemical toxins, common and scientific names of birds, and glossary. Manual can be downloaded or viewed in PDF format.
Field methods: capture and marking of pintails [More info]
Method of tracking pintail ducks by capturing with rocket nets or swim-in traps and attaching telemetry devices that allow satellite tracking. Includes video of rocket nets.
PDF Lake monitoring field manual [More info]
Handbook on monitoring methods for lake management, including program design, sampling methods and protocol, biota and chemical sampling methods, laboratory methods, preservation of data and samples, glossary, and bibliography. (PDF file, 92 pp.)
National field manual for the collection of water-quality data [More info]
Field manual (also available in PDF and paper formats) with instructions on techniques to collect and process water samples and to perform measurements of temperature, oxygen content, conductance, pH, turbidity, and fecal contaminants.
Seabed Observation and Sampling System (SEABOSS) [More info]
Link to PDF fact sheet describing the SEABASS system that collects seabed images and sediment samples in coastal regions.
Vegetation sampling and classification of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Cades Cove and Mount Le Conte quadrangles): final report [More info]
Report of a pilot study to classify vegetation communities in parts of the Smoky Mountains National Park by sampling vegetation in selected areas with information on field methods and data analysis and lists of communities identified.
PDF Acid Rain in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia [More info]
Explains acidity and acid rain and how it affects aquatic organisms. Describes the effect of acid rain on this national park, identifying areas that are at greater or lesser risk from acid rain.
Agricultural chemicals [More info]
Overview of the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program role in investigating the occurrence and fate of agricultural chemicals with links to investigations, headlines, on-line fact sheets, new publications, bibliographies and photo gallery.
Amargosa Desert research site [More info]
Online reports, site description and photographs of the Amargosa Desert research site monitoring low level radioactive waste.
Apoidea -- Bees and Sphecid Wasps [More info]
Guide to the identification, biology, and ecology of bees and sphecid wasps, mostly in eastern North America.
PDF Application of environmental DNA for inventory and monitoring of aquatic species [More info]
Using genetic analysis of organic material found in aquatic environments it is possible to detect the presence of organisms without necessarily observing or capturing individuals. Explains terms, methods, and prospective utility of this approach.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 1002 Area, petroleum assessment, 1998, including economic analysis [More info]
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) 1002 area's petroleum resource assessment. Text available in PDF and HTML formats.
Arsenic in ground water of the United States [More info]
Information on arsenic in United States ground water largely as a result of minerals dissolving from weathered rocks and soils. Includes links to publications, data, maps, and links to other sites with information on arsenic.
Assessing the vulnerability of public-supply wells to contamination--Edwards aquifer near San Antonio, Texas [More info]
Well vulnerability results from the young age of groundwater. Karst features permit contaminants to move into the aquifer easily, leading to a well mixed aquifer; geochemical processes do not degrade contaminants quickly.
PDF Assessment of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the Autauga Creek watershed, Autauga County, Alabama, 2009 [More info]
Previous analysis showed this area to have reduced macroinvertebrate biodiversity, an important measure of ecosystem health. New observations indicate that conditions have improved; report includes methods and results of sampling.
Avian Influenza: Information and on-going research at the USGS Alaska Science Center [More info]
Maps and information about potential spread of avian influenza in migratory birds in Alaska. Includes descriptions and photos of the waterfowl that are being monitored.
Bat research in California [More info]
Brief review of bat research in the San Francisco Bay area and southern California providing land managers with information on the occurrence and status of bat species with links to bat inventories for California and related material.
PDF Bats of Ouray National Wildlife Refuge [More info]
Detailed information on capture-and-release surveying as well as acoustic monitoring of bats indicates prevalence of various species and, for the captured specimens, physiological characteristics.
Bedrock and soil geochemistry from Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota [More info]
Maps and text (Word or PDF format) and database (Excel or HTML format) for bedrock, forest floor, and mineral soil sampling in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota to establish the background and baseline geochemistry and terrestrial mercury sources.
Biogeochemical and geohydrologic processes in a landfill-impacted alluvial aquifer, Norman, Oklahoma [More info]
Discussion and links to research for the multi-disciplinary investigation on the Norman Landfill located on alluvium associated with the Canadian River in central Oklahoma.
