Images

EESC's Heather Walsh shows off the results of a fish dissection conducted as part of the 2023 Earth Day Celebration and Open House at the Leetown Research Laboratory. 

A hand-drawn sign welcomes visitors to the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center's Aquatic Ecology Lab as part of the 2023 Earth Day Celebration and Open House at the Leetown Research Laboratory.

EESC's Health Walsh shows a public visitor anatomical structures of a fish as part of the 2023 Earth Day Celebration and Open House at the Leetown Research Laboratory. 

A visitor from the public learns about amphibians at the Northeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative's booth at the 2023 Earth Day Celebration and Open House at USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory.

USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center staff prepare for public visitors at the Northeast Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative booth, part of the 2023 Earth Day Celebration and Open House at the Leetown Research Laboratory.

An American toad, Anaxyrus americanus, is included as part of the exhibit booth "Exploring Amphibians of the Northeast" at the 2023 Earth Day Celebration and Open House at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory. 

Hellgrammites are the larval form of Dobson flies. These individuals were collected as part of the aquatic macroinvertebrates booth at the 2023 Earth Day Celebration and Open House hosted by the USGS's Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory. 

Stonefly larvae, a type of aquatic macroinvertebrate. These individuals were collected for display during the 2023 Earth Day Celebration and Open House at USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory. 

Charlie Shafer and Adrianne Brand staff the "Exploring Amphibians of the Northeast" booth at the 2023 Earth Day Celebration and Open House hosted at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center - Leetown Research Laboratory. 

In April, USGS scientist Alexis Weinnig and other scientists collected eDNA during a deep-sea exploration aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explore as part of the NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition, EX2301. During the trip, a Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) collected water that was filtered on board the ship for eDNA left in the water by nearby organisms.

Alexis Weinnig, USGS Biologist, and NOAA Scientist Ashley Marranzino work together to filter seawater for eDNA from a CTD rosette while aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. eDNA will allow for the detection of biology in the surrounding seawater.

Screenshot of EcoSHEDS home page, a USGS web application. EcoSHEDS is a collection of Spatial Hydro-Ecological Data Systems (SHEDS) designed to improve our understanding of stream ecosystems.

Biologists search for Red Knots on the mudflats at Gray's Harbor and decide where to set the nets. Photo credit: Zak Pohlenm, USFWS

These are the eggs of the southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus). Leopard frog eggs are laid in tight clusters, and they have contrasting colors of black on the upper side and white on the underside.

Toads (Anaxyrus sp.) lay their eggs in long thin strands, which helps distinguish them from other anuran species which may lay their eggs singly or in round clusters.

EESC facilities and Fish Passage Design & Analysis team members constructed wooden Denil fishway baffles for the 2023 D-Cylinder study in Conte's Fish Passage Complex

Blotchy bass syndrome (BBS) is the presence of hyperpigmentation (melanosis) on the external surface of black basses. This condition has received increased attention from anglers and resource managers in recent years and is a popular topic of discussion and reporting on angling websites and blogging platforms.

Biologists photograph brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA)

Biologist prepare brook trout for a study of environmental DNA (eDNA)          

A biologist installs a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag into a brook trout

A biologist measures the length of a brook trout as part of a study on environmental DNA (eDNA).