Collin Eagles-Smith
I am a Research Ecologist with the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center in Corvallis, Oregon. My research focuses on the interactions among ecological processes, contaminant bioaccumulation, and effects on wild populations.
My work specifically focuses on (1) the ecological factors regulating contaminant bioaccumulation and trophic transfer, with an emphasis on food web processes and contaminant cycling, (2) land use practices and ecosystem restoration effects on contaminant cycling through food webs, and (3) the sublethal effects of contaminants on individuals and contaminant-induced impairment to reproduction in the wild. My research is broadly applied across taxa - primarily fish and waterbirds, and habitat types - including lakes, freshwater wetlands, agricultural fields, and estuarine habitats.
Professional Experience
2010-present: Supervisory Research Ecologist, USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR
2007-2010: Wildlife Biologist, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, Davis, CA
2003-2007: Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento, CA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA (2006)
B.S., Environmental Resource Sciences - Magna Cum Laude, University of California, Davis, CA (2000)
Science and Products
Contaminant Ecology Research Team (FRESC)
The FRESC Contaminant Ecology research program evaluates the distribution, movement, and ecological effects of environmental contaminants across the landscape and strives to provide relevant science in support of natural resource conservation, management, and decision making.
Filter Total Items: 22
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 45
No Result Found
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 155
Physiological condition of juvenile wading birds in relation to multiple landscape stressors in the Florida Everglades: effects of hydrology, prey availability, and mercury bioaccumulation Physiological condition of juvenile wading birds in relation to multiple landscape stressors in the Florida Everglades: effects of hydrology, prey availability, and mercury bioaccumulation
The physiological condition of juvenile birds can be influenced by multiple ecological stressors, and few studies have concurrently considered the effects of environmental contaminants in combination with ecological attributes that can influence foraging conditions and prey availability. Using three temporally distinct indices of physiological condition, we compared the physiological...
Authors
Garth Herring, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Dale E. Gawlik, James M. Beerens, Joshua T. Ackerman
Wetland management and rice farming strategies to decrease methylmercury bioaccumulation and loads from the Cosumnes River Preserve, California Wetland management and rice farming strategies to decrease methylmercury bioaccumulation and loads from the Cosumnes River Preserve, California
We evaluated mercury (Hg) concentrations in caged fish (deployed for 30 days) and water from agricultural wetland (rice fields), managed wetland, slough, and river habitats in the Cosumnes River Preserve, California. We also implemented experimental hydrological regimes on managed wetlands and post-harvest rice straw management techniques on rice fields in order to evaluate potential...
Authors
Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman, Jacob Fleck, Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Harry McQuillen, Wes Heim
Temporal variation in fish mercury concentrations within lakes from the western Aleutian Archipelago, Alaska Temporal variation in fish mercury concentrations within lakes from the western Aleutian Archipelago, Alaska
We assessed temporal variation in mercury (Hg) concentrations of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from Agattu Island, Aleutian Archipelago, Alaska. Total Hg concentrations in whole-bodied stickleback were measured at two-week intervals from two sites in each of two lakes from June 1 to August 10, 2011 during the time period when lakes were ice-free. Across all sites and...
Authors
Leah A. Kenney, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman, Frank A. von Hippel
Mercury bioaccumulation in estuarine wetland fishes: Evaluating habitats and risk to coastal wildlife Mercury bioaccumulation in estuarine wetland fishes: Evaluating habitats and risk to coastal wildlife
Estuaries are globally important areas for methylmercury bioaccumulation because of high methylmercury production rates and use by fish and wildlife. We measured total mercury (THg) concentrations in ten fish species from 32 wetland and open bay sites in San Francisco Bay Estuary (2005–2008). Fish THg concentrations (μg/g dry weight ± standard error) differed by up to 7.4× among estuary...