Biomarker Benchmarks: Reproductive and Endocrine Biomarkers in Largemouth Bass and Common Carp from United States Waters [More info]
Describes a national reconnaissance study of reproductive health in two species of fish across the US. More than 2,200 common carp and 650 largemouth bass were collected at 119 rivers and streams.
Biosolids, Animal Manure, and Earthworms: Is There a Connection? [More info]
Research findings and examples of application to real problems--how household contaminants accumulate in and effect the environment
Bird Banding Laboratory: the North American Bird Banding Program [More info]
Bird banding is used to study the movement, survival and behavior of birds. The Bird Banding Laboratory Site has links to the value, procedure and history of bird banding, how to report bird bands (English & Spanish), and resources for birders.
PDF Buck Island Reef National Monument Sea Turtle Research Program: Sea turtle nesting research & monitoring protocols manual [More info]
Manual for research program on the nesting habits of sea turtles of the Virgin Islands, with descriptions of species, nesting behavior, observation methods, record keeping, tagging, and tissue sample collection. (PDF file, 121 pp.)
PDF Characterizing contaminant concentrations with depth by using the USGS well profiler in Oklahoma, 2003-9 [More info]
Use of specialized sampling equipment to study public water supply wells, with examples showing Arsenic in two aquifers.
Climate-Driven Ocean Changes Affect Estuaries [More info]
Research findings and examples of application to real problems--Pacific Ocean cooling triggers phytoplankton blooms in San Francisco Bay.
PDF Concentrations of mercury and other metals in black bass (Micropterus spp.) from Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta County, California, 2005 [More info]
Historical gold mining has left this area susceptible to mercury contamination. Elevated concentrations of mercury in the fish are well documented here.
PDF Condition of streams in Independence, Missouri: What is being done to protect stream health and how citizens can help [More info]
Stream water quality is affected by amount of impermeable surface in the basin; construction; reservoirs; sanitary sewer systems; land use and population density; road salt; animal waste; lawn and agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
PDF Corals as climate recorders [More info]
Shows how coral reef specimens are collected, the type of information gained from them, and the methods by which they are measured and studied to understand recent (past few centuries) changes in climate.
Core Research Center [More info]
Overview of the Core Research Center (CRC) in Denver for preserving valuable rock cores for permanent storage and making the cores available for examination and testing. Includes links to services, well reports, and resources.
Detecting Amphibian-Killing Fungus Helps Scientists Study Amphibian Declines [More info]
Research findings and examples of application to real problems--a new method to track down amphibian disease in the environment.
Discovery for Recovery: an International Pintail Recovery Initiative (Pinsat) [More info]
Using satellite telemetry and field studies to track pintail ducks during spring migration north from California's Central Valley plus pintails in New Mexico and Texas. Includes links to migration maps, journal, duck calls, and field methods.
Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) of the United States [More info]
Manual on dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata), with links to photo thumbnails, checklists, distribution maps, and other Odonata information.
PDF Drilling a deep geologic test well at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina [More info]
With the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, USGS is drilling a deep geologic test well to learn about the regional Floridan aquifer, which provides groundwater to the Hilton Head area.
Earthworms of North Dakota [More info]
Species maps, aggregate map, earthworm diagram, species photos, and bibliography of earthworm species found in North Dakota
PDF Effects of wastewater on forested wetlands [More info]
Study of the effects of the practice of cycling municipal nutrient-enriched wastewater from holding ponds through forested wetlands. Studies were in the Cypiere Perdue Swamp, Louisiana, and the Drummond Bog, Wisconsin.
Flying by Night: USGS Scientists Put Technology to Work on Bats [More info]
Short description of techniques used to monitor migration patterns and behavior of bats in New Mexico.
Forum on Wildlife Telemetry - Innovations, Evaluations, and Research Needs [More info]
Papers from Forum on Wildlife Telemetry, Snowmass Village, CO, 1997 about innovations in transmitting and receiving systems, attachment techniques, collection of data using telemetry, data processing and analysis. Available as *.zip file to download.
Frequent arousal from hibernation linked to severity of infection and mortality in bats with white-nose syndrome [More info]
By attaching data loggers to bats, we found bats infected with white-nose syndrome awoke from hibernation more frequently, which may contribute to increased mortality.
