Publications
Publications from USGS science centers throughout the Southeast Region.
Filter Total Items: 10352
The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the validation of alternative methods (ICCVAM) The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the validation of alternative methods (ICCVAM)
Many ICCVAM member agencies are developing new technologies and resources to replace the use of animals for chemical safety testing. These include new platforms such as microphysiological systems (MPS), data resources to support the development of predictive models and quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSARs), and web tools to facilitate data access and visualization.
Authors
Barnett A. Rattner, Timothy Bargar, Paula F. P. Henry
Characterizing the areal extent of PFAS contamination in fish species downgradient of AFFF source zones Characterizing the areal extent of PFAS contamination in fish species downgradient of AFFF source zones
Most monitoring programs next to large per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sources focus on drinking water contamination near source zones. However, less is understood about how these sources affect downgradient hydrological systems and food webs. Here, we report paired PFAS measurements in water, sediment, and aquatic biota along a hydrological gradient away from source zones...
Authors
Heidi M. Pickard, Bridger J. Ruyle, Faiz Haque, John M. Logan, Denis R. LeBlanc, Simon Vojta, Elsie M. Sunderland
EthoCRED: A framework to guide reporting and evaluation of the relevance and reliability of behavioural ecotoxicity studies EthoCRED: A framework to guide reporting and evaluation of the relevance and reliability of behavioural ecotoxicity studies
Behavioural analysis has been attracting significant attention as a broad indicator of sub-lethal toxicity and has secured a place as an important subdiscipline in ecotoxicology. Among the most notable characteristics of behavioural research, compared to other established approaches in sub-lethal ecotoxicology (e.g. reproductive and developmental bioassays), are the wide range of study...
Authors
Michael G. Bertram, Marlene Agerstrand, Eli S.J. Thore, Joel Allen, Sigal Balshine, Jack A. Brand, Bryan W. Brooks, ZhiChao Dang, Sabine Duquesne, Alex T. Ford, Frauke Hoffmann, Henner Hollert, Stefanie Jacob, Werner Kloas, Nils Kluver, Jim Lazorchak, Mariana Ledesma, Gerd Maack, Erin L. Macartney, Jake M. Martin, Steven D. Melvin, Marcus Michelangeli, Silvia Mohr, Stephanie Padilla, Gregory G. Pyle, Minna Saaristo, Rene Sahm, Els Smit, Jeffery A. Steevens, Sanne van den Berg, Laura E. Vossen, Donald Wlodkowic, Bob B.M. Wong, Michael Ziegler, Tomas Brodin
Reducing wastewater nitrogen loading by >90% with carbon-amended septic systems: A field demonstration in Barnstable (Cape Cod), Massachusetts Reducing wastewater nitrogen loading by >90% with carbon-amended septic systems: A field demonstration in Barnstable (Cape Cod), Massachusetts
Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are a major source of excess nutrients and co-pollutants in watersheds across the United States. In Barnstable County (Cape Cod), Massachusetts, effluent from septic systems and cesspools contributes approximately 80% of the controllable reactive nitrogen (N) load to numerous impaired estuaries and degrades water quality in the region's sole...
Authors
Laura Erban, Sara Wigginton, Brian Baumgaertel, Bryan Horsley, Timothy D. McCobb, Zee Crocker, Scott Horsley, Timothy Gleason
Predictive understanding of stream salinization in a developed watershed using machine learning Predictive understanding of stream salinization in a developed watershed using machine learning
Stream salinization is a global issue, yet few models can provide reliable salinity estimates for unmonitored locations at the time scales required for ecological exposure assessments. Machine learning approaches are presented that use spatially limited high-frequency monitoring and spatially distributed discrete samples to estimate the daily stream-specific conductance across a...
Authors
Jared David Smith, Lauren Elizabeth Koenig, Margaux Jeanne Sleckman, Alison P. Appling, Jeffrey M Sadler, Vincent T. DePaul, Zoltan Szabo
State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H State of science, gap analysis, and prioritization for southeastern United States water-quality impacts from coastal storms—Fiscal year 2023 program report to the Water Resources Mission Area from the Water Availability Impacts of Extreme Events Program—H
Tropical cyclones (coastal storm events that include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) cause landscape-scale disturbances that can lead to impaired water quality and thus reduce water availability for use. Stakeholders and scientists at local and national scales have illustrated a need for understanding these risks to water quality. A regional and comprehensive...
