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
A mass balance mercury budget for a mine-dominated lake: Clear Lake, California A mass balance mercury budget for a mine-dominated lake: Clear Lake, California
The Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine (SBMM), active intermittently from 1873–1957 and now a USEPA Superfund site, was previously estimated to have contributed at least 100 metric tons (105 kg) of mercury (Hg) into the Clear Lake aquatic ecosystem. We have confirmed this minimum estimate. To better quantify the contribution of the mine in relation to other sources of Hg loading into Clear Lake...
Authors
T.H. Suchanek, J. Cooke, K. Keller, S. Jorgensen, P.J. Richerson, Collin Eagles-Smith, E.J. Harner, D.P. Adam
Changes in fish diets and food web mercury bioaccumulation induced by an invasive planktivorous fish Changes in fish diets and food web mercury bioaccumulation induced by an invasive planktivorous fish
The invasion, boom, collapse, and reestablishment of a population of the planktivorous threadfin shad in Clear Lake, California, USA, were documented over a 20-year period, as were the effects of changing shad populations on diet and mercury (Hg) bioaccumulation in nearshore fishes. Threadfin shad competitively displaced other planktivorous fish in the lake, such as inland silversides...
Authors
Collin Eagles-Smith, Thomas H. Suchanek, Arthur Colwell, Norman Anderson, Peter Moyle
Mercury bioaccumulation and effects on birds in San Francisco Bay Mercury bioaccumulation and effects on birds in San Francisco Bay
Highlights San Francisco Bay is an important wintering and breeding ground for more than 1 million waterbirds annually Mercury concentrations are highest in birds that eat fish and that reside in the Lower South Bay When Forster’s terns arrive in the Bay in spring to breed, mercury concentrations in their blood increase by four-fold in a six week period Based on mercury concentrations in...
Authors
Collin Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman
Mercury correlations among six tissues for four waterbird species breeding in San Francisco Bay, California, USA Mercury correlations among six tissues for four waterbird species breeding in San Francisco Bay, California, USA
Despite a large body of research concerning mercury (Hg) in birds, no single tissue has been used consistently to assess Hg exposure, and this has hampered comparisons across studies. We evaluated the relationships of Hg concentrations among tissues in four species of waterbirds (American avocets [Recurvirostra americana], black-necked stilts [Himantopus mexicanus], Caspian terns...
Authors
Collin Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman, T.L. Adelsbach, John Takekawa, A.K. Miles, R.A. Keister
Gender identification of Caspian Terns using external morphology and discriminant function analysis Gender identification of Caspian Terns using external morphology and discriminant function analysis
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) plumage characteristics are sexually monochromatic and gender cannot easily be distinguished in the field without extensive behavioral observations. We assessed sexual size dimorphism and developed a discriminant function to assign gender in Caspian Terns based on external morphology. We collected and measured Caspian Terns in San Francisco Bay, California...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, John Takekawa, J.D. Bluso, J.L. Yee, Collin Eagles-Smith
Survival of postfledging Forster's terns in relation to mercury exposure in San Francisco Bay Survival of postfledging Forster's terns in relation to mercury exposure in San Francisco Bay
We examined factors influencing mercury concentrations in 90 fledgling Forster's terns (Sterna forsteri) and evaluated whether mercury influenced postfledging survival in San Francisco Bay, California. Mercury concentrations (??SE) in chicks 21-29 days old (just before fledging) were 0.33 ?? 0.01 ??g g-1 ww for blood and 6.44 ?? 0.28 ??g g -1 fw for breast feathers. Colony site had an...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin Eagles-Smith, John Takekawa, S. Iverson
Mercury concentrations in blood and feathers of prebreeding Forster's terns in relation to space use of San Francisco Bay, California, USA, habitats Mercury concentrations in blood and feathers of prebreeding Forster's terns in relation to space use of San Francisco Bay, California, USA, habitats
We examined mercury concentrations and space use of prebreeding Forster's terns (Sterna forsteri) in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, to assess factors influencing mercury levels in piscivorous birds. In 2005 and 2006, we collected blood and feathers from 122 Forster's terns and radio-marked and tracked 72 terns to determine locations of dietary mercury uptake. Capture site and...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin Eagles-Smith, John Takekawa, J.D. Bluso, T.L. Adelsbach
Ecosystem conceptual model- Mercury Ecosystem conceptual model- Mercury
Mercury has been identified as an important contaminant in the Delta, based on elevated concentrations of methylmercury (a toxic, organic form that readily bioaccumulates) in fish and wildlife. There are health risks associated with human exposure to methylmercury by consumption of sport fish, particularly top predators such as bass species. Original mercury sources were upstream...
