Decision Science and Quantitative Methods
Bird and Terrestrial Species Conservation
Fish and Aquatic Species Conservation
Pollinator Conservation
Fish and Wildlife Disease Investigation and Surveillance
Freshwater and Coastal Ecology
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.
EESC Makes an Impact
EESC Makes an Impact
Learn how EESC science is applied to today's biggest issues.
Connect with Us
Connect with Us
Find locations, staff profiles and contact information for our team.
News
WEBINAR: USGS Invasive Species Science - Innovation for a Healthy Nation
WEBINAR: USGS Invasive Species Science - Innovation for a Healthy Nation
EESC in the News: No Simple Swim: The Mysterious Migration of the American Eel
EESC in the News: No Simple Swim: The Mysterious Migration of the American Eel
Preserving a Legacy: The Chan Robbins Records Project
Preserving a Legacy: The Chan Robbins Records Project
Publications
A fresh perspective - Advancing fish immunotoxicology in a complex world A fresh perspective - Advancing fish immunotoxicology in a complex world
Understanding how environmental changes affect the health of organisms and ecosystems is complex, but recent interdisciplinary advances and the recognition of immune function as a dynamic mediator offer exciting progress. Environmental immunotoxicology in teleost fishes is evolving beyond cataloguing stressors towards a mechanistic, integrative framework that leverages omics, in vivo...
Carbon sequestration along a gradient of tidal marsh degradation in response to sea level rise Carbon sequestration along a gradient of tidal marsh degradation in response to sea level rise
Tidal marshes are considered one of the world's most efficient ecosystems for belowground organic carbon sequestration and hence climate mitigation. Marsh systems are however also vulnerable to degradation due to climate-induced sea level rise, whereby marsh vegetation conversion to open water often follows distinct spatial patterns: levees (i.e. marsh zones 30 m from creeks). Here, we...
Sea-level rise in a coastal marsh: Linking increasing tidal inundation, decreasing soil strength and increasing pond expansion Sea-level rise in a coastal marsh: Linking increasing tidal inundation, decreasing soil strength and increasing pond expansion
Coastal marsh conversion into ponds, which may be triggered by sea-level rise, is considered an important driver of marsh loss and their valuable ecosystem services. Previous studies have focused on the role of wind waves in driving the expansion of interior marsh ponds, through lateral erosion of marsh edges surrounding the ponds. Here, we propose another mechanism between sea-level...
Science
Tackling avian influenza with automated detection for an early warning system
The USGS is collaborating with agricultural and wildlife management partners to address the threat of highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to wildlife, domestic poultry, and livestock. Partners include federal (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture) and non-federal agencies as well as State government, private organizations, and academic institutions. Our...
Where land meets sea: USGS science for resilient coastal habitats
USGS coastal science plays a critical role in supporting the effective, science-based management of coastal ecosystems, where the biodiversity of land and sea meet. It provides managers with the information they need to make sound decisions. Through cutting-edge research, predictive modeling, and decision-support tools, USGS empowers resource managers to make informed, science-based choices. From...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Management Research Program, Science and Decisions Center, Species Management Research Program, California Water Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Fisheries Research Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Evaluating the Risks of Tire-Derived Compounds to Fish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Tires contain a chemical known as 6PPD which prevents them from quickly breaking down. Microscopic tire particles, generated mainly from the friction of tires on roads, release 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ) when they come into contact with oxygen. During precipitation events, 6PPDQ can be washed off roads, harming fish in nearby waterways. In response to requests from fishery managers, the USGS is studying...