Great Lakes Science Center research vessels [More info]
Description of ships used for Great Lakes research by scientists at the Great Lakes Science Center.
Ground-water monitoring for pesticides in Wyoming [More info]
Sampling program to determine if pesticides are present in ground water, in accordance with Wyoming's Generic State Management Plan for Pesticides in Ground Water (SMP).
Gulf of Mexico Climate-History Calibration Study [More info]
Proxy methods allow us to estimate ancient ocean temperatures but only if the method is calibrated using modern samples for which we measure the temperature. This is a proxy method using a sediment trap to collect planktonic foraminifera.
PDF Gulf of Mexico deep-sea coral ecosystem studies, 2008-2011 [More info]
Deep-sea corals, also known as cold-water corals, have become a topic of interest due to conservation concerns over the impacts of trawling, exploration for oil and gas, and climate change.
PDF Holocene evolution of Apalachicola Bay, Florida [More info]
Geophysical surveying, combined with analysis of sediment cores and radiometric dating were used to describe the likely history of formation of this area.
PDF Identification of tsunami deposits in the geologic record; developing criteria using recent tsunami deposits [More info]
Characteristics of recent tsunami deposits, with the knowledge we have about the events that caused them, give us ways to recognize ancient deposits of this type and infer characteristics of those ancient tsunamis as well.
Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) [More info]
Description of research program for immediate and long-term management of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) inhabiting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Includes links to reports in PDF format and cooperating organizations.
PDF Investigating atmospheric mercury with the U.S. Geological Survey mobile mercury laboratory [More info]
Explains sources of mercury in the air, ways in which mercury is concentrated in animals, and describes how we measure deposition of atmospheric mercury, with summaries of observations.
Johnson Creek basin hydrologic monitoring [More info]
Hydrologic data and analyses of surface-water, water quality, and ground water in the Johnson Creek basin in Oregon.
PDF Lead Poisoning in Wild Birds [More info]
Even though lead usage has declined due to environmental awareness and regulation, several human sources of lead continue to affect birds. Hunting ammunition and fishing gear are ingested by the birds, with toxic effects.
PDF Macroinvertebrate and algal community sample collection methods and data collected at selected sites in the Eagle River watershed, Colorado, 2000-07 [More info]
Macroinvertebrate data collected by USGS or USFS from 73 sites from 2000 to 2007 and algal data collected from up to 26 sites between 2000 and 2001 in the Eagle River watershed, with emphasis on methods of sample collection and data processing.
Marine aggregate resources and processes [More info]
Regional studies mapping the seafloor sedimentary character and assessing marine sand and gravel resources around the United States, to inform beach nourishment and coastal restoration, benthic habitat and sediment transport studies
Mercury Concentrations in Streams Found to Go Through Daily Cycles [More info]
Research findings and examples of application to real problems--highly variable conditions cause the production of toxic methyl mercury in the environment which accumulates in fish.
Mercury in stream ecosystems - publications [More info]
Publications dealing with the occurrence, methods of monitoring, and changes in the concentration of mercury within streams and nearby areas
Methow River Basin [More info]
Description of studies conducted to evaluate the surface water, ground water, water interactions, and water quality of Methow River Basin in Washington. With links to related science topics, datasets, maps, project summaries, and news.
PDF Microbial ecology of deep-water mid-Atlantic canyons [More info]
Plan for an upcoming study, at the microbiological scale, of the benthic communities (including corals) that reside in and around mid-Atlantic canyons, which are located at the edge of the continental shelf.
Midcontinent Agricultural Chemical Research Program [More info]
Homepage for the research on occurrence, movement, flux, fate, and effects of agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides, in 25 states by the Midcontinent Agricultural Chemical Research Project (MACRP) with links to study results and publications.
PDF Monitoring for Pesticides in Groundwater and Surface Water in Nevada, 2008 [More info]
Study of pesticides in shallow groundwater and surface water to help decision makers evaluate and manage pesticide application practices to protect drinking water resources, especially deeper, potable groundwater as well as aquatic species.
Monitoring grizzly bear populations using DNA [More info]
Description of project monitoring the status of Greater Glacier National Park Area's grizzly bear and black bear populations using genetic techniques on DNA from bear hair or scats without handling bears, with photos and discussion of methods.
