Publications
These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.
Filter Total Items: 16759
Oxygenation of a karst subterranean estuary during a tropical cyclone: Mechanisms and implications for the carbon cycle Oxygenation of a karst subterranean estuary during a tropical cyclone: Mechanisms and implications for the carbon cycle
Seasonal precipitation affects carbon turnover and methane accumulation in karst subterranean estuaries, the region of coastal carbonate aquifers where hydrologic and biogeochemical processes regulate material exchange between the land and ocean. However, the impact that tropical cyclones exert on subsurface carbon cycling within karst landscapes is poorly understood. Here, we present 5...
Authors
David Brankovits, John Pohlman, Laura Lapham
Using biological responses to monitor freshwater post-spill conditions over 3 years in Blacktail Creek, North Dakota, USA Using biological responses to monitor freshwater post-spill conditions over 3 years in Blacktail Creek, North Dakota, USA
A pipeline carrying unconventional oil and gas (OG) wastewater spilled approximately 11 million liters of wastewater into Blacktail Creek, North Dakota, USA. Flow of the mix of stream water and wastewater down the channel resulted in storage of contaminants in the hyporheic zone and along the banks, providing a long-term source of wastewater constituents to the stream. A multi-level...
Authors
Aida Farag, David Harper, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Douglas B. Kent, Adam C. Mumford, Denise M. Akob, Travis W. Schaeffer, Luke R. Iwanowicz
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston Microbiology Laboratory
Potential health effects of contaminant mixtures from point and nonpoint sources on fish and frogs in the New Jersey Pinelands Potential health effects of contaminant mixtures from point and nonpoint sources on fish and frogs in the New Jersey Pinelands
Aquatic ecosystems convey complex contaminant mixtures from anthropogenic pollution on a global scale. Point (e.g., municipal wastewater) and nonpoint sources (e.g., stormwater runoff) are both drivers of contaminant mixtures in aquatic habitats. The objectives of this study were to identify the contaminant mixtures present in surface waters impacted by both point and nonpoint sources...
Authors
Sara E. Breitmeyer, Heather L. Walsh, Vicki S. Blazer, John F. Bunnell, Patrick M. Burritt, Jeff Dragon, Michelle L. Hladik, Paul M. Bradley, Kristin M. Romanok, Kelly L. Smalling
Categorizing active marine acoustic sources based on their potential to affect marine animals Categorizing active marine acoustic sources based on their potential to affect marine animals
Marine acoustic sources are widely used for geophysical imaging, oceanographic sensing, and communicating with and tracking objects or robotic vehicles in the water column. Under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act and similar regulations in several other countries, the impact of controlled acoustic sources is assessed based on whether the sound levels received by marine mammals meet...
Authors
Carolyn D. Ruppel, T.S. Weber, Erica Staaterman, Stanley Labak, Patrick E. Hart
Integrated modeling of dynamic marsh feedbacks and evolution under sea-level rise in a mesotidal estuary (Plum Island, MA, USA) Integrated modeling of dynamic marsh feedbacks and evolution under sea-level rise in a mesotidal estuary (Plum Island, MA, USA)
Around the world, wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise (SLR) depends on different factors including tidal regimes, topography, creeks and estuary geometry, sediment availability, vegetation type, etc. The Plum Island estuary (PIE) is a mesotidal wetland system on the east coast of the United States. This research applied a newly updated Hydro-MEM (integrated hydrodynamic-marsh) model...
Authors
Karim Alizad, James T. Morris, Matthew V. Bilskie, Davina L. Passeri, Scott C. Hagen
Hepatic gene expression profiling of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) exposed in ovo to three alternative brominated flame retardants Hepatic gene expression profiling of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) exposed in ovo to three alternative brominated flame retardants
A number of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been reported to interfere with the thyroid signaling pathway and cause oxidative stress in birds, yet the underlying shifts in gene expression associated with these effects remain poorly understood. In this study, we measured hepatic transcriptional responses of 31 genes in American kestrel (Falco sparverius) hatchlings following in...
Authors
Christopher G. Goodchild, Natalie Karouna-Renier, Ryan P. Braham, Paula F. P. Henry, Robert J. Letcher, Kim J. Fernie
Development of a ddPCR assay for the detection of the Smoky Madtom (Noturus baileyi) from eDNA in stream water samples Development of a ddPCR assay for the detection of the Smoky Madtom (Noturus baileyi) from eDNA in stream water samples
The Smoky Madtom Noturus baileyi is a federally endangered species, whose native distribution includes lower Abrams Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) and Citico Creek in nearby Cherokee National Forest. Due to challenges for bio-monitoring posed by its nocturnality and cryptic life history, an environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approach for detection would be useful to...
Authors
Aaron Aunins, Michael S. Eackles, Paul E Super, Matt A. Kulp, Becky J Nichols, Barbara A. Lubinski, Cheryl L. Morrison, Timothy L. King
Calibrated relative sea levels constrain isostatic adjustment and ice history in northwest Greenland Calibrated relative sea levels constrain isostatic adjustment and ice history in northwest Greenland
Relative Sea Levels (RSLs) derived primarily from marine bivalves near Petermann Glacier, NW Greenland, constrain past regional ice-mass changes through glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) modeling. Oxygen isotopes measured on bivalves corrected for shell-depth habitat and document changing meltwater input. Rapid RSL fall of up to 62 m/kyr indicates ice loss at or prior to ∼9 ka...
Authors
Anna Glueder, Alan Mix, Glenn A. Milne, Brendan Reilly, Jorie Clark, Martin Jakobsson, Larry Mayer, Stewart Fallon, John R. Southon, June Padman, Andrew Ross, Thomas M. Cronin, Jennifer McKay
Explainable machine learning improves interpretability in the predictive modeling of biological stream conditions in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA Explainable machine learning improves interpretability in the predictive modeling of biological stream conditions in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA
Anthropogenic alterations have resulted in widespread degradation of stream conditions. To aid in stream restoration and management, baseline estimates of conditions and improved explanation of factors driving their degradation are needed. We used random forests to model biological conditions using a benthic macroinvertebrate index of biotic integrity for small, non-tidal streams...
Authors
Kelly O. Maloney, Claire Buchanan, Rikke Jepsen, Kevin P. Krause, Matthew J. Cashman, Benjamin P. Gressler, John A. Young, Matthias Schmid
Genome resequencing clarifies phylogeny and reveals patterns of selection in the toxicogenomics model Pimephales promelas Genome resequencing clarifies phylogeny and reveals patterns of selection in the toxicogenomics model Pimephales promelas
Background The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) is a model species for toxicological research. A high-quality genome reference sequence is available, and genomic methods are increasingly used in toxicological studies of the species. However, phylogenetic relationships within the genus remain incompletely known and little population-genomic data are available for fathead minnow...
Authors
Katy E. Klymus, Robert A. Hrabik, Nathan Thompson, Robert S. Cornman
Range-wide sources of variation in reproductive rates of northern spotted owls Range-wide sources of variation in reproductive rates of northern spotted owls
We conducted a range-wide investigation of the dynamics of site level reproductive rate of northern spotted owls using survey data from 11 study areas across the sub-species geographic range collected during 1993–2018. Our analytical approach accounted for imperfect detection of owl pairs and misclassification of successful reproduction (i.e., at least one young fledged) and contributed...
Authors
Jeremy T. Rockweit, Julianna M Jenkins, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Katie M. Dugger, Alan B. Franklin, Peter C. Carlson, William L. Kendall, Damon B. Lesmeister, Christopher McCafferty, Steven H. Ackers, L. Steven Andrews, Larissa Bailey, Jesse Burgher, Kenneth P. Burnham, Tara E. Chestnut, Mary M Conner, Raymond J. Davis, Krista E. Dilione, Eric D. Forsman, Elizabeth M. Glenn, Scott A. Gremel, Keith A. Hamm, Dale R. Herter, J. Mark Higley, Rob B. Horn, David W Lamphear, Trent L. McDonald, Janice A Reid, Carl J. Schwarz, David C. Simon, Stan G Sovern, James K. Swingle, David Wiens, Heather Wise, Charles B. Yackulic
Using surrogate insects in acid bioassays for development of new controls for Varroa destructor (Arachnida: Varroidae) Using surrogate insects in acid bioassays for development of new controls for Varroa destructor (Arachnida: Varroidae)
Resistance to traditional synthetic compounds by Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman and shortcomings of the organic acid class of acaracides commonly used in varroa management requires continual development of new controls. V. destructor, however, are difficult to obtain for use in control bioassays because they are obligate parasites that cannot be easily reared outside of a honey...
Authors
Julia Vieira, Casey L. Johnson, Elizabeth M. Varkonyi, Howard Ginsberg, Kassie Picard, Mattew Kiesewetter, Steven R. Alm