Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

WARC conducts relevant and objective research, develops new approaches and technologies, and disseminates scientific information needed to understand, manage, conserve, and restore wetlands and other aquatic and coastal ecosystems and their associated plant and animal communities throughout the nation and the world. 

News

link

USGS Scientists Explore Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities in the Gulf of Mexico

link

New Map Demonstrates Hurricane Ian’s Potential Spread of Non-native Aquatic Species

link

Sound Waves Newsletter - May-June 2023

Publications

Mangrove forests and climate change: Impacts and interactions

The position of mangrove forests in the dynamic intertidal zone means that they are expected to be heavily impacted by climate change. Much focus is put on mangroves and their response to sea-level rise, but this ecosystem is exposed to a much broader range of climate change stressors, including increased storminess and waves, more dynamic and unpredictable precipitation patterns, and increases in
Authors
Daniel A. Friess, Luzhen Chen, Nicole Cormier, Ken Krauss, Catherine E. Lovelock, Jacqueline L. Raw, Kerrylee Rogers, Neil Saintilan, Frida Sidik

Molecular data validate historical and contemporary distributions of Pleurobema riddellii (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and help guide conservation and recovery efforts

Accurate taxonomic and distributional information are arguably the most critical components of conservation status assessments but can be greatly affected by misidentifications. The Louisiana pigtoe Pleurobema riddellii is a freshwater mussel proposed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. The species belongs to the tribe Pleurobemini, which includes multiple taxa that are inherently c
Authors
Nathan Johnson, Caitlin Beaver, Alexander H. Kiser, Matthew A. Duplessis, Matthew D. Wagner, Robert J. Ellwanger, Clinton R. Robertson, Sean D. Kinney, Beau B. Gregory, Steve Wolverton, Charles R. Randklev, Paul D. Hartfield, James D. Williams, Chase H. Smith

An inconvenient trend: Decadal decline in ground height of swamps in Southern Illinois

An understanding of the long-term trends of ground height and sedimentation in a landscape context can provide a framework to better understand the impacts of agricultural development on floodplain processes. This study examined long-term changes in ground height using surface elevation tables (SETs) and sediment deposition measurements in the Cache River floodplains of Southern Illinois including
Authors
Beth Middleton

Science

A Rapid CRISPR-based Field Test for the Non-invasive Detection of the Fungal Causative Agent of White-nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome has killed more than five million bats since its discovery in 2006. USGS is developing a non-invasive and user-friendly CRISPR white-nose syndrome biosensor to allow for quick detection of the pathogen that causes the disease.
link

A Rapid CRISPR-based Field Test for the Non-invasive Detection of the Fungal Causative Agent of White-nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome has killed more than five million bats since its discovery in 2006. USGS is developing a non-invasive and user-friendly CRISPR white-nose syndrome biosensor to allow for quick detection of the pathogen that causes the disease.
Learn More

Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities: Habitat Assessment and Evaluation

Through a collaborative effort with other federal agencies and academic and research institutions, USGS is working to fill data gaps, determine baseline conditions, and characterize key community conditions at mesophotic and deep benthic sites impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
link

Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities: Habitat Assessment and Evaluation

Through a collaborative effort with other federal agencies and academic and research institutions, USGS is working to fill data gaps, determine baseline conditions, and characterize key community conditions at mesophotic and deep benthic sites impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Learn More

Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities: Coral Propagation Technique (CPT) Development Project

Through a collaborative effort with other federal agencies and academic and research institutions, the USGS is working to inform and enhance the protection and management of coral communities in mesophotic and deep benthic areas of the Gulf of Mexico.
link

Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities: Coral Propagation Technique (CPT) Development Project

Through a collaborative effort with other federal agencies and academic and research institutions, the USGS is working to inform and enhance the protection and management of coral communities in mesophotic and deep benthic areas of the Gulf of Mexico.
Learn More