Authors
Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman
Mercury in fishes from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska Mercury in fishes from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska
In this study, mercury (Hg) concentrations were examined in fishes from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska, the largest and one of the most remote units in the national park system. The goals of the study were to (1) examine the distribution of Hg in select lakes of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve; (2) evaluate the differences in Hg concentrations among...
Authors
Brandon M. Kowalski, James J. Willacker, Christian E. Zimmerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith
The persistent problem of lead poisoning in birds from ammunition and fishing tackle The persistent problem of lead poisoning in birds from ammunition and fishing tackle
Lead (Pb) is a metabolic poison that can negatively influence biological processes, leading to illness and mortality across a large spectrum of North American avifauna (>120 species) and other organisms. Pb poisoning can result from numerous sources, including ingestion of bullet fragments and shot pellets left in animal carcasses, spent ammunition left in the field, lost fishing tackle...
Authors
Susan M. Haig, Jesse D'Elia, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Jeanne M. Fair, Jennifer Gervais, Garth Herring, James W. Rivers, John H. Schulz
Mercury concentrations in breast feathers of three upper trophic level marine predators from the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska Mercury concentrations in breast feathers of three upper trophic level marine predators from the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element distributed globally through atmospheric transport. Agattu Island, located in the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, has no history of point-sources of Hg contamination. We provide baseline levels of total mercury (THg) concentrations in breast feathers of three birds that breed on the island. Geometric mean THg concentrations in feathers of fork-tailed...
Authors
Robb S.A. Kaler, Leah A. Kenney, Alexander L. Bond, Collin A. Eagles-Smith
Mercury in the national parks Mercury in the national parks
One thing is certain: Even for trained researchers, predicting mercury’s behavior in the environment is challenging. Fundamentally it is one of 98 naturally occurring elements, with natural sources, such as volcanoes, and concentrated ore deposits, such as cinnabar. Yet there are also human-caused sources, such as emissions from both coal-burning power plants and mining operations for...
Authors
Colleen Flanagan Pritz, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, David Krabbenhoft
Mercury exposure associated with altered plasma thyroid hormones in the declining western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) from California mountain streams Mercury exposure associated with altered plasma thyroid hormones in the declining western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) from California mountain streams
Mercury (Hg) is a global threat to wildlife health that can impair many physiological processes. Mercury has well-documented endocrine activity; however, little work on the effects of Hg on the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in aquatic wildlife exists despite the fact that it is a sensitive endpoint of contaminant exposure. An emerging body of evidence points...
Authors
Erik Meyer, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Donald Sparling, Steve Blumenshine
Vocal activity as a low cost and scalable index of seabird colony size Vocal activity as a low cost and scalable index of seabird colony size
Although wildlife conservation actions have increased globally in number and complexity, the lack of scalable, cost-effective monitoring methods limits adaptive management and the evaluation of conservation efficacy. Automated sensors and computer-aided analyses provide a scalable and increasingly cost-effective tool for conservation monitoring. A key assumption of automated acoustic...
Authors
Abraham L. Borker, Matthew W. McKown, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Bernie R. Tershy, Donald A. Croll
Mercury in fishes from 21 national parks in the Western United States: inter- and intra-park variation in concentrations and ecological risk Mercury in fishes from 21 national parks in the Western United States: inter- and intra-park variation in concentrations and ecological risk
Mercury (Hg) is a global contaminant and human activities have increased atmospheric Hg concentrations 3- to 5-fold during the past 150 years. This increased release into the atmosphere has resulted in elevated loadings to aquatic habitats where biogeochemical processes promote the microbial conversion of inorganic Hg to methylmercury, the bioavailable form of Hg. The physicochemical...
Authors
Collin A. Eagles-Smith, James J. Willacker, Colleen M. Flanagan Pritz
Mercury cycling in agricultural and managed wetlands: a synthesis of methylmercury production, hydrologic export, and bioaccumulation from an integrated field study Mercury cycling in agricultural and managed wetlands: a synthesis of methylmercury production, hydrologic export, and bioaccumulation from an integrated field study
With seasonal wetting and drying, and high biological productivity, agricultural wetlands (rice paddies) may enhance the conversion of inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) to methylmercury (MeHg), the more toxic, organic form that biomagnifies through food webs. Yet, the net balance of MeHg sources and sinks in seasonal wetland environments is poorly understood because it requires an annual...
