Ecosystems We Study: Freshwater Systems
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By Land Management Research Program
September 26, 2022
Managing the world’s freshwater ecosystems including lakes, rivers, and springs, and the water they supply to meet environmental and societal needs in a changing climate is one of the biggest challenges for the 21st century.
Fresh waters are one of the most valuable and threatened resources worldwide. They supply critical services to society and harbor many of the world’s most imperiled species. From seasonal pools to the Great Lakes, freshwater systems play many important roles in the environment such as water purification, providing water for vegetation, and flood prevention. As habitat, wetlands support more than fish, amphibians, and waterfowl. Wetlands provide critical resources for species ranging from moose to bats, and beavers to butterflies.
Oftentimes there is no stark boundary between aquatic and terrestrial systems, and animals, nutrients, and even pollution move freely between them. Rivers also connect the terrestrial landscapes to offshore marine systems. USGS scientists conduct research on the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems; efficacy of various management, conservation, and restoration practices, and how the uses of aquatic ecosystems affect the watershed and its biodiversity.
Freshwater Research
Freshwater Research
Recent data (2020-2022) related to USGS freshwater research is listed below. A complete listing of USGS freshwater data is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 16
No Result Found
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS freshwater research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS freshwater publications is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 85
Seasonal controls on sediment delivery and hydrodynamics in a vegetated tidally influenced interdistributary island Seasonal controls on sediment delivery and hydrodynamics in a vegetated tidally influenced interdistributary island
River deltas are maintained by a continuous supply of terrestrial sediments that provide critical land building material to help sustain and protect vulnerable ecological communities and serve as natural storm protection barriers. Local hydrodynamics are important in determining the degree to which fluvial sediments are removed from the water column and retained on the delta complex...
Authors
Richard Styles, Gregg Snedden, S. Smith, Duncan Bryant, Brandon Boyd, Joseph Gailani, Brady Couvillion, Edward Race
Enhancing Great Lakes coastal ecosystems research by initiating engagement between scientists and decision-makers Enhancing Great Lakes coastal ecosystems research by initiating engagement between scientists and decision-makers
A disconnect between scientific research and environmental management communities can be a detriment to both. In the case of Great Lakes coastal ecosystems, which are inherently complex and subject to uncertain effects of future climatic, environmental, and anthropogenic drivers, greater collaboration could be beneficial to their sustainability. We capture the challenges and...
Authors
Charlotte Weinstein, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, S. Martin, W. Currie, K. Grantham, Q. Hamlin, David Hyndman, Kurt P. Kowalski, J. Martina, D. Pearsall
A U.S.-China EcoPartnership study of disturbed wetland vegetation in West Dongting Lake, China A U.S.-China EcoPartnership study of disturbed wetland vegetation in West Dongting Lake, China
West Dongting Lake in China is important for human livelihoods and habitat of migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. The waterway re-engineering and agriculture intensification have contributed to changes in hydrology, sediment, and vegetation on the floodplain. This paper describes an EcoPartnership program conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center...
Authors
Ting Lei, Beth Middleton
Great Lakes harmful algal blooms: Current knowledge gaps Great Lakes harmful algal blooms: Current knowledge gaps
Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) pose serious risks throughout the world to drinking water, recreation, and ecosystem health. The Great Lakes, which contain nearly 20% of the world’s available surface freshwater, have been experiencing an increase in HABs since the 1990s. Knowledge gaps relating to HABs remain even after extensive and ongoing research efforts. These knowledge gaps...
Authors
Gregory Boyer, Mary Evans, Timothy Maguire, Silvia Newell, Heather Raymond, Dale M. Robertson, Katie Stammler, Nicole Zacharda, Kenneth Gibbons
Understanding constraints on submersed vegetation distribution in a large, floodplain river: The role of water level fluctuations, water clarity and river geomorphology Understanding constraints on submersed vegetation distribution in a large, floodplain river: The role of water level fluctuations, water clarity and river geomorphology
Aquatic vegetation is a key component of large floodplain river ecosystems. In the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS), there is a long-standing interest in restoring aquatic vegetation in areas where it has declined or disappeared. To better understand what constrains vegetation distribution in large river ecosystems and inform ongoing efforts to restore submersed aquatic vegetation...
Authors
Alicia Carhart, John Kalas, James Rogala, Jason Rohweder, Deanne Drake, Jeffrey Houser
Mercury and water level management in lakes of northern Minnesota Mercury and water level management in lakes of northern Minnesota
Water level (WL) fluctuations substantially alter the fauna, flora, and microbial community of nearshore aquatic ecosystems. Water level management therefore has the potential to strongly influence a wide variety of ecosystem processes. Many northern temperate lake food webs experience substantial methylmercury contamination, which is partially mediated by the action of sulfate-reducing...