Multielement geochemical dataset of surficial materials for the northern Great Basin [More info]
This report presents geochemical data generated during mineral and environmental assessments for the Bureau of Land Management in northern Nevada, northeastern California, southeastern Oregon, and southwestern Idaho, along with metadata and maps.
National assessment of mercury in aquatic ecosystems [More info]
Overview of three research programs including determining levels of mercury at selected sites in water, sediment and fish, mercury emissions into the atmosphere, and mercury cycling in the Everglades National Park, Florida.
National assessment of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in water resources of the United States [More info]
Links to online data retrieval, information on MTBE and gasoline oxygenates, VOCs analysis, VOC publications, news features, and featured online publications.
National Ice Core Laboratory [More info]
The U.S. National Ice Core Laboratory (NICL) is a facility in the Denver Federal Center, Colorado, for long-term storage, curating, and studying ice cores recovered from the polar regions of the world with information on public tours.
National Petroleum Reserve Alaska Legacy Data Archive [More info]
Access is provided to seismic data, image files of seismic data, well logs, and cores of petroleum reserves in Alaska from the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska, and (NPRA) Legacy Data Archive.
National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) [More info]
Homepage for description of the National Stream Quality Network (NASQAN), a long-term program monitoring the concentrations and flux of sediment and chemicals in the Nation's largest rivers (Mississippi, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande, and Yukon).
National Water Quality Laboratory [More info]
The National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) is a full-service laboratory that specializes in environmental analytical chemistry and has a primary role to develop new analytical methods. Links to directory, publications, and standards.
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program: protocols for the analysis of algal samples collected [More info]
Summary of protocols describing procedures for laboratory analysis of algae samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA). Includes full document to be downloaded in PDF format.
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program: reconstructed trends national synthesis study. [More info]
Program to compile data from the National Water-Quality Assessment Program study units to study national trends with links to sediment coring sites, video on Salt Lake City, study units identification, and publications.
National Water-Quality Assessment data warehouse [More info]
Data warehouse for national water quality program with links to chemical, biological, and physical data for water, sediment and animal tissues, nutrient, pesticide, and VOC levels, streamflow, and ground water levels from national study units.
Nitrate in ground water near La Pine, Oregon [More info]
Description of project studying hydrologic and chemical processes that affect the movement and fate of nitrogen within the shallow aquifers of the La Pine region of central Oregon.
Nonindigenous aquatic species alert system [More info]
Reports indicating locations where non-indigenous aquatic organisms have been collected. Includes RSS feed you can subscribe to.
PDF Noninvasive methods for monitoring bear population trends [More info]
We estimate population growth rates by collecting hair at natural bear rubs along trails, roads, and fence and power lines, and analyzing the DNA from the hair.
North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) [More info]
North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is a cooperative program that monitors the status and trends of North American bird populations. Includes files of results, analyses, route collection maps and raw data.
North Dakota furtakers: educational manual [More info]
Trapping education manual for the beginning or inexperienced trapper intended to provide information on North Dakota's predators and furbearing animals and the basics on how to trap them using good trapping skills and sound fur management.
NPElement: A database of lichen elemental concentrations in the U.S. national parks [More info]
Database providing concentration of heavy metals, nutrients, and trace elements in 75 species of lichens sampled in 43 national park units in 24 states.
Occurrence of selected radionuclides in ground water used for drinking water in the United States [More info]
Results (*.pdf) of a 1998 targeted reconnaissance survey on the sources of radium, polonium, and lead radionuclides, data collection and laboratory methods, existing occurrences in drinking water, risk assessments, and compliance monitoring.
PDF Occurrence, distribution, and concentrations of selected contaminants in streambed- and suspended-sediment samples collected in Bexar County, Texas, 2007-09 [More info]
Study showing which chemicals found in sediments were most common, with methods used and likely consequences of their high concentrations.
Oculina Bank - geology of a deep-water coral reef habitat off Florida [More info]
Brief report on sidescan sonar data, sediment sampling, and submersible and video photography studies of destruction of deep-water coral pinnacles where fish spawn off east-central Florida in the Oculina Bank in order to restore and protect the habitat.
