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Aquatic Biology

The Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center monitors and researches several facets of aquatic biology, including the effects of water quality on aquatic biology, the presence of invasive species, bacterial growth in waterways, and more. Check out our aquatic biology science below. 

Filter Total Items: 10

Assessing the effects of mining on the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir

The Kootenai River Watershed is an international resource cooperatively managed by the U.S., Canada, and Tribal governments. In recent years, coal mining in the Canadian portion of the watershed has resulted in elevated concentrations of several constituents, including selenium, nitrate, and sulfate downstream (Storb et al., 2023). At increased levels, these mining byproducts can affect water...
Assessing the effects of mining on the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir

Assessing the effects of mining on the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir

The Kootenai River Watershed is an international resource cooperatively managed by the U.S., Canada, and Tribal governments. In recent years, coal mining in the Canadian portion of the watershed has resulted in elevated concentrations of several constituents, including selenium, nitrate, and sulfate downstream (Storb et al., 2023). At increased levels, these mining byproducts can affect water...
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READI-Net: Providing Tools for the Early Detection and Management of Aquatic Invasive Species

The USGS has developed the Rapid environmental (e)DNA Assessment and Deployment Initiative & Network (READI-Net) to accelerate the implementation of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis as a best practice for the early detection of aquatic biological threats. READI-Net provides tools and a strategy to collect and deliver early detection data for natural resource managers and public health protection...
READI-Net: Providing Tools for the Early Detection and Management of Aquatic Invasive Species

READI-Net: Providing Tools for the Early Detection and Management of Aquatic Invasive Species

The USGS has developed the Rapid environmental (e)DNA Assessment and Deployment Initiative & Network (READI-Net) to accelerate the implementation of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis as a best practice for the early detection of aquatic biological threats. READI-Net provides tools and a strategy to collect and deliver early detection data for natural resource managers and public health protection...
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Developing CE-QUAL-W2 Models of the Kootenai River and Koocanusa Reservoir, Montana and Idaho

The construction and operation of Libby Dam, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project located in northwestern Montana, has altered the natural hydrograph, thermal regime, sediment transport, and nutrient loadings on the Kootenai River. Dam operation impacts riverine ecosystem function and many fish species, including the federally endangered Kootenai River White Sturgeon and federally...
Developing CE-QUAL-W2 Models of the Kootenai River and Koocanusa Reservoir, Montana and Idaho

Developing CE-QUAL-W2 Models of the Kootenai River and Koocanusa Reservoir, Montana and Idaho

The construction and operation of Libby Dam, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project located in northwestern Montana, has altered the natural hydrograph, thermal regime, sediment transport, and nutrient loadings on the Kootenai River. Dam operation impacts riverine ecosystem function and many fish species, including the federally endangered Kootenai River White Sturgeon and federally...
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Using Robots in the River: Biosurveillance at USGS streamgages

For more than a decade, researchers around the world have shown that sampling a water body and analyzing for DNA (a method known as eDNA) is an effective method to detect an organism in the water. The challenge is that finding organisms that are not very abundant requires a lot of samples to locate this needle in a haystack. Enter the "lab in a can", the water quality sampling and processing robot...
Using Robots in the River: Biosurveillance at USGS streamgages

Using Robots in the River: Biosurveillance at USGS streamgages

For more than a decade, researchers around the world have shown that sampling a water body and analyzing for DNA (a method known as eDNA) is an effective method to detect an organism in the water. The challenge is that finding organisms that are not very abundant requires a lot of samples to locate this needle in a haystack. Enter the "lab in a can", the water quality sampling and processing robot...
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Occurrence of pathogen Naegleria fowleri in northwestern Wyoming hot springs

Naegleria fowleri ( N. fowleri) commonly referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba", is a thermophilic free-living amoeba found in warm and hot surface water that include freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers, and hot springs (Yoder and others. 2010).
Occurrence of pathogen Naegleria fowleri in northwestern Wyoming hot springs

Occurrence of pathogen Naegleria fowleri in northwestern Wyoming hot springs

Naegleria fowleri ( N. fowleri) commonly referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba", is a thermophilic free-living amoeba found in warm and hot surface water that include freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers, and hot springs (Yoder and others. 2010).
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Living on the Edge: Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Native Fishes in Northern Great Plains Streams

Organisms that live in the semi-arid prairies in the Northern Great Plains are able to live through conditions of extreme heat, cold, floods, and drought. The fish that inhabit the warm, turbid waters of northern Great Plains streams are indicators of change in these delicate ecosystems, where water quantity and water quality are often precariously close to ecological tolerance limits. In fact...
Living on the Edge: Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Native Fishes in Northern Great Plains Streams

Living on the Edge: Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Native Fishes in Northern Great Plains Streams

Organisms that live in the semi-arid prairies in the Northern Great Plains are able to live through conditions of extreme heat, cold, floods, and drought. The fish that inhabit the warm, turbid waters of northern Great Plains streams are indicators of change in these delicate ecosystems, where water quantity and water quality are often precariously close to ecological tolerance limits. In fact...
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Yellowstone River Basin Water-Quality Assessment

The Yellowstone River Basin (YELL) study-unit in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, is part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. The long-term goals of this program are to describe the status and trends in the quality of a large, representative part of the Nation's surface- and ground-water resources, and to provide a sound, scientific understanding of...
Yellowstone River Basin Water-Quality Assessment

Yellowstone River Basin Water-Quality Assessment

The Yellowstone River Basin (YELL) study-unit in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, is part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. The long-term goals of this program are to describe the status and trends in the quality of a large, representative part of the Nation's surface- and ground-water resources, and to provide a sound, scientific understanding of...
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Assessment of Aquatic Communities in Northeastern Wyoming and Southeastern Montana

The Powder River Structural Basin (PRB) in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana is an important source of energy resources for the United States. Resources developed from the basin include coal, oil, uranium, conventional natural gas, and within the last decade coal-bed natural gas (CBNG) which often is referred to as coal-bed methane. As of 2008, about 20,000 CBNG wells had been drilled...
Assessment of Aquatic Communities in Northeastern Wyoming and Southeastern Montana

Assessment of Aquatic Communities in Northeastern Wyoming and Southeastern Montana

The Powder River Structural Basin (PRB) in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana is an important source of energy resources for the United States. Resources developed from the basin include coal, oil, uranium, conventional natural gas, and within the last decade coal-bed natural gas (CBNG) which often is referred to as coal-bed methane. As of 2008, about 20,000 CBNG wells had been drilled...
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Muddy Creek Synoptic Study

A synoptic study was conducted June 27-July 1, 2010 in the Muddy Creek drainage basin. The Muddy Creek drainage basin is in an area of energy develoment in south-central Wyoming. The synoptic study was integrated in nature and included the collection of water-quality, basin-sediment, and macroinvertebrate samples. Sampling sites were located on Muddy Creek from the headwaters area to near Baggs...
Muddy Creek Synoptic Study

Muddy Creek Synoptic Study

A synoptic study was conducted June 27-July 1, 2010 in the Muddy Creek drainage basin. The Muddy Creek drainage basin is in an area of energy develoment in south-central Wyoming. The synoptic study was integrated in nature and included the collection of water-quality, basin-sediment, and macroinvertebrate samples. Sampling sites were located on Muddy Creek from the headwaters area to near Baggs...
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Characterization of Fish Creek and Evaluation of Nutrient Inputs to Watershed

Fish Creek, an approximately 15-mile long tributary of the Snake River, is located in Teton County in western Wyoming near the town of Wilson. Local residents began observing an increase in the growth of algae and aquatic plants in Fish Creek in about 2000.
Characterization of Fish Creek and Evaluation of Nutrient Inputs to Watershed

Characterization of Fish Creek and Evaluation of Nutrient Inputs to Watershed

Fish Creek, an approximately 15-mile long tributary of the Snake River, is located in Teton County in western Wyoming near the town of Wilson. Local residents began observing an increase in the growth of algae and aquatic plants in Fish Creek in about 2000.
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