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Jacob A. Fleck, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Craig A. Stricker, Wesley A. Heim, Philip Bachand, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Gary Gill, Mark Stephenson, Charles N. Alpers
Non-USGS Publications**
Suchanek, T.H., Cooke, J., Keller, K., Richerson, P.J., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Harner, E.J., Adam, D.P., 2009, A mass balance mercury budget for a mine-dominated lake - Clear Lake, California: Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, v. 196, p. 51-73.
Richerson, P.J., Suchanek, T.H., Zierenberg, R.A., Osleger, D.A., Heyvaert, A.C., Slotton, D.G., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Vaughn, C.E., 2008, Anthropogenic stressors and changes in the Clear Lake ecosystem as recorded in sediment cores: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A257-A283.
Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Harner, E.J., 2008, Is Clear Lake methylmercury distribution decoupled from bulk mercury loading?: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A107-A127.
Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Slotton, D.G., Harner, E.J., Adam, D.P., 2008, Mercury in abiotic matrices of Clear Lake, California- Human health and ecotoxicological implications: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A128-A157.
Anderson, D.W., Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Cahill, Jr., T.M., 2008, Mercury residues and productivity in osprey and grebes from a mine-dominated ecosystem: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A227-A238.
Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Slotton, D.G., Harner, E.J., Adam, D.P., Colwell, A.E., Anderson, N.L., Woodward, D.L., 2008, Mine-derived mercury- Effects on lower trophic species in Clear Lake, California: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A158-A176.
Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Slotton, D.G., Harner, E.J., Colwell, A.E., Anderson, N.L., Mullen, L.H., Flanders, J.R., Adam, D.P., McElroy, K.J., 2008, Spatiotemporal trends in fish mercury from a mine-dominated ecosystem- Clear Lake, California: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A177-A195.
McEachern, M.B., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Efferson, C.M., Van Vuren, D.H., 2006, Evidence for local specialization in a generalist mammalian herbivore, Neotoma fuscipes: Oikos, v. 113, p. 440-448.
**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.
To request an interview, contact fresc_outreach@usgs.gov or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 31
Science and Products
Contaminant Ecology Research Team (FRESC)
The FRESC Contaminant Ecology research program evaluates the distribution, movement, and ecological effects of environmental contaminants across the landscape and strives to provide relevant science in support of natural resource conservation, management, and decision making.
Filter Total Items: 22
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 45
No Result Found
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 155
Physiological condition of juvenile wading birds in relation to multiple landscape stressors in the Florida Everglades: effects of hydrology, prey availability, and mercury bioaccumulation Physiological condition of juvenile wading birds in relation to multiple landscape stressors in the Florida Everglades: effects of hydrology, prey availability, and mercury bioaccumulation
The physiological condition of juvenile birds can be influenced by multiple ecological stressors, and few studies have concurrently considered the effects of environmental contaminants in combination with ecological attributes that can influence foraging conditions and prey availability. Using three temporally distinct indices of physiological condition, we compared the physiological...
Authors
Garth Herring, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Dale E. Gawlik, James M. Beerens, Joshua T. Ackerman
Wetland management and rice farming strategies to decrease methylmercury bioaccumulation and loads from the Cosumnes River Preserve, California Wetland management and rice farming strategies to decrease methylmercury bioaccumulation and loads from the Cosumnes River Preserve, California
We evaluated mercury (Hg) concentrations in caged fish (deployed for 30 days) and water from agricultural wetland (rice fields), managed wetland, slough, and river habitats in the Cosumnes River Preserve, California. We also implemented experimental hydrological regimes on managed wetlands and post-harvest rice straw management techniques on rice fields in order to evaluate potential...