Organic metamorphism in the California petroleum basins: Chapter A - ROCK-EVAL and vitrinite reflectance [More info]
Part A of a complex report on the results of ROCK-EVAL and vitrinite reflectance analysis of a large sample base from more than 70 wells located in three oil-rich California petroleum basins in order to study the formation of oil deposits.
Organic metamorphism in the California petroleum basins: Chapter B - Insights from extractable bitumen and saturated hydrocarbons [More info]
Part B of a complex report on the results of geochemical analysis of 75 shale samples from the Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Joaquin Basins to gather observations relevant to exploration regarding the formation of oil deposits in these basins.
Pathways of metal transfer from mineralized sources to bioreceptors [More info]
A synthesis of the Mineral Resources Program's past and future research directions in the western U.S. on metal contamination due to mineral deposits and mining and the environmental effects on living organisms. Chapters 1, 4, and 6 as PDF files.
Pesticide National Synthesis Project: national assessment of pesticides in streams, rivers, and ground water of the United States [More info]
An assessment of pesticides in national water resources, with links to national reports, national statistics, national data, pesticide use, analytical strategy, and standards for the U.S.
PDF Pesticides in Ground Water of Wyoming, 1995-2006 [More info]
Summarizes ground-water pesticide monitoring results, shows vulnerability of aquifers to contamination.
Pesticides in Midwestern rivers, 1989-2002 [More info]
Overview of aspects of research on pesticides and herbicides in Midwestern rivers with collection of data, results over a period of time, online publications, and bibliography.
Photographs of the Picher Mining District (Ottawa County, Oklahoma) [More info]
Description and photos related to the Picher Mining District in Oklahoma, once a primary U.S. source of lead and zinc and now the largest superfund site in the U.S. with millions of cubic yards of mine tailings (locally known as "chat") remaining.
Polar Bear research at the Alaska Science Center [More info]
Ecological studies of polar bears including population dynamics, dependence on sea ice, and tracking methods.
PDF Prehistoric packrats piled up clues to climate change [More info]
Hoarding behavior preserved prehistoric materials we can use as clues to ancient climate and ecosystem changes.
PDF Protecting black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs against sylvatic plague [More info]
Development of vaccines and methods to deploy them, to reduce the threat of this serious illness on the population of these wild animals.
Radio tracking manatees to assess the impact of hydrologic changes in southwest Florida [More info]
Report on the Sirenia Project use of a radio tracking study to determine manatee movement patterns and habitat to develop ecological models to understand and predict the effects of hydrologic restoration on manatees in Southwest Florida.
Radio-tracking amphibians: lessons from implant and external attachment procedures [More info]
Paper from Forum on Wildlife Telemetry, Snowmass Village, CO, 1997, describes technique for implanting radio-transmitters for tracking amphibians such as frogs with telemetry.
Real-time water-quality monitoring and regression analysis to estimate nutrient and bacteria concentration in Kansas streams. [More info]
Report on the use of regression equations from measurements made by water quality monitors and analytical results of manually collected samples estimating nutrient, bacteria, and other constituent concentrations to study streams in Kansas.
Reservoir sediment studies in Kansas [More info]
Report of completed reservoir sediment studies in Kansas using a combination of bathymetric surveying, sediment coring, chemical analysis, and statistical analysis to understand the quantity and quality of deposited sediment.
Resources for banders [More info]
Links to bird banding manual, banding associations, equipment and suppliers, bibliography, band size lookup, recapture database, bander services, aging and sexing birds, longevity records, Canadian atlas of bird banding and other resources.
Reston Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory [More info]
Site on the Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory and its analytical services for CFCs, sulfur hexafluoride, dissolved gases including nitrogen, argon, methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and helium, and tritium/helium-3 dating.
PDF Satellite tracking and geospatial analysis of feral swine and their habitat use in Louisiana and Mississippi [More info]
Invasive pigs first introduced to the continental United States in the 1500s by European explorers. Using tracking collars, we have begun to discover where these troublesome animals go.
Scientific drilling in Long Valley, California: What will we learn? [More info]
Description of 1998 drilling project at Long Valley Exploratory Well located on Long Valley Caldera's resurgent dome to monitor changing conditions beneath the dome. (Document in PDF format.)