Authors
James Larson, Ryan P. Maki, Victoria Christensen, Enrika Hlavacek, Mark Sandheinrich, Jaime LeDuc, Claire Kissane, Brent Knights
The extent and variability of storm‐induced temperature changes in lakes measured with long‐term and high‐frequency data The extent and variability of storm‐induced temperature changes in lakes measured with long‐term and high‐frequency data
The intensity and frequency of storms are projected to increase in many regions of the world because of climate change. Storms can alter environmental conditions in many ecosystems. In lakes and reservoirs, storms can reduce epilimnetic temperatures from wind‐induced mixing with colder hypolimnetic waters, direct precipitation to the lake's surface, and watershed runoff. We analyzed 18...
Authors
Jonathan Doubek, Orlane Anneville, Gael Dur, Aleksandra Lewandowska, Vijay Patil, James Rusak, Nico Salmaso, Christian Seltmann, Dietmar Straile, Pablo Urrutia-Cordero, Patrick Venail, Rita Adrian, Maria B. Alfonso, Curtis DeGasperi, Elvira de Eyto, Heidrun Feuchtmayr, Evelyn Gaiser, Scott Girdner, Jennifer Graham, Hans-Peter Grossart, Josef Hejzlar, Stephan Jacquet, Georgiy Kirillin, Maria Llames, Shin-Ichiro Matsuzaki, Emily Nodine, Maria Piccolo, Donald Pierson, Alon Rimmer, Lars Rudstam, Steven Sadro, Hilary Swain, Stephen Thackeray, Wim Thiery, Piet Verburg, Tamar Zohary, Jason Stockwell
Half of global methane emissions come from highly variable aquatic ecosystem sources Half of global methane emissions come from highly variable aquatic ecosystem sources
Atmospheric methane is a potent greenhouse gas that plays a major role in controlling the Earth’s climate. The causes of the renewed increase of methane concentration since 2007 are uncertain given the multiple sources and complex biogeochemistry. Here, we present a metadata analysis of methane fluxes from all major natural, impacted and human-made aquatic ecosystems. Our revised bottom...
Authors
Judith Rosentreter, Alberto Borges, Bridget Deemer, Meredith Holgerson, Shaoda Liu, Chunlin Song, John Melack, Peter Raymond, Carlos Duarte, George H. Allen, David Olefeldt, Benjamin Poulter, Tom Batin, Bradley Eyre
Aquatic ecosystem metabolism as a tool in environmental management Aquatic ecosystem metabolism as a tool in environmental management
Recent advances in high-frequency environmental sensing and statistical approaches have greatly expanded the breadth of knowledge regarding aquatic ecosystem metabolism - the measurement and interpretation of gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). Aquatic scientists are poised to take advantage of widely available datasets and freely-available modeling tools to...
Authors
Kathi Jankowski, Francine Mejia, Joanna Blaszczak, Gordon Holtgrieve
Drivers of methane flux differ between lakes and reservoirs, complicating global upscaling efforts Drivers of methane flux differ between lakes and reservoirs, complicating global upscaling efforts
Methane is an important greenhouse gas with growing atmospheric concentrations. Freshwater lakes and reservoirs contribute substantially to atmospheric methane concentrations, but the magnitude of this contribution is poorly constrained. Uncertainty stems partially from whether the sites currently sampled represent the global population as well as incomplete knowledge of which...
Authors
Bridget Deemer, Meredith Holgerson
Examining historical mercury sources in the Saint Louis River estuary: How legacy contamination influences biological mercury levels in Great Lakes coastal regions Examining historical mercury sources in the Saint Louis River estuary: How legacy contamination influences biological mercury levels in Great Lakes coastal regions
Industrial chemical contamination within coastal regions of the Great Lakes can pose serious risks to wetland habitat and offshore fisheries, often resulting in fish consumption advisories that directly affect human and wildlife health. Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of concern in many of these highly urbanized and industrialized coastal regions, one of which is the Saint Louis River...
Authors
Sarah E. Janssen, Joel Hoffman, Ryan F. Lepak, David Krabbenhoft, David Walters, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Greg Peterson, Jacob Ogorek, John DeWild, Anne Cotter, Mark Pearson, Michael T. Tate, Roger Yeardley, Marc Mills
Trophic ecology Trophic ecology
The trophic ecology of lake charr Salvelinus namaycush morphotypes from small and large lakes within their native and introduced ranges is reviewed over the past 50 years. The lake charr is an apex predator in most habitats it occupies, where it plays a significant role in defining food webs. While often considered piscivores, lake charr feed on a range of aquatic prey throughout their...
