Christopher Mebane
Christopher Mebane is the Deputy Center Director of the USGS Idaho Water Science Center in Boise, Idaho.
Chris describes himself as a "dirty water biologist" with interests and experience in water pollution ecology in streams, that is, relating human-influences on stream environments to biological effects and estimating risks of adverse effects. His recent interests and work have included effects of mining and trace elements on stream ecosystems, developing biotic ligand models (BLMs) to predict effects of metal mixtures in natural waters, and studies of nutrient enrichments and eutrophication in streams.
His professional interests and experience are focused on water pollution ecology in streams, that is, relating human-influences on stream environments to biological effects and estimating risks of adverse effects. Particular areas of interests include:
- Effects of nutrient enrichment on stream ecosystems. Particular aspects of interest include 1) factors limiting nuisance growth in rooted aquatic plants vs. algae, 2) integrating experimental and field bioassessment information between factors such nutrients, flows, algae and plants.
- Ecological risk assessment, in particular predicting risks, adverse effects, and safe concentrations of trace metals in freshwater ecosystems. Particular aspects of interest include 1) water quality criteria development; 2) expanding the use of predictive toxicity models, with a recent emphasis on the biotic ligand model (BLM) with cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc; 3) relating ecotoxicology testing to natural systems through population modeling or field studies.
- Use of aquatic bioassessment or biomonitoring techniques to interpret changing environmental conditions.
Science and Products
Characterizing toxicity of metal‐contaminated sediments from the Upper Columbia River, Washington, USA, to benthic invertebrates
Understanding the captivity effect on invertebrate communities transplanted into an experimental stream laboratory
Mercury concentrations in water and mercury and selenium concentrations in fish from Brownlee Reservoir and selected sites in the Boise and Snake Rivers, Idaho and Oregon, 2013-17
Potential toxicity of dissolved metal mixtures (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) to early life stage white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the Upper Columbia River, Washington, United States
Spatial and temporal trends in selenium in the upper Blackfoot River watershed, southeastern Idaho, 2001–16
Understanding the influence of nutrients on stream ecosystems in agricultural landscapes
A long-term copper exposure in a freshwater ecosystem using lotic mesocosms: Invertebrate community responses
Larval aquatic insect responses to cadmium and zinc in experimental streams
Potential sources of analytical bias and error in selected trace element data-quality analyses
Environmental toxicology without chemistry and publications without discourse: Linked impediments to better science
Quantifying fish swimming behavior in response to acute exposure of aqueous copper using computer assisted video and digital image analysis
In Response: Biological arguments for selecting effect sizes in ecotoxicological testing—A governmental perspective
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Characterizing toxicity of metal‐contaminated sediments from the Upper Columbia River, Washington, USA, to benthic invertebrates
Understanding the captivity effect on invertebrate communities transplanted into an experimental stream laboratory
Mercury concentrations in water and mercury and selenium concentrations in fish from Brownlee Reservoir and selected sites in the Boise and Snake Rivers, Idaho and Oregon, 2013-17
Potential toxicity of dissolved metal mixtures (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) to early life stage white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the Upper Columbia River, Washington, United States
Spatial and temporal trends in selenium in the upper Blackfoot River watershed, southeastern Idaho, 2001–16
Understanding the influence of nutrients on stream ecosystems in agricultural landscapes
A long-term copper exposure in a freshwater ecosystem using lotic mesocosms: Invertebrate community responses
Larval aquatic insect responses to cadmium and zinc in experimental streams
Potential sources of analytical bias and error in selected trace element data-quality analyses
Environmental toxicology without chemistry and publications without discourse: Linked impediments to better science
Quantifying fish swimming behavior in response to acute exposure of aqueous copper using computer assisted video and digital image analysis
In Response: Biological arguments for selecting effect sizes in ecotoxicological testing—A governmental perspective
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.