PDF Seafloor erosional processes offshore of the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana [More info]
Study addresses questions and concerns related to limited sand resources along the Louisiana shelf and their implications to long-term relative sea-level rise and storm impacts, using newly acquired geophysical and vibracore data.
Seasonal Flux and Assemblage Composition of Planktic Foraminifera from the Northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008-2009 [More info]
The U.S. Geological Survey established a sediment trap in the northern Gulf of Mexico to collect time-series data on the flux and assemblage composition of live planktic foraminifers. This report provides an update of the 2008 time-series data to include
Source Water-Quality Assessment [More info]
Characterize the quality of selected rivers and aquifers used as a source of supply to community water systems in the United States to determine the occurrence of about 280 primary unregulated anthropogenic organic compounds.
PDF Streamflow characteristics and benthic invertebrate assemblages in streams across the western United States [More info]
Change in streams accompanying land and water use may affect benthic invertebrate assemblage composition and structure through changes in density of invertebrates or taxa richness, the number of different species living in the stream.
Studying ocean acidification in the Arctic Ocean [More info]
New synoptic data from samples collected in the Arctic Ocean and insights into the patterns and extent of ocean acidification. This foundational geochemical information will help us to understand potential risks to Arctic resources.
PDF Sturgeon research update: Confirmed pallid sturgeon spawning in the Missouri River in 2007 [More info]
Combined with supporting research in reproductive physiology, identification of spawning habitat, and early life history this result provides new understanding of environmental factors that might affect reproduction of this endangered species.
PDF Summary and analysis of the U.S. government bat banding program [More info]
Analysis of the program with a detailed study of the best collection of data available from it. Includes recommendations for future studies of bats.
Summary of suspended-sediment concentration data, San Francisco Bay, California, water year 2000 [More info]
Suspended-sediment concentration data were collected in San Francisco Bay during water year 2000 using optical backscatterance sensors and water samples. This report presents the data-collection methods, data, and calibration plots.
PDF Surveillance for asian H5N1 avian influenza in the United States [More info]
General description of US government efforts to monitor the occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild migratory birds.
Survival of adult female northern pintails in Sacramento Valley, California [More info]
Report on the population of northern pintails between 1979 and the 1990s in Sacramento Valley, California, including methods of study including radio telemetry, causes of mortality, morphometrics, survival rates, and management implications.
Taming of a wild research well in Yellowstone National Park during November 1992 [More info]
A valve failed in a research well, causing an uncontrolled eruption of steam and hot water. Video program shows technical problems encountered in controlling and capping the well.
The challenges of capturing and tagging manatees along west coastal Florida [More info]
Description of method of capturing and tagging manatees in western Florida for tracking by satellite telemetry. Presented at a forum on telemetry.
The USGS role in Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) assessments [More info]
Detailed information on Total Maximum Daily Load, the total quantity of a pollutant that a stream can carry and still conform to water quality standards, used as a measurement in the monitoring, assessment, and remediation of polluted waters.
The whooping crane report [More info]
Report on the captive breeding program at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center to help save endangered whooping cranes. Site links to natural history information on whooping cranes, why they are endangered, cool facts on cranes, and a photo gallery.
Toxic Substances Hydrology Program [More info]
Homepage for the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, which provides scientific information on contaminated sites and on human and environmental health. Links to news, topical information, investigations, meetings, publications, and photos.
PDF Toxicity and bioavailability of metals in the Missouri River adjacent to a lead refinery [More info]
Report (PDF format) on an evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of contaminated ground water from a metals refinery adjacent to the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska testing water and sediments for contaminants and toxicity.
Transport of water, carbon, and sediment through the Yukon River basin [More info]
Summarizes a water-quality study of one of the last great uncontrolled rivers in the world, which supplies runoff, sediment, and nutrients to the eastern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea.
Tualatin River basin water quality assessment [More info]
Overview of project assessing water quality of the Tualatin River basin near Portland, Oregon with links to reports on chemical and nutrient levels and selected data on streamflow, water temperature, weather and precipitation.
PDF U.S. Geological Survey protocol for sample collection in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf of Mexico, 2010 [More info]
It is important that we collect samples consistently and properly to assure the quality of the information needed by decision makers. This report explains the procedures for sampling water, sediment, benthic invertebrates, and microorganisms.