Authors
Charles Alpers, Collin Eagles-Smith, Chris Foe, Susan Klasing, Mark Marvin-DiPasquale, Darell Slotton, Lisamarie Windham-Myers
Mercury contamination and effects on survival of American avocet and black-necked stilt chicks in San Francisco Bay Mercury contamination and effects on survival of American avocet and black-necked stilt chicks in San Francisco Bay
We evaluated whether mercury influenced survival of free-ranging American avocet (Recurvirostra americana) and black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) chicks in San Francisco Bay, California. Using radio telemetry, we radio-marked 158 avocet and 79 stilt chicks at hatching and tracked them daily until their fate was determined. We did not find strong support for an influence of in ovo...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, John Takekawa, Collin Eagles-Smith, S. Iverson
Mercury concentrations and space use of pre-breeding American avocets and black-necked stilts in San Francisco Bay Mercury concentrations and space use of pre-breeding American avocets and black-necked stilts in San Francisco Bay
We examined factors influencing mercury concentrations in pre-breeding American avocets (Recurvirostra americana) and black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus), the two most abundant breeding shorebirds in San Francisco Bay, California. We tested the effects of species, site, sex, year, and date on total mercury concentrations in blood of pre-breeding adult birds and used radio...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin Eagles-Smith, John Takekawa, Scott Demers, Terrence Adelsbach, J.D. Bluso, A. Miles, Nils Warnock, Thomas H. Suchanek, Steven Schwarzbach
Mercury in birds of the San Francisco Bay-Delta: trophic pathways, bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological risk to avian reproduction Mercury in birds of the San Francisco Bay-Delta: trophic pathways, bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological risk to avian reproduction
No abstract available at this time
Authors
S.E. Schwarzbach, T.H. Suchanek, G. Heinz, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin Eagles-Smith, T.L. Adelsbach, John Takekawa, A.K. Miles, D. Hoffman, Wainwright-De La Cruz, S.E. Spring, M.A. Ricca, T. Maurer
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
A mass balance mercury budget for a mine-dominated lake: Clear Lake, California A mass balance mercury budget for a mine-dominated lake: Clear Lake, California
The Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine (SBMM), active intermittently from 1873–1957 and now a USEPA Superfund site, was previously estimated to have contributed at least 100 metric tons (105 kg) of mercury (Hg) into the Clear Lake aquatic ecosystem. We have confirmed this minimum estimate. To better quantify the contribution of the mine in relation to other sources of Hg loading into Clear Lake...
Authors
T.H. Suchanek, J. Cooke, K. Keller, S. Jorgensen, P.J. Richerson, Collin Eagles-Smith, E.J. Harner, D.P. Adam
Changes in fish diets and food web mercury bioaccumulation induced by an invasive planktivorous fish Changes in fish diets and food web mercury bioaccumulation induced by an invasive planktivorous fish
The invasion, boom, collapse, and reestablishment of a population of the planktivorous threadfin shad in Clear Lake, California, USA, were documented over a 20-year period, as were the effects of changing shad populations on diet and mercury (Hg) bioaccumulation in nearshore fishes. Threadfin shad competitively displaced other planktivorous fish in the lake, such as inland silversides...
Authors
Collin Eagles-Smith, Thomas H. Suchanek, Arthur Colwell, Norman Anderson, Peter Moyle
Mercury bioaccumulation and effects on birds in San Francisco Bay Mercury bioaccumulation and effects on birds in San Francisco Bay
Highlights San Francisco Bay is an important wintering and breeding ground for more than 1 million waterbirds annually Mercury concentrations are highest in birds that eat fish and that reside in the Lower South Bay When Forster’s terns arrive in the Bay in spring to breed, mercury concentrations in their blood increase by four-fold in a six week period Based on mercury concentrations in...
Authors
Collin Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman
Mercury correlations among six tissues for four waterbird species breeding in San Francisco Bay, California, USA Mercury correlations among six tissues for four waterbird species breeding in San Francisco Bay, California, USA
Despite a large body of research concerning mercury (Hg) in birds, no single tissue has been used consistently to assess Hg exposure, and this has hampered comparisons across studies. We evaluated the relationships of Hg concentrations among tissues in four species of waterbirds (American avocets [Recurvirostra americana], black-necked stilts [Himantopus mexicanus], Caspian terns...
Authors
Collin Eagles-Smith, Joshua T. Ackerman, T.L. Adelsbach, John Takekawa, A.K. Miles, R.A. Keister
Gender identification of Caspian Terns using external morphology and discriminant function analysis Gender identification of Caspian Terns using external morphology and discriminant function analysis
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) plumage characteristics