Authors
Mark Vinson, Louise Chavarie, Caroline Rosinski, Heidi Swanson
Managing the world’s freshwater ecosystems including lakes, rivers, and springs, and the water they supply to meet environmental and societal needs in a changing climate is one of the biggest challenges for the 21st century.
Fresh waters are one of the most valuable and threatened resources worldwide. They supply critical services to society and harbor many of the world’s most imperiled species. From seasonal pools to the Great Lakes, freshwater systems play many important roles in the environment such as water purification, providing water for vegetation, and flood prevention. As habitat, wetlands support more than fish, amphibians, and waterfowl. Wetlands provide critical resources for species ranging from moose to bats, and beavers to butterflies.
Oftentimes there is no stark boundary between aquatic and terrestrial systems, and animals, nutrients, and even pollution move freely between them. Rivers also connect the terrestrial landscapes to offshore marine systems. USGS scientists conduct research on the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems; efficacy of various management, conservation, and restoration practices, and how the uses of aquatic ecosystems affect the watershed and its biodiversity.
Freshwater Research
Freshwater Research
Recent data (2020-2022) related to USGS freshwater research is listed below. A complete listing of USGS freshwater data is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 16
No Result Found
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS freshwater research are listed below. A complete listing of USGS freshwater publications is available from the button below.
Filter Total Items: 85
Seasonal controls on sediment delivery and hydrodynamics in a vegetated tidally influenced interdistributary island Seasonal controls on sediment delivery and hydrodynamics in a vegetated tidally influenced interdistributary island
River deltas are maintained by a continuous supply of terrestrial sediments that provide critical land building material to help sustain and protect vulnerable ecological communities and serve as natural storm protection barriers. Local hydrodynamics are important in determining the degree to which fluvial sediments are removed from the water column and retained on the delta complex...
Authors
Richard Styles, Gregg Snedden, S. Smith, Duncan Bryant, Brandon Boyd, Joseph Gailani, Brady Couvillion, Edward Race
Enhancing Great Lakes coastal ecosystems research by initiating engagement between scientists and decision-makers Enhancing Great Lakes coastal ecosystems research by initiating engagement between scientists and decision-makers
A disconnect between scientific research and environmental management communities can be a detriment to both. In the case of Great Lakes coastal ecosystems, which are inherently complex and subject to uncertain effects of future climatic, environmental, and anthropogenic drivers, greater collaboration could be beneficial to their sustainability. We capture the challenges and...
Authors
Charlotte Weinstein, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, S. Martin, W. Currie, K. Grantham, Q. Hamlin, David Hyndman, Kurt P. Kowalski, J. Martina, D. Pearsall
A U.S.-China EcoPartnership study of disturbed wetland vegetation in West Dongting Lake, China A U.S.-China EcoPartnership study of disturbed wetland vegetation in West Dongting Lake, China
West Dongting Lake in China is important for human livelihoods and habitat of migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. The waterway re-engineering and agriculture intensification have contributed to changes in hydrology, sediment, and vegetation on the floodplain. This paper describes an EcoPartnership program conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center...
Authors
Ting Lei, Beth Middleton
Great Lakes harmful algal blooms: Current knowledge gaps Great Lakes harmful algal blooms: Current knowledge gaps
Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) pose serious risks throughout the world to drinking water, recreation, and ecosystem health. The Great Lakes, which contain nearly 20% of the world’s available surface freshwater, have been experiencing an increase in HABs since the 1990s. Knowledge gaps relating to HABs remain even after extensive and ongoing research efforts. These knowledge gaps...
Authors
Gregory Boyer, Mary Evans, Timothy Maguire, Silvia Newell, Heather Raymond, Dale M. Robertson, Katie Stammler, Nicole Zacharda, Kenneth Gibbons
Understanding constraints on submersed vegetation distribution in a large, floodplain river: The role of water level fluctuations, water clarity and river geomorphology Understanding constraints on submersed vegetation distribution in a large, floodplain river: The role of water level fluctuations, water clarity and river geomorphology
Aquatic vegetation is a key component of large floodplain river ecosystems. In the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS), there is a long-standing interest in restoring aquatic vegetation in areas where it has declined or disappeared. To better understand what constrains vegetation distribution in large river ecosystems and inform ongoing efforts to restore submersed aquatic vegetation...
Authors
Alicia Carhart, John Kalas, James Rogala, Jason Rohweder, Deanne Drake, Jeffrey Houser
Mercury and water level management in lakes of northern Minnesota Mercury and water level management in lakes of northern Minnesota
Water level (WL) fluctuations substantially alter the fauna, flora, and microbial community of nearshore aquatic ecosystems. Water level management therefore has the potential to strongly influence a wide variety of ecosystem processes. Many northern temperate lake food webs experience substantial methylmercury contamination, which is partially mediated by the action of sulfate-reducing...
