Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, where they bioaccumulate and trophically transfer through food webs. We derived an ecosystem-scale model assessing Σ12PFAS partitioning, bioaccumulation by larval aquatic insects, bioamplification by adult aquatic insects, and trophic transfer from aquatic insects to riparian spiders using data...

A total of 41 sites along a 58 mi reach of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) were surveyed during winter 2022 for invasive carp aggregation.* Sites consisting of scallops closest to the dike-vegetated bank interface with deeper, slow-moving water and consistent access back to the main channel were preferred. Carp avoided strong currents, and there was no trend in depth selection other...

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) are herbivorous fish introduced to North America in the 1960s, and they are now established throughout the Mississippi River basin and Laurentian Great Lakes. Despite increasingly intensified management efforts, limited information exists on their foraging ecology. We used DNA metabarcoding to characterize the gut contents of grass carp captured from...

The concern of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination has historically focused on drinking water, but communities and researchers are increasingly realizing that drinking water may not be the only important exposure pathway. PFAS move through surface water, sediments and soils into groundwater, wildlife and even our agricultural systems. Consequently, they affect the...

Crayfish are critical functional components of aquatic ecosystems. Previous research has documented adverse effects of mineral extraction on crayfish. Here, we characterize potential risks of mining-derived waterborne nickel (Ni) to crayfish by documenting the effects of dissolved Ni on growth and food consumption of juvenile virile crayfish (Faxonius virilis) in a 28-day chronic...

Studies of 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ) toxicity have identified both sensitive and resistant salmonid species at environmentally relevant concentrations. However, comparisons between species are complicated by varying testing conditions, which can limit the application to derivation of environmental quality guidelines. Furthermore, few studies have reported 6PPDQ tissue concentrations in fish...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose a significant health threat due to their environmental persistence and toxicity. While PFAS contamination is widespread in Florida, the state currently lacks fish consumption advisories (FCAs) for these compounds, despite existing FCAs for legacy pollutants. This study quantified 40 PFAS in edible muscle tissue from 264 fish (16 species)...

Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and silver carp (H. molitrix) have spurred wide concern of potential ecosystem disruption as they threaten to invade the Laurentian Great Lakes. Besides competition for resources, carp may also have disadvantageous nutrition for predators. One biochemical aspect to...

The frequent detection of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment raises concern for aquatic systems. Carbamazepine (CBZ), an antiepileptic drug, is among the most detected PPCP globally, with concentrations in surface water exceeding those that induce toxicity to aquatic organisms. Non-targeted transcriptomic profiling was conducted in zebrafish (Danio...

Northern snakehead Channa argus (Cantor, 1842) is an aquatic invasive fish species in the United States with first documented occurrence in the wild in the 2000s. Management efforts to control their populations in the eastern United States are ongoing. In the Mississippi River basin, limited resources have been allocated to control its distribution, after initial detection and rapid...

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is an antioxidant and antiozonant widely used in tires. When 6PPD reacts with ozone, it transforms into a breakdown product called 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ). Both compounds are currently being studied because of their high aquatic toxicity to fish, particularly coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). The Washington State Legislature...

A substantial body of evidence exists demonstrating that exposure to environmental contaminants can alter animal behavior. Moreover, methodological and technological advancements, as well as increasing standardization, mean that behavioral ecotoxicity studies are more rigorous and reliable than ever before. Despite this, behavioral data are still seldom used in the risk assessment and...