Authors
Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman, Jacob Fleck, Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Harry McQuillen, Wes Heim
Temporal variation in fish mercury concentrations within lakes from the western Aleutian Archipelago, Alaska Temporal variation in fish mercury concentrations within lakes from the western Aleutian Archipelago, Alaska
We assessed temporal variation in mercury (Hg) concentrations of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from Agattu Island, Aleutian Archipelago, Alaska. Total Hg concentrations in whole-bodied stickleback were measured at two-week intervals from two sites in each of two lakes from June 1 to August 10, 2011 during the time period when lakes were ice-free. Across all sites and...
Authors
Leah A. Kenney, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman, Frank A. von Hippel
Mercury bioaccumulation in estuarine wetland fishes: Evaluating habitats and risk to coastal wildlife Mercury bioaccumulation in estuarine wetland fishes: Evaluating habitats and risk to coastal wildlife
Estuaries are globally important areas for methylmercury bioaccumulation because of high methylmercury production rates and use by fish and wildlife. We measured total mercury (THg) concentrations in ten fish species from 32 wetland and open bay sites in San Francisco Bay Estuary (2005–2008). Fish THg concentrations (μg/g dry weight ± standard error) differed by up to 7.4× among estuary...
Authors
Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman
Mercury in fishes from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska Mercury in fishes from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska
In this study, mercury (Hg) concentrations were examined in fishes from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska, the largest and one of the most remote units in the national park system. The goals of the study were to (1) examine the distribution of Hg in select lakes of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve; (2) evaluate the differences in Hg concentrations among...
Authors
Brandon M. Kowalski, James J. Willacker, Christian E. Zimmerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith
The persistent problem of lead poisoning in birds from ammunition and fishing tackle The persistent problem of lead poisoning in birds from ammunition and fishing tackle
Lead (Pb) is a metabolic poison that can negatively influence biological processes, leading to illness and mortality across a large spectrum of North American avifauna (>120 species) and other organisms. Pb poisoning can result from numerous sources, including ingestion of bullet fragments and shot pellets left in animal carcasses, spent ammunition left in the field, lost fishing tackle...
Authors
Susan M. Haig, Jesse D'Elia, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Jeanne M. Fair, Jennifer Gervais, Garth Herring, James W. Rivers, John H. Schulz
Mercury concentrations in breast feathers of three upper trophic level marine predators from the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska Mercury concentrations in breast feathers of three upper trophic level marine predators from the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element distributed globally through atmospheric transport. Agattu Island, located in the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, has no history of point-sources of Hg contamination. We provide baseline levels of total mercury (THg) concentrations in breast feathers of three birds that breed on the island. Geometric mean THg concentrations in feathers of fork-tailed...
Authors
Robb S.A. Kaler, Leah A. Kenney, Alexander L. Bond, Collin A. Eagles-Smith
Mercury in the national parks Mercury in the national parks
One thing is certain: Even for trained researchers, predicting mercury’s behavior in the environment is challenging. Fundamentally it is one of 98 naturally occurring elements, with natural sources, such as volcanoes, and concentrated ore deposits, such as cinnabar. Yet there are also human-caused sources, such as emissions from both coal-burning power plants and mining operations for...
Authors
Colleen Flanagan Pritz, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, David Krabbenhoft
Mercury exposure associated with altered plasma thyroid hormones in the declining western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) from California mountain streams Mercury exposure associated with altered plasma thyroid hormones in the declining western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) from California mountain streams
Mercury (Hg) is a global threat to wildlife health that can impair many physiological processes. Mercury has well-documented endocrine activity; however, little work on the effects of Hg on the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in aquatic wildlife exists despite the fact that it is a sensitive endpoint of contaminant exposure. An emerging body of evidence points...
