Publications
These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.
Filter Total Items: 16743
Population dynamics of Hawaiian seabird colonies vulnerable to sea-level rise Population dynamics of Hawaiian seabird colonies vulnerable to sea-level rise
Globally, seabirds are vulnerable to anthropogenic threats both at sea and on land. Seabirds typically nest colonially and show strong fidelity to natal colonies, and such colonies on low-lying islands may be threatened by sea-level rise. We used French Frigate Shoals, the largest atoll in the Hawaiian Archipelago, as a case study to explore the population dynamics of seabird colonies...
Authors
Jeff S. Hatfield, Michelle H. Reynolds, Nathaniel E. Seavy, Crystal M. Krause
Dam removal increases American eel abundance in distant headwater streams Dam removal increases American eel abundance in distant headwater streams
American eel Anguilla rostrata abundances have undergone significant declines over the last 50 years, and migration barriers have been recognized as a contributing cause. We evaluated eel abundances in headwater streams of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, to compare sites before and after the removal of a large downstream dam in 2004 (Embrey Dam, Rappahannock River). Eel abundances in...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Sheila Eyler, John E. B. Wofford
Biological assessment and streambed-sediment chemistry of streams in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, Indiana, 2003–2008 Biological assessment and streambed-sediment chemistry of streams in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, Indiana, 2003–2008
During 2003–2008, the U.S. Geological Survey sampled 13 sites in the Indianapolis metropolitan area in Indiana for benthic invertebrates, fish communities, and streambed-sediment chemistry. Data from seven White River sites and six tributary sites complement surface-water chemistry data collected by the Indianapolis Department of Public Works. The information is being used to assess...
Authors
David C. Voelker
Heterogeneous redox conditions, arsenic mobility, and groundwater flow in a fractured-rock aquifer near a waste repository site in New Hampshire, USA Heterogeneous redox conditions, arsenic mobility, and groundwater flow in a fractured-rock aquifer near a waste repository site in New Hampshire, USA
Anthropogenic sources of carbon from landfill or waste leachate can promote reductive dissolution of in situ arsenic (As) and enhance the mobility of As in groundwater. Groundwater from residential-supply wells in a fractured crystalline-rock aquifer adjacent to a Superfund site in Raymond, New Hampshire, USA, showed evidence of locally enhanced As mobilization in relatively reducing...
Authors
Philip T. Harte, Joseph D. Ayotte, Andrew Hoffman, Kinga M. Revesz, Marcel Belaval, Steven Lamb, J.K. Böhlke
Evaluating changes in matrix based, recovery-adjusted concentrations in paired data for pesticides in groundwater Evaluating changes in matrix based, recovery-adjusted concentrations in paired data for pesticides in groundwater
Pesticide concentration data for waters from selected carbonate-rock aquifers in agricultural areas of Pennsylvania were collected in 1993–2009 for occurrence and distribution assessments. A set of 30 wells was visited once in 1993–1995 and again in 2008–2009 to assess concentration changes. The data include censored matched pairs (nondetections of a compound in one or both samples of a...
Authors
Tammy M. Zimmerman, Kevin J. Breen
Diversity of active aerobic methanotrophs along depth profiles of arctic and subarctic lake water column and sediments Diversity of active aerobic methanotrophs along depth profiles of arctic and subarctic lake water column and sediments
Methane (CH4) emitted from high-latitude lakes accounts for 2–6% of the global atmospheric CH4 budget. Methanotrophs in lake sediments and water columns mitigate the amount of CH4 that enters the atmosphere, yet their identity and activity in arctic and subarctic lakes are poorly understood. We used stable isotope probing (SIP), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), pyrosequencing and enrichment...
Authors
Ruo He, Matthew J. Wooller, John W. Pohlman, John Quensen, James M. Tiedje, Mary Beth Leigh
Materials flow of indium in the United States in 2008 and 2009 Materials flow of indium in the United States in 2008 and 2009
Indium is a material that has many applications. It is used by anyone who watches television or views a computer screen. It is found in solar energy arrays and in soldering applications that are required to be lead free. In 2009, about 550 metric tons (t) of indium metal was produced from primary sources world-wide; it was estimated that the United States consumed about 110 t of indium...
Authors
Thomas G. Goonan
Chronostratigraphic framework for the IODP Expedition 318 cores from the Wilkes Land Margin: Constraints for paleoceanographic reconstruction Chronostratigraphic framework for the IODP Expedition 318 cores from the Wilkes Land Margin: Constraints for paleoceanographic reconstruction
The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 318 to the Wilkes Land margin of Antarctica recovered a sedimentary succession ranging in age from lower Eocene to the Holocene. Excellent stratigraphic control is key to understanding the timing of paleoceanographic events through critical climate intervals. Drill sites recovered the lower and middle Eocene, nearly the entire Oligocene...
Authors
L. Tauxe, C.E. Stickley, S. Sugisaki, P.K. Bijl, S. M. Bohaty, H. Brinkhuis, C. Escutia, J.A. Flores, A.J.P. Houben, M. Iwai, F. Jimenez-Espejo, R. McKay, S. Passchier, J. Pross, Christina Riesselman, U. Röhl, F. Sangiorgi, K. Welsh, A. Klaus, A. Fehr, J.A.P. Bendle, R. Dunbar, J. Gonzalez, T. Hayden, K. Katsuki, M.P. Olney, S.F. Pekar, P.K. Shrivastava, T. van de Flierdt, T. Williams, M. Yamane
Effects of urban best management practices on streamflow and phosphorus and suspended-sediment transport on Englesby Brook in Burlington, Vermont, 2000-2010 Effects of urban best management practices on streamflow and phosphorus and suspended-sediment transport on Englesby Brook in Burlington, Vermont, 2000-2010
An assessment of the effectiveness of several urban best management practice structures, including a wet extended detention facility and a shallow marsh wetland (together the "wet extended detention ponds"), was made using data collected from 2000 through 2010 at Englesby Brook in Burlington, Vermont. The purpose of the best management practices was to reduce high streamflows and...
Authors
Laura Medalie
Patterns and controlling factors of species diversity in the Arctic Ocean Patterns and controlling factors of species diversity in the Arctic Ocean
Aim The Arctic Ocean is one of the last near-pristine regions on Earth, and, although human activities are expected to impact on Arctic ecosystems, we know very little about baseline patterns of Arctic Ocean biodiversity. This paper aims to describe Arctic Ocean-wide patterns of benthic biodiversity and to explore factors related to the large-scale species diversity patterns. Location ...
Authors
Moriaki Yasuhara, Gene Hunt, Gert van Dijken, Kevin R. Arrigo, Thomas M. Cronin, Jutta E. Wollenburg
Comparative effectiveness of membrane bioreactors, conventional secondary treatment, and chlorine and UV disinfection to remove microorganisms from municipal wastewaters Comparative effectiveness of membrane bioreactors, conventional secondary treatment, and chlorine and UV disinfection to remove microorganisms from municipal wastewaters
Log removals of bacterial indicators, coliphage, and enteric viruses were studied in three membrane bioreactor (MBR) activated-sludge and two conventional secondary activated-sludge municipal wastewater treatment plants during three recreational seasons (May-Oct.) when disinfection of effluents is required. In total, 73 regular samples were collected from key locations throughout...
Authors
Donna S. Francy, A. Stelzer Erin, Rebecca N. Bushon, Amie M. G. Brady, Ashley G. Williston, Kimberly R. Riddell, Mark A. Borchardt, Susan K. Spencer, Terry M. Gellner
General methods for sensitivity analysis of equilibrium dynamics in patch occupancy models General methods for sensitivity analysis of equilibrium dynamics in patch occupancy models
Sensitivity analysis is a useful tool for the study of ecological models that has many potential applications for patch occupancy modeling. Drawing from the rich foundation of existing methods for Markov chain models, I demonstrate new methods for sensitivity analysis of the equilibrium state dynamics of occupancy models. Estimates from three previous studies are used to illustrate the...
Authors
David A.W. Miller