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
Assessing time-integrated dissolved concentrations and predicting toxicity of metals during diel cycling in streams
Influence of dissolved organic carbon on toxicity of copper to a unionid mussel (Villosa iris) and a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia) in acute and chronic water exposures
Extrapolating growth reductions in fish to changes in population extinction risks: Copper and Chinook salmon.
Relevance of risk predictions derived from a chronic species sensitivity distribution with cadmium to aquatic populations and ecosystems
Incubating rainbow trout in soft water increased their later sensitivity to cadmium and zinc
Evaluation of acute copper toxicity to juvenile freshwater mussels (fatmucket, lampsilis siliquoidea) in natural and reconstituted waters
Developing acute-to-chronic toxicity ratios for lead, cadmium, and zinc using rainbow trout, a mayfly, and a midge
Influence of flow-through and renewal exposures on the toxicity of copper to rainbow trout
Sensitivity of mottled sculpins (Cottus bairdi) and rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) to acute and chronic toxicity of cadmium, copper, and zinc
An evaluation of freshwater mussel toxicity data in the derivation of water quality guidance and standards for copper
Cadmium risks to freshwater life: derivation and validation of low-effect criteria values using laboratory and field studies
Historical and current perspectives on fish assemblages of the Snake River, Idaho and Wyoming
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
Assessing time-integrated dissolved concentrations and predicting toxicity of metals during diel cycling in streams
Influence of dissolved organic carbon on toxicity of copper to a unionid mussel (Villosa iris) and a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia) in acute and chronic water exposures
Extrapolating growth reductions in fish to changes in population extinction risks: Copper and Chinook salmon.
Relevance of risk predictions derived from a chronic species sensitivity distribution with cadmium to aquatic populations and ecosystems
Incubating rainbow trout in soft water increased their later sensitivity to cadmium and zinc
Evaluation of acute copper toxicity to juvenile freshwater mussels (fatmucket, lampsilis siliquoidea) in natural and reconstituted waters
Developing acute-to-chronic toxicity ratios for lead, cadmium, and zinc using rainbow trout, a mayfly, and a midge
Influence of flow-through and renewal exposures on the toxicity of copper to rainbow trout
Sensitivity of mottled sculpins (Cottus bairdi) and rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) to acute and chronic toxicity of cadmium, copper, and zinc
An evaluation of freshwater mussel toxicity data in the derivation of water quality guidance and standards for copper
Cadmium risks to freshwater life: derivation and validation of low-effect criteria values using laboratory and field studies
Historical and current perspectives on fish assemblages of the Snake River, Idaho and Wyoming
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.