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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: 6198

The medical geochemistry of dusts, soils, and other Earth materials: Chapter 7 The medical geochemistry of dusts, soils, and other Earth materials: Chapter 7

A quick scan of newspapers, television, science magazines, or the internet on any given day has a fairly high likelihood of encountering stories (accompanied by headlines such as those above) regarding human health concerns linked to dusts, soils, or other Earth materials. Many such concerns have been recognized and studied for decades, but new concerns arise regularly.
Authors
Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Thomas L. Ziegler

The offshore fish community in southern Lake Ontario, 1972-1998 The offshore fish community in southern Lake Ontario, 1972-1998

The authors document the status of Lake Ontario's open-water fish community in 1972, near the beginning of an era of massive fish stocking and when phosphorus levels in the lake from anthropogenic inputs, were near their peak. They then describe changes that occurred in the fish community in 1978-98. This was a period when large numbers of young salmonid piscivores were released annually...
Authors
Randall W. Owens, Robert O’Gorman, Thomas H. Eckert, Brian F. Lantry

The role of multiple stressor causes in declining amphibian populations: a wingspread workshop summary The role of multiple stressor causes in declining amphibian populations: a wingspread workshop summary

Numerous studies have documented the decline of amphibian populations over the past decade and no single factor has been the linked to these widespread declines. Determining the causes of declining amphibian populations worldwide has proven difficult because of the variety of anthropogenic and natural suspect agents. A Wingspread workshop, convened by The Society of Environmental...
Authors
S.K. Krest, G. Linder, D. W. Sparling

Toxicological significance of soil ingestion by wild and domestic animals Toxicological significance of soil ingestion by wild and domestic animals

Most wild and domestic animals ingest some soil or sediment, and some species may routinely, or under special circumstances, ingest considerable amounts. Ingested soil supplies nutrients, exposes animals to parasites and pathogens, and may play a role in developing immune systems.1 Soil ingestion is also sometimes the principal route of exposure to various environmental contaminants.2-7...
Authors
W. Nelson Beyer, George F. Fries

Western crevice and cavity-roosting bats Western crevice and cavity-roosting bats

Among the 45 species of bats that occur in the United States (U.S.), 34 species regularly occur in western regions of the country. Many of these “western” species choose roost sites in crevices or cavities. Herein we provide an introduction to the biology of bats that roost in cavities and crevices and assess the challenges and opportunities associated with monitoring their populations...
Authors
Michael A. Bogan, Paul M. Cryan, Ernest W. Valdez, Laura E. Ellison, Thomas J. O’Shea

White phosphorus at Eagle River Flats, Alaska: A case history of waterfowl mortality White phosphorus at Eagle River Flats, Alaska: A case history of waterfowl mortality

White phosphorus has a limited distribution in the environment because it only occurs where it has been directly used by humans. It is not transported aerially for any distance and, due to its density, has a limited ability to disperse through water. Therefore, it is not a contaminant of broad-scale concern. However, where it does occur, it can cause substantial mortality or critically...
Authors
Donald W. Sparling
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