Authors
Erik Meyer, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Donald Sparling, Steve Blumenshine
Vocal activity as a low cost and scalable index of seabird colony size Vocal activity as a low cost and scalable index of seabird colony size
Although wildlife conservation actions have increased globally in number and complexity, the lack of scalable, cost-effective monitoring methods limits adaptive management and the evaluation of conservation efficacy. Automated sensors and computer-aided analyses provide a scalable and increasingly cost-effective tool for conservation monitoring. A key assumption of automated acoustic...
Authors
Abraham L. Borker, Matthew W. McKown, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Bernie R. Tershy, Donald A. Croll
Mercury in fishes from 21 national parks in the Western United States: inter- and intra-park variation in concentrations and ecological risk Mercury in fishes from 21 national parks in the Western United States: inter- and intra-park variation in concentrations and ecological risk
Mercury (Hg) is a global contaminant and human activities have increased atmospheric Hg concentrations 3- to 5-fold during the past 150 years. This increased release into the atmosphere has resulted in elevated loadings to aquatic habitats where biogeochemical processes promote the microbial conversion of inorganic Hg to methylmercury, the bioavailable form of Hg. The physicochemical...
Authors
Collin A. Eagles-Smith, James J. Willacker, Colleen M. Flanagan Pritz
Mercury cycling in agricultural and managed wetlands: a synthesis of methylmercury production, hydrologic export, and bioaccumulation from an integrated field study Mercury cycling in agricultural and managed wetlands: a synthesis of methylmercury production, hydrologic export, and bioaccumulation from an integrated field study
With seasonal wetting and drying, and high biological productivity, agricultural wetlands (rice paddies) may enhance the conversion of inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) to methylmercury (MeHg), the more toxic, organic form that biomagnifies through food webs. Yet, the net balance of MeHg sources and sinks in seasonal wetland environments is poorly understood because it requires an annual...
Authors
Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Jacob A. Fleck, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Craig A. Stricker, Wesley A. Heim, Philip Bachand, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Gary Gill, Mark Stephenson, Charles N. Alpers
Non-USGS Publications**
Suchanek, T.H., Cooke, J., Keller, K., Richerson, P.J., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Harner, E.J., Adam, D.P., 2009, A mass balance mercury budget for a mine-dominated lake - Clear Lake, California: Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, v. 196, p. 51-73.
Richerson, P.J., Suchanek, T.H., Zierenberg, R.A., Osleger, D.A., Heyvaert, A.C., Slotton, D.G., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Vaughn, C.E., 2008, Anthropogenic stressors and changes in the Clear Lake ecosystem as recorded in sediment cores: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A257-A283.
Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Harner, E.J., 2008, Is Clear Lake methylmercury distribution decoupled from bulk mercury loading?: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A107-A127.
Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Slotton, D.G., Harner, E.J., Adam, D.P., 2008, Mercury in abiotic matrices of Clear Lake, California- Human health and ecotoxicological implications: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A128-A157.
Anderson, D.W., Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Cahill, Jr., T.M., 2008, Mercury residues and productivity in osprey and grebes from a mine-dominated ecosystem: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A227-A238.
Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Slotton, D.G., Harner, E.J., Adam, D.P., Colwell, A.E., Anderson, N.L., Woodward, D.L., 2008, Mine-derived mercury- Effects on lower trophic species in Clear Lake, California: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A158-A176.
Suchanek, T.H., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Slotton, D.G., Harner, E.J., Colwell, A.E., Anderson, N.L., Mullen, L.H., Flanders, J.R., Adam, D.P., McElroy, K.J., 2008, Spatiotemporal trends in fish mercury from a mine-dominated ecosystem- Clear Lake, California: Ecological Applications, v. 18, no. 8, p. A177-A195.
McEachern, M.B., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Efferson, C.M., Van Vuren, D.H., 2006, Evidence for local specialization in a generalist mammalian herbivore, Neotoma fuscipes: Oikos, v. 113, p. 440-448.
**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.
To request an interview, contact fresc_outreach@usgs.gov or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 31