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Publications

Browse more than 150,000 publications authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS.  Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.

Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center Publications

Filter Total Items: 3311

Flooding mortality and habitat renewal for least terns and piping plovers Flooding mortality and habitat renewal for least terns and piping plovers

We observed extensive mortality (eggs and chicks) of the endangered interior population of the Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) and threatened Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) caused by natural flooding during the 1990 breeding season along the Platte River, Nebraska USA. Aerial videography of the Platte River before and after the flood revealed a 78% reduction of perennial vegetation on...
Authors
John G. Sidle, D.E. Carlson, E.M. Kirsch, J.J. Dinan

Cadmium and mercury in emergent mayflies (Hexagenia bilineata) from the upper Mississippi River Cadmium and mercury in emergent mayflies (Hexagenia bilineata) from the upper Mississippi River

Burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia bilineata) were analyzed to assess longitudinal patterns in their cadmium and mercury content along the upper Mississippi River. Emergent mayflies (subimagoes and imagoes) were collected in 1988 at 34 sites (25 navigation pools), extending 1260 km from Little Falls, Minnesota, downstream to St. Louis, Missouri. Cadmium concentrations in composite samples of...
Authors
J. Therese Dukerschein, James G. Wiener, Ronald G. Rada, Mark T. Steingraeber

A sediment suspension system for bioassays with small aquatic organisms A sediment suspension system for bioassays with small aquatic organisms

Exposure of aquatic organisms to suspended sediments can impair growth and survival and increase bioaccumulation of sediment-associated contaminants. However, evaluation of the effects of suspended sediments and their associated contaminants on aquatic organisms has been hampered by the lack of a practical and inexpensive exposure system for conducting bioassays. We present a cost...
Authors
M. J. Schmidt-Dallmier, G.J. Atchison, M.T. Steingraeber, B.C. Knights

Effects of chronic exposure to soft, acidic water on gill development and chloride cell numbers in embryo-larval brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis Effects of chronic exposure to soft, acidic water on gill development and chloride cell numbers in embryo-larval brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis

Recruitment failure is considered to be a major factor contributing to the decline of fish populations in soft, acidic waters; direct mortality of embryo-larval fishes has been postulated as a major cause of the decline. Little is understood of the physiological consequences to embryo-larval fishes of prolonged exposure to soft, acidic waters; however, dysfunction of respiratory and...
Authors
D.J. Conklin, R.C. Mowbray, W.H. Gingerich

Physical characteristics of stream subbasins in the Blue Earth River Basin, south-central Minnesota and north-central Iowa Physical characteristics of stream subbasins in the Blue Earth River Basin, south-central Minnesota and north-central Iowa

This report presents data describing the physical characteristics of stream basins upstream from selected points on streams in the Blue Earth River basin, located in south-central Minnesota and north-central Iowa. The physical characteristics are the drainage area of the basin, the percentage area of the basin covered only by lakes, the percentage area of the basin covered by both lakes...
Authors
D. L. Lorenz, G. A. Payne

Habitat use by larval fishes in backwater lake of the upper Mississippi River Habitat use by larval fishes in backwater lake of the upper Mississippi River

Light traps were used to sample larval fishes in Lawrence Lake (Pool 8, upper Mississippi River) from late May through mid-August 1990. Catches differed considerably between vegetated sites and an adjacent open-water area and were highly variable among vegetated stations. Sunfishes (Lepomis spp.) dominated the vegetated sites. Brook silversides (Labidesthes sicculus), Cyprinidae and...
Authors
M. R. Dewey, Cecil A. Jennings

Selected papers in the applied computer sciences 1992 Selected papers in the applied computer sciences 1992

This compilation of short papers reports on technical advances in the applied computer sciences. The papers describe computer applications in support of earth science investigations and research. This is the third volume in the series "Selected Papers in the Applied Computer Sciences." Listed below are the topics addressed in the compilation: Integration of geographic information systems...

Water-resources investigations in Wisconsin: Programs and activities of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1991-92 Water-resources investigations in Wisconsin: Programs and activities of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1991-92

PROBLEM: Surface-water information is needed for surveillance, planning, design, hazard warning, operation, and management in water-related fields such as water supply, hydroelectric power, flood control, irrigation, bridge and culvert design, wildlife management, pollution abatement, flood-plain management, and water-resources development An appropriate data base is necessary to provide...
Authors
D. E. Maertz

Bidirectional sulfate diffusion in saline-lake sediments: Evidence from Devils Lake, northeast North Dakota Bidirectional sulfate diffusion in saline-lake sediments: Evidence from Devils Lake, northeast North Dakota

Chemical and isotopic gradients in pore water in Devils Lake indicate that maximum rates of sulfate reduction occur between 1 and 3 cm depth in the bottom sediments. Dissolved sulfate diffuses into the sulfate-reduction zone upward from deeply buried saline pore water at an average rate of 1.4 x 10-5 μmol ⋅ cm-2 ⋅ s-1, and downward from the overlying water column at an average rate of 2...
Authors
S.C. Komor

Accumulation of mercury by aufwuchs in Wisconsin seepage lakes: Implications for monitoring Accumulation of mercury by aufwuchs in Wisconsin seepage lakes: Implications for monitoring

We examined temporal variation in the total Hg content of aufwuchs collected from artificial substrates in 11 seepage lakes in north-central Wisconsin and its relation to the Hg content of resident yellow perch Perca flavescens from the lakes. Dry weight concentrations of Hg in aufwuchs varied temporally, as follows: summer/fall 1985 > summer 1985 > spring/summer 1986. Areal...
Authors
W. Gregory Cope, Ronald G. Rada

Increasing rates of atmospheric mercury deposition in midcontinental North America Increasing rates of atmospheric mercury deposition in midcontinental North America

Mercury contamination of remote lakes has been attributed to increasing deposition of atmospheric mercury, yet historic deposition rates and inputs from terrestrial sources are essentially unknown. Sediments of seven headwater lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin were used to reconstruct regional modern and preindustrial deposition rates of mercury. Whole-basin mercury fluxes, determined...
Authors
Edward B. Swain, Daniel R. Engstrom, Mark E. Brigham, Thomas A. Henning, P.L. Brezonik
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