Scientists and natural resource managers often seek information on the effects various environmental stressors on wildlife.To facilitate this activity, we created a database focused on environmental contaminant exposure and adverse effects in wildlife residing in coastal and estuarine habitat.The Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates database is searchable and relatively easy to use.
The Challenge: The National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been the only large-scale effort that has examined contaminant exposure in terrestrial vertebrates in the United States. Halogenated contaminants, metals, and new pollutants continue to pose hazards to wildlife at many geographic scales. To address this hazard, critical data gaps are being identified through retrospective compilation and analysis of ecotoxicological data. (www.pwrc.usgs.gov/contaminants-online)
The Science: Retrospective contaminant exposure and effects data for free-ranging terrestrial vertebrates residing in U.S. estuarine and coastal habitat are identified in published and unpublished literature. Data are compiled into a 118-field database, that includes information on taxonomy, collection date, study location, geographic coordinates, sample matrix, contaminant concentration, biomarker or bioindicator response, and source of information. The CEE-TV database can be searched for temporal and spatial trends in order to identify significant data gaps
The Future: The CEE-TV database contains over 20,600 records describing contaminant exposure or effects in approximately 275,000 individuals representing over 500 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The database contains information from 1884 to 2014. Contemporary terrestrial vertebrate ecotoxicological data are lacking in 40% of the coastal watersheds, and about half of the National Wildlife Refuge and National Park units in coastal areas. Ranking schemes have been developed to prioritize Department of the Interior Management units and Important Bird Areas for which sampling and evaluation are most critical.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Environmental contaminant hazards to wildlife at National Capital region and Mid-Atlantic National Park Service units
Potential environmental contaminant risks to avian species at important bird areas in the northeastern United States
Potential hazards of environmental contaminants to avifauna residing in the Chesapeake Bay estuary
Environmental contaminant exposure data and monitoring priorities for wild terrestrial vertebrates at national parks in coastal and estuarine habitat
Retrospective ecotoxicological data and current information needs for terrestrial vertebrates residing in coastal habitat of the United States
Ranking terrestrial vertebrate species for utility in biomonitoring and vulnerability to environmental contaminants
Use of retrospective data to assess ecotoxicological monitoring needs for terrestrial vertebrates residing in Atlantic coast estuaries
Contaminant exposure and effects: Terrestrial vertebrates database: Trends and data gaps for Atlantic Coast estuaries
Below are software products associated with this project.
Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates database (CEE-TV)
The Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates database (CEE-TV) contains contaminant exposure and effects information for terrestrial vertebrates (birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles) that reside in estuarine and coastal habitats along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Coasts including Alaska and Hawaii and in the Great Lakes Region.
CEETV FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions for the Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates (CEE-TV) Database
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
Scientists and natural resource managers often seek information on the effects various environmental stressors on wildlife.To facilitate this activity, we created a database focused on environmental contaminant exposure and adverse effects in wildlife residing in coastal and estuarine habitat.The Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates database is searchable and relatively easy to use.