Authors
James Larson, Ryan P. Maki, Victoria Christensen, Enrika Hlavacek, Mark Sandheinrich, Jaime LeDuc, Claire Kissane, Brent Knights
The extent and variability of storm‐induced temperature changes in lakes measured with long‐term and high‐frequency data The extent and variability of storm‐induced temperature changes in lakes measured with long‐term and high‐frequency data
The intensity and frequency of storms are projected to increase in many regions of the world because of climate change. Storms can alter environmental conditions in many ecosystems. In lakes and reservoirs, storms can reduce epilimnetic temperatures from wind‐induced mixing with colder hypolimnetic waters, direct precipitation to the lake's surface, and watershed runoff. We analyzed 18...
Authors
Jonathan Doubek, Orlane Anneville, Gael Dur, Aleksandra Lewandowska, Vijay Patil, James Rusak, Nico Salmaso, Christian Seltmann, Dietmar Straile, Pablo Urrutia-Cordero, Patrick Venail, Rita Adrian, Maria B. Alfonso, Curtis DeGasperi, Elvira de Eyto, Heidrun Feuchtmayr, Evelyn Gaiser, Scott Girdner, Jennifer Graham, Hans-Peter Grossart, Josef Hejzlar, Stephan Jacquet, Georgiy Kirillin, Maria Llames, Shin-Ichiro Matsuzaki, Emily Nodine, Maria Piccolo, Donald Pierson, Alon Rimmer, Lars Rudstam, Steven Sadro, Hilary Swain, Stephen Thackeray, Wim Thiery, Piet Verburg, Tamar Zohary, Jason Stockwell
Half of global methane emissions come from highly variable aquatic ecosystem sources Half of global methane emissions come from highly variable aquatic ecosystem sources
Atmospheric methane is a potent greenhouse gas that plays a major role in controlling the Earth’s climate. The causes of the renewed increase of methane concentration since 2007 are uncertain given the multiple sources and complex biogeochemistry. Here, we present a metadata analysis of methane fluxes from all major natural, impacted and human-made aquatic ecosystems. Our revised bottom...
Authors
Judith Rosentreter, Alberto Borges, Bridget Deemer, Meredith Holgerson, Shaoda Liu, Chunlin Song, John Melack, Peter Raymond, Carlos Duarte, George H. Allen, David Olefeldt, Benjamin Poulter, Tom Batin, Bradley Eyre
Aquatic ecosystem metabolism as a tool in environmental management Aquatic ecosystem metabolism as a tool in environmental management
Recent advances in high-frequency environmental sensing and statistical approaches have greatly expanded the breadth of knowledge regarding aquatic ecosystem metabolism - the measurement and interpretation of gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). Aquatic scientists are poised to take advantage of widely available datasets and freely-available modeling tools to...
Authors
Kathi Jankowski, Francine Mejia, Joanna Blaszczak, Gordon Holtgrieve
Drivers of methane flux differ between lakes and reservoirs, complicating global upscaling efforts Drivers of methane flux differ between lakes and reservoirs, complicating global upscaling efforts
Methane is an important greenhouse gas with growing atmospheric concentrations. Freshwater lakes and reservoirs contribute substantially to atmospheric methane concentrations, but the magnitude of this contribution is poorly constrained. Uncertainty stems partially from whether the sites currently sampled represent the global population as well as incomplete knowledge of which...
Authors
Bridget Deemer, Meredith Holgerson
Examining historical mercury sources in the Saint Louis River estuary: How legacy contamination influences biological mercury levels in Great Lakes coastal regions Examining historical mercury sources in the Saint Louis River estuary: How legacy contamination influences biological mercury levels in Great Lakes coastal regions
Industrial chemical contamination within coastal regions of the Great Lakes can pose serious risks to wetland habitat and offshore fisheries, often resulting in fish consumption advisories that directly affect human and wildlife health. Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of concern in many of these highly urbanized and industrialized coastal regions, one of which is the Saint Louis River...
Authors
Sarah E. Janssen, Joel Hoffman, Ryan F. Lepak, David Krabbenhoft, David Walters, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Greg Peterson, Jacob Ogorek, John DeWild, Anne Cotter, Mark Pearson, Michael T. Tate, Roger Yeardley, Marc Mills
Trophic ecology Trophic ecology
The trophic ecology of lake charr Salvelinus namaycush morphotypes from small and large lakes within their native and introduced ranges is reviewed over the past 50 years. The lake charr is an apex predator in most habitats it occupies, where it plays a significant role in defining food webs. While often considered piscivores, lake charr feed on a range of aquatic prey throughout their...
Authors
Mark Vinson, Louise Chavarie, Caroline Rosinski, Heidi Swanson