U.S. Gulf of Mexico Shoreline Change [More info]
Interactive map of the Gulf of Mexico coast reflecting shoreline changes.
PDF Use of Semipermeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) in Petroleum Polluted Waters [More info]
Provides a brief discussion of issues surrounding the use and capabilities of SPMDs, which can be used in monitoring petroleum spills.
USGS East-coast sediment analysis: analysis, procedures, database and georeferenced displays [More info]
Grain-size analysis of marine sediments of the U.S. eastern coast with sampling and lab methods, surficial sediment database in three formats (Excel, Dbase IV, ASCII), and use of geographic mapping tools for visualizing sediment data layers.
PDF USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center [More info]
Extreme storms, sea-level rise, and the health of marine communities are some of the major societal and environmental issues studied by this part of USGS.
PDF USGS Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program for north Texas [More info]
General characteristics of this invasive freshwater mollusk, focusing on how we monitor its presence and migration through this region.
Using strip-transect aerial surveys to estimate manatee abundance in the Ten Thousand Islands region of southwest Florida [More info]
Report on use of strip-transect aerial surveys to obtain minimum manatee counts and distribution information in area of Ten Thousand Islands, Florida, with maps, diagrams, and information on method and results.
usSEABED (marine sediment and rock distribution) [More info]
Data on sediment and rock distributions in the waters off the United States, shown using an internet map service with links to downloadable data files
Water co-produced with coalbed methane in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming: preliminary compositional data [More info]
Compositional data on water from 47 CBM wells sampled in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Data on major, minor, and trace elements are included.
Water quality of San Francisco Bay [More info]
Thirty year database of water-quality data, visual data displays, and project information on the San Francisco Bay directed towards following and understanding changes in the water quality of San Francisco Bay.
Water quality well sites in New Jersey [More info]
Map of New Jersey showing the locations of all well sites where ground water-quality data exists in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database.
PDF Water Resources and Natural Gas Production from the Marcellus Shale [More info]
The Marcellus shale is a black shale unit in the eastern US. It has economic use as a source of natural gas. Environmental concerns arising from the process of exploiting this resource include water supply and wastewater disposal.
Water resources for Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. [More info]
USGS water resources home page with links to detailed hydrologic information for Maryland, Delaware, and District of Columbia on ground and surface water, water quality, real-time records, news releases, local weather, and reservoir levels.
Water resources of Missouri [More info]
Water District homepage with links to detailed real-time and long-term water resources data for Missouri on streamflow, ground and surface water, and water quality.
Water resources of Virginia - river input monitoring [More info]
Description of river input monitoring project's collecting and analyzing water-quality data to calculate and explain load and trend estimates of selected nutrients and suspended solids for five major river basins in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Water resources of Virginia - Virginia aquifer susceptibility [More info]
Overview of a project in Virginia to develop a program for assessing public supply source waters to determine their susceptibility to contamination and to determine which systems need detailed source-water assessments.
Water science for schools: the water science picture gallery [More info]
Photos with descriptions of water subjects and of scientists engaged in water research.
Water-quality data for the Nation [More info]
Homepage for USGS water quality information. The NWISWeb discrete sample database is a compilation of over 3.5 million historical water quality analyses in the USGS district databases. Also includes access to real-time data and a tutorial.
Water-quality information - data [More info]
Links to major databases on USGS real-time and historic time period data for water quality, atmospheric deposition, streamflow, and suspended sediments and links to related databases of other agencies.
West-central Florida erosion study [More info]
West central Florida erosion interactive map with GIS datasets to download including geologic interpretative layers, samples, bathymetry, and imagery.
Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) [More info]
Links to research at the field stations of the Western Ecological Research Center with direct links to web pages for wildlife videos, satellite telemetry, fire ecology, invasive species, herpetology field guide, and coastal ecosystems.
World Coal Quality Inventory (WoCQI) [More info]
Homepage of the World Coal Quality Inventory (WoCQI) with sample collection procedures.
PDF Wyoming groundwater-quality monitoring network [More info]
Shows high-priority areas where groundwater will be monitored, outlines the methods of collection and analysis that will be used.
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