The Challenge: The National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been the only large-scale effort that has examined contaminant exposure in terrestrial vertebrates in the United States. Halogenated contaminants, metals, and new pollutants continue to pose hazards to wildlife at many geographic scales. To address this hazard, critical data gaps are being identified through retrospective compilation and analysis of ecotoxicological data. (www.pwrc.usgs.gov/contaminants-online)
The Science: Retrospective contaminant exposure and effects data for free-ranging terrestrial vertebrates residing in U.S. estuarine and coastal habitat are identified in published and unpublished literature. Data are compiled into a 118-field database, that includes information on taxonomy, collection date, study location, geographic coordinates, sample matrix, contaminant concentration, biomarker or bioindicator response, and source of information. The CEE-TV database can be searched for temporal and spatial trends in order to identify significant data gaps
The Future: The CEE-TV database contains over 20,600 records describing contaminant exposure or effects in approximately 275,000 individuals representing over 500 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The database contains information from 1884 to 2014. Contemporary terrestrial vertebrate ecotoxicological data are lacking in 40% of the coastal watersheds, and about half of the National Wildlife Refuge and National Park units in coastal areas. Ranking schemes have been developed to prioritize Department of the Interior Management units and Important Bird Areas for which sampling and evaluation are most critical.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Environmental contaminant hazards to wildlife at National Capital region and Mid-Atlantic National Park Service units
Pollutant data for air, water, soil and biota were compiled from databases and internet sources and by staff interviews at 23 National Park Service (NPS) units in 2005. A metric was derived describing the quality and quantity of data for each park, and in combination with known contaminant threats, the need for ecotoxicological study was identified and ranked. Over half of NP units were near ToxAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, B.K. AckersonPotential environmental contaminant risks to avian species at important bird areas in the northeastern United States
Environmental contaminants can have profound effects on birds, acting from the molecular through population levels of biological organization. An analysis of potential contaminant threats was undertaken at 52 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) within the northeastern Atlantic coast drainage. Using geographic information system methodology, data layers describing or integrating contamination (impaired wAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, B.K. AckersonPotential hazards of environmental contaminants to avifauna residing in the Chesapeake Bay estuary
A search of the Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates (CEE-TV) database revealed that 70% of the 839 Chesapeake Bay records deal with avian species. Studies conducted on waterbirds in the past 15 years indicate that organochlorine contaminants have declined in eggs and tissues, although p,p'-DDE, total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and coplanar PCB congeners may still exert sAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, Peter C. McGowanEnvironmental contaminant exposure data and monitoring priorities for wild terrestrial vertebrates at national parks in coastal and estuarine habitat
The Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Project of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assesses the exposure and effects of environmental contaminants on select species and habitats in the United States. One of the many BEST Project activities entails the development of decision-support tools to assist in the identification of chemical threats to species and lands under the stewAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, B.K. Ackerson, K.M. Eisenreich, M.A. McKernanRetrospective ecotoxicological data and current information needs for terrestrial vertebrates residing in coastal habitat of the United States
The Contaminant Exposure and Effects—Terrestrial Vertebrates (CEE-TV) database was developed to conduct simple searches for ecotoxicological information, examine exposure trends, and identify significant data gaps. The CEE-TV database contains 16,696 data records on free-ranging amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals residing in estuarine and coastal habitats of the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific cAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, K.M. Eisenreich, N. H. Golden, M.A. McKernan, R. L. Hothem, T. W. CusterRanking terrestrial vertebrate species for utility in biomonitoring and vulnerability to environmental contaminants
The measurement of contaminant tissue concentrations or exposure-related effects in biota has been used extensively to monitor pollution and environmental health. Terrestrial vertebrates have historically been an important group of species in such evaluations, not only because many are excellent sentinels of environmental contamination, but also because they are valued natural resources in their oAuthorsN. H. Golden, Barnett A. RattnerUse of retrospective data to assess ecotoxicological monitoring needs for terrestrial vertebrates residing in Atlantic coast estuaries
The “Contaminant Exposure and Effects–Terrestrial Vertebrates” (CEE-TV) database contains 4,336 records of ecotoxicological information for free-ranging amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals residing in Atlantic and Florida Gulf coast estuaries and their drainages. To identify spatial data gaps, those CEE-TV records for which the specific study location were known (n=2,740) were combined with wAuthorsJ.B. Cohen, Barnett A. Rattner, N. H. GoldenContaminant exposure and effects: Terrestrial vertebrates database: Trends and data gaps for Atlantic Coast estuaries
In order to examine the condition of biota in Atlantic coast estuaries, "Contaminant Exposure and Effects—Terrestrial Vertebrates" database (CEE-TV) has been compiled through computerized search of published literature, review of existing databases, and solicitation of unpublished reports from conservation agencies, private groups, and universities. Summary information has been entered into the daAuthorsBarnett A. Rattner, J.L. Pearson, N. H. Golden, J.B. Cohen, R.M. Erwin, M. A. Ottinger - Software
Below are software products associated with this project.
Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates database (CEE-TV)
The Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates database (CEE-TV) contains contaminant exposure and effects information for terrestrial vertebrates (birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles) that reside in estuarine and coastal habitats along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Coasts including Alaska and Hawaii and in the Great Lakes Region.
CEETV FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions for the Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates (CEE-TV) Database
- Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.