Invasive Species
Developing Methods and Techniques to Control the Spread of Invasive Species
Developing Methods and Techniques to Control the Spread of Invasive Species
Columbia Environmental Research Center
Welcome to the Columbia Environmental Research Center. Our research focuses on environmental contaminants and the effects of habitat alterations on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project (CSRP) Blog
Comprehensive Sturgeon Research Project (CSRP) Blog
Learn how CERC research is contributing to the recovery of the endangered pallid sturgeon in the Missouri River
Passive Sampling Using SPMDs and POCIS - Resources and Tools
Passive Sampling Using SPMDs and POCIS - Resources and Tools
CERC scientists are pioneers in the development of passive sampling techniques.
News
USGS Friday's Findings - August 9, 2024
USGS Friday's Findings - August 9, 2024
Event: Explore USGS Careers in the Southeast 2024
Event: Explore USGS Careers in the Southeast 2024
Friday's Findings - January 26, 2024
Friday's Findings - January 26, 2024
Publications
Hyperspectral Image Transects during Transient Events in Rivers (HITTER): Framework development and application to a tracer experiment on the Missouri River, USA
Rivers convey a broad range of materials, such as sediment, nutrients, and contaminants. Much of this transport can occur during or immediately after an episodic, pulsed event like a flood or an oil spill. Understanding the flow processes that influence the motion of these substances is important for managing water resources and conserving aquatic ecosystems. This study introduces a new remote sen
Continental-scale nutrient and contaminant delivery by Pacific salmon
The movement of large amounts of nutrients by migrating animals has ecological benefits for recipient food webs1,2 that may be offset by co-transported contaminants3,4. Salmon spawning migrations are archetypal of this process, carrying marine-derived materials to inland ecosystems where they stimulate local productivity but also enhance contaminant exposure5,6,7. Pacific salmon abundance and biom
Vegetation community recovery on restored bottomland hardwood forests in northeast Indiana, USA
Vegetation communities in restored bottomland hardwood forests in northeast Indiana were studied 6–21 years after restoration to assess progress toward restoration objectives. The study focused on four sites that were restored to compensate for resource injuries after contaminant releases. The restored sites were compared with four reference-site conditions, including crops (prerestoration conditi
Science
From Tread to Watershed: How Tire Wear Particle Chemicals 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone Are Impacting Waterways
Tire and road wear particles (TRWPs) are generated during normal driving conditions and contain both rubber and roadway materials. These particles travel from the roadways and urban environments into surrounding ecosystems where there are deleterious impacts from both the TRWPs and leached rubber chemicals. Recent studies have demonstrated the widespread occurrence and toxicity of TRWPs and their...
Study Finds PFOSA Can Suppress Immune Function in Developing Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
The Stockholm Convention has labeled PFOS a “persistent organic pollutant” due to its long-enduring prevalence, negative toxicological effects, and ability to bioaccumulate in living things. Concerns about PFOSA have been raised due to its similarity to PFOS, its ability to metabolize into PFOS, and its persistent use today
Agricultural Pesticides Could Be Impacting the Natural Beauty at Sequoia National Park Through Atmospheric Deposition
High up in the remote alpine and subalpine lakes of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI), the crystal-clear lakes appear to be greening with an overpopulation of periphyton. Periphyton is a mixture of various water microbes such as algae, cyanobacteria, and others. Scientists at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center and the University of Missouri are working with National Park...