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Fish Passage Technologies

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Decision Science and Quantitative Methods

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Bird and Terrestrial Species Conservation

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Fish and Aquatic Species Conservation

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Pollinator Conservation

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Fish and Wildlife Disease Investigation and Surveillance

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Freshwater and Coastal Ecology

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Eastern Ecological Science Center

The USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) strives to provide world-class science to inform natural resource decisions that preserve and enhance our quality of life. 

The land and water we live on and around shapes our lives. We share responsibility for the heathy fish, wildlife and landscapes that are assets to current and future generations.

EESC works directly with managers of our shared natural resources to provide the unbiased scientific tools, research and innovations needed to make informed decisions in today’s complex and rapidly changing conditions.

EESC’s broad expertise spans from mountain streams to deep oceans and the lands in between, supporting stewardship of a wide range of species and habitats.

Unique facilities in Maryland, Massachusetts and West Virginia help EESC deliver the reliable, actionable science that partners need to effectively conserve our treasured natural resources.

Our Research Portfolio

EESC Cooperative Science with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Image: Eastern Shore of Maryland Coastal Wetland

From “blue water” rivers and streams to “green water” marine environments and brackish estuaries in between, EESC and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission are collaborating to bring together local, regional, and national expertise to provide the science that modern fisheries management demands.

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Upcoming Events

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EESC Quick Links

Enjoy these quick links to the most requested information about EESC!

News

Hawaiʻi Abyssal Nodules and Associated Ecosystems Expedition

EESC in the News: Amphibian Declines

Small, common, and hidden: Collecting and integrating data on amphibian species abundances and distribution

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Publications

U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025–35—A Review and Look Forward U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025–35—A Review and Look Forward

This “U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025–35—A Review and Look Forward” (“Pollinator Science Strategy”) describes the science vision of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to support management, conservation, and policy decisions on animal pollinators and their habitats. As the science arm of the Department of the Interior (DOI), the USGS has a primary role in...
Authors
Clint R.V. Otto, Tabitha A. Graves, Desi Robertson-Thompson, Ian Pearse, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Caroline Murphy, Lisa Webb, Sam Droege, Melanie Steinkamp, Ralph Grundel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Fort Collins Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Geospatial Technical Operations Center

U.S. Geological Survey science strategy to address highly pathogenic avian influenza and its effects on wildlife health 2025–29 U.S. Geological Survey science strategy to address highly pathogenic avian influenza and its effects on wildlife health 2025–29

Executive SummaryHighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is an ecologically and economically important animal disease that can also directly affect humans (a “zoonotic” disease). HPAI was once limited almost exclusively to domestic poultry but has rapidly adapted to diverse animal hosts. Viruses causing HPAI now appear to be maintained and dispersed by wild birds largely independent of...
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Diann J. Prosser, Laura E. Hubbard, Guelaguetza Vazquez-Meves, Amy George, M. Camille Hopkins
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Alaska Science Center

A multistate capture-recapture model to estimate reproduction of North Atlantic right whales A multistate capture-recapture model to estimate reproduction of North Atlantic right whales

The recent steep decline of the endangered North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis can be attributed to high mortality combined with low reproduction. While the former is a clear result of anthropogenic activity, the latter involves more complexity. Evidence suggests that both short-term fluctuations in prey availability and long-term decline in health are responsible for...
Authors
Daniel W. Linden, Richard M Pace, Lance P. Garrison, Jeffrey A. Hostetler, Amy R. Knowlton, Veronique Lesage, Robert A. Williams, Michael C. Runge
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Science

Environmental Contaminant Source and Transport Pathways Illustration

Leading the Way: Specialized Laboratory Contributions to Environmental Health

The Environmental Health Program features a Unified Core Technology Team comprised of multiple laboratories with specialized expertise that support the overall program research assessing actual and perceived risks from environmental contaminants and pathogens. Individual Core Technology Teams work closely with the Integrated Science Teams to ensure current and emerging techniques are being used to...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, California Water Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Kansas Water Science Center, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, New England Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Leading the Way: Specialized Laboratory Contributions to Environmental Health

Leading the Way: Specialized Laboratory Contributions to Environmental Health

The Environmental Health Program features a Unified Core Technology Team comprised of multiple laboratories with specialized expertise that support the overall program research assessing actual and perceived risks from environmental contaminants and pathogens. Individual Core Technology Teams work closely with the Integrated Science Teams to ensure current and emerging techniques are being used to...
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Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

Seafloor Benthic Mapping and Characterization: Enhancing our Understanding of Aleutian Islands’ Hazards, Potential Seabed Minerals and Deep Corals

A USGS-led expedition in the Aleutian Arc off Alaska will provide critical information on energy resources, underwater earthquakes and other hazards, seafloor habitats, and biological resources, including key fisheries, as well as potential seabed minerals.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization
Seafloor Benthic Mapping and Characterization: Enhancing our Understanding of Aleutian Islands’ Hazards, Potential Seabed Minerals and Deep Corals

Seafloor Benthic Mapping and Characterization: Enhancing our Understanding of Aleutian Islands’ Hazards, Potential Seabed Minerals and Deep Corals

A USGS-led expedition in the Aleutian Arc off Alaska will provide critical information on energy resources, underwater earthquakes and other hazards, seafloor habitats, and biological resources, including key fisheries, as well as potential seabed minerals.
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Aerial Survey Crew

Marine Bird Populations and the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS)

The objective of the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS) project was to document the occurrence and diversity of bird species in nearshore and open sea environments of the Gulf of America for the purposes of better informing regulatory and other decisions that influence the conservation of migratory birds.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Marine Bird Populations and the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS)

Marine Bird Populations and the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS)

The objective of the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS) project was to document the occurrence and diversity of bird species in nearshore and open sea environments of the Gulf of America for the purposes of better informing regulatory and other decisions that influence the conservation of migratory birds.
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