Eastern Ecological Science Center
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In 2020, the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Leetown Science Center merged to create the Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC). Our goals are to align our scientific capabilities with the most pressing conservation and management challenges; establish an engaged workforce that fosters high relationship trust with employees, partners and the public; and be a ‘go to’ organization for delivering actionable science to those responsible for conserving our nation’s natural resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations.
Risks posed by SARS-CoV-2 to North American bats
The virus that causes COVID-19 likely evolved in a mammalian host, possibly Old-World bats, before adapting to humans, raising the question of whether reverse zoonotic transmission to bats is possible. Wildlife management agencies in North America...
Read moreEndocrine Disrupting Compounds in the Chesapeake
Findings from US Geological Survey studies on sources, occurrence, effects and risk of contaminants throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
See the StoryMapEESC Quick Links
Enjoy these quick links to the most requested information about EESC!
AI for citizen science in fish biology
North American Breeding Bird Survey
Employee Directory and Profiles
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News
The Launch of the Banders Without Borders Initiative
On 9 Sept 2021, the United States Bird Banding Lab (BBL) recently introduced a new initiative to strengthen connections with our sister banding schemes all over the world. This effort is part of our “Banders Without Borders Initiative;” an initiative that will allow banding schemes to share information about their banding program, history, staff, and current projects.
New Insight on the Potential for Blue-Winged Teal to Transfer Avian Influenza to Domestic Poultry
A first-of-its-kind study by the USGS and partners provides an initial analysis of when commercial chicken and turkey facilities in the U.S. are at greatest risk to avian influenza viruses from one species of migratory waterfowl.
USGS-Led Study Helps in the Fight Against the Coronavirus Pandemic
With few additional targeted tests and non-invasive surveys, public health agencies can better estimate disease occurrence and trends, changes in transmission, rates of hospitalization and death and effectiveness of vaccines and other control measures.
Publications
Identifying climate-resistant vernal pools: Hydrologic refugia for amphibian reproduction under droughts and climate change
Vernal pools of the northeastern United States provide important breeding habitat for amphibians but may be sensitive to droughts and climate change. These seasonal wetlands typically fill by early spring and dry by mid-to-late summer. Because climate change may produce earlier and stronger growing-season evapotranspiration combined with...
Cartwright, Jennifer M.; Morelli, Toni Lyn; Campbell Grant, Evan H. Novel microbiome dominated by Arcobacter during anoxic excurrent flow from an ocean blue hole in Andros Island, The Bahamas
Andros Island, The Bahamas, composed of porous carbonate rock, has about 175 inland blue holes and over 50 known submerged ocean caves along its eastern barrier reef. These ocean blue holes can have both vertical and horizontal zones that penetrate under the island. Tidal forces drive water flow in and out of these caves. King Kong Cavern has a...
Iwanowicz, Deborah D.; Jonas, Robert B; Schill, William B.; Marano-Briggs, Kay
Structured decision making and optimal bird monitoring in the northern Gulf of Mexico
The avian conservation community struggles to design and implement large scale, long-term coordinated bird monitoring programs within the northern Gulf of Mexico due to the complexity of the conservation enterprise in the region; this complexity arises from the diverse stakeholders, multiple jurisdictions, complex ecological processes, myriad...
Fournier, Auriel M.V.; Wilson, R. Randy; Lyons, James E.; Gleason, Jeffrey S.; Adams, Evan M.; Barnhill, Laurel M.; Brush, Janell M.; Cooper, Robert J.; DeMaso, Stephen J.; Driscoll, Melanie J.L.; Eaton, Mitchell J.; Frederick, Peter C.; Just, Michael G.; Seymour, Michael A.; Tirpak, John M.; Woodrey, Mark S.