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Book Chapters

Browse more than 5,500 book chapters authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS and refine search by topic, location, year, and advanced search.

Filter Total Items: 6197

Introduction Introduction

Ecotoxicology is the study of the movement of environmental contaminants through ecosystems and their effects on plants and animals. Examining tissue residues of these contaminants in biota is basic to ecotoxicology, both for understanding the movement of contaminants within organisms and through food chains, and for understanding and quantifying injuries to organisms and their...
Authors
W. Nelson Beyer, James P. Meador

Introduction; Concluding remarks Introduction; Concluding remarks

No abstract available.
Authors
Jari Niemela, Jiirgen Breuste, Thomas Elmqvist, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Philip James, Nancy McIntyre

Inverse modeling with RZWQM2 to predict water quality Inverse modeling with RZWQM2 to predict water quality

This chapter presents guidelines for autocalibration of the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) by inverse modeling using PEST parameter estimation software (Doherty, 2010). Two sites with diverse climate and management were considered for simulation of N losses by leaching and in drain flow: an almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] orchard in the San Joaquin Valley, California and...
Authors
Bernard T. Nolan, Robert W. Malone, Liwang Ma, Christopher T. Green, Michael N. Fienen, Dan B. Jaynes

Lead in birds Lead in birds

Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal that acts as a nonspecific poison affecting all body systems and has no known biological requirement. Absorption of low concentrations may result in a wide range of sublethal effects in animals, and higher concentrations may result in mortality (Demayo et al. 1982). Lead has been mined and smelted by humans for centuries, but the use of lead-based...
Authors
J. Christian Franson, Deborah J. Pain

Management case study: Tampa Bay, Florida Management case study: Tampa Bay, Florida

Tampa Bay, Florida, USA, is a shallow, subtropical estuary that experienced severe cultural eutrophication between the 1940s and 1980s, a period when the human population of its watershed quadrupled. In response, citizen action led to the formation of a public- and private-sector partnership (the Tampa Bay Estuary Program), which adopted a number of management objectives to support the...
Authors
Gerold Morrison, Holly Greening, Kimberly K. Yates

Modeling fate and transport of fecal bacteria in surface water Modeling fate and transport of fecal bacteria in surface water

This chapter provides a basic review of deterministic and empirical statistical modelling and their application for predicting microbiological surface water quality.
Authors
Meredith B. Nevers, Alexandria B. Boehm

Molecular insights into the biology of Greater Sage-Grouse Molecular insights into the biology of Greater Sage-Grouse

Recent research on Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) genetics has revealed some important findings. First, multiple paternity in broods is more prevalent than previously thought, and leks do not comprise kin groups. Second, the Greater Sage-Grouse is genetically distinct from the congeneric Gunnison sage-grouse (C. minimus). Third, the Lyon-Mono population in the Mono Basin...
Authors
Sara J. Oyler-McCance, Thomas W. Quinn

Multidisciplinary approaches to climate change questions Multidisciplinary approaches to climate change questions

Multidisciplinary approaches are required to address the complex environmental problems of our time. Solutions to climate change problems are good examples of situations requiring complex syntheses of ideas from a vast set of disciplines including science, engineering, social science, and the humanities. Unfortunately, most ecologists have narrow training, and are not equipped to bring...
Authors
Beth A. Middleton
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