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Tara L. Root, Matthew D. Petkewich, MaryLynn Musgrove, Amy C. Gill, J. Curtis Weaver, Christopher H. Conaway, Bruce D. Lindsey, Francis Parchaso, Noah Knowles, Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski
Hyperspectral Image Transects during Transient Events in Rivers (HITTER): Framework development and application to a tracer experiment on the Missouri River, USA Hyperspectral Image Transects during Transient Events in Rivers (HITTER): Framework development and application to a tracer experiment on the Missouri River, USA
Rivers convey a broad range of materials, such as sediment, nutrients, and contaminants. Much of this transport can occur during or immediately after an episodic, pulsed event like a flood or an oil spill. Understanding the flow processes that influence the motion of these substances is important for managing water resources and conserving aquatic ecosystems. This study introduces a new...
Authors
Carl J. Legleiter, Victoria Mary Scholl, Brandon James Sansom, Matthew Alexander Burgess
Continental-scale nutrient and contaminant delivery by Pacific salmon Continental-scale nutrient and contaminant delivery by Pacific salmon
The movement of large amounts of nutrients by migrating animals has ecological benefits for recipient food webs1,2 that may be offset by co-transported contaminants3,4. Salmon spawning migrations are archetypal of this process, carrying marine-derived materials to inland ecosystems where they stimulate local productivity but also enhance contaminant exposure5,6,7. Pacific salmon...
Authors
Jessica E. Brandt, Jeff S. Wesner, Gregory T. Ruggerone, Timothy D. Jardine, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Gabrielle E. Ruso, Craig A. Stricker, Cristofor A. Voss, David Walters
Effects of initial vegetation heterogeneity on competition of submersed and floating macrophytes Effects of initial vegetation heterogeneity on competition of submersed and floating macrophytes
Non-spatial models of competition between floating aquatic vegetation (FAV) and submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) predict a stable state of pure SAV at low total available limiting nutrient level, N, a stable state of only FAV for high N, and alternative stable states for intermediate N, as described by an S-shaped bifurcation curve. Spatial models that include physical heterogeneity of...
Authors
Linhao Xu, Don DeAngelis
Predicting characteristic length scales of barrier island segmentation in microtidal environments Predicting characteristic length scales of barrier island segmentation in microtidal environments
Segmented barrier islands can be found in regions with small tidal ranges. In contrast to tidally dominated barriers, where inlet dynamics are thought to control island length scales, the controls on barrier island length scales in wave-dominated environments have not been quantified. These microtidal barriers typically have a curved shoreline, suggesting the influence of wave-driven...
Authors
Rose Elizabeth Palermo, Andrew D. Ashton, Heidi M. Nepf, Mary Kule, Travis Swanson
Pesticide occurrence in shallow groundwater in three regions of agricultural land use: Baldwin County, the Wiregrass region, and the Tennessee River valley region of Alabama, 2009–20 Pesticide occurrence in shallow groundwater in three regions of agricultural land use: Baldwin County, the Wiregrass region, and the Tennessee River valley region of Alabama, 2009–20
As part of a cooperative investigation between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, a network of 22 groundwater wells were sampled from 2014 through 2020 for about 230 pesticide and pesticide degradate compounds. Wells were located in three regions of intensive agricultural land use in Alabama: Baldwin County, the Wiregrass region, and the...
Authors
Amy C. Gill
Projecting mangrove forest resilience to sea-level rise on a Pacific Island: Species dynamics and ecological thresholds Projecting mangrove forest resilience to sea-level rise on a Pacific Island: Species dynamics and ecological thresholds
Mangroves can increase their elevation relative to tidal flooding through biogeomorphic feedbacks but can submerge if rates of sea-level rise are too great. There is an urgent need to understand the vulnerability of mangroves to sea-level rise so local communities and resource managers can implement and prioritize actions. The need is especially pressing for small islands, which have...
Authors
Kevin Buffington, Joel A. Carr, Richard Mackenzie, Maybeleen Apwong, Ken Krauss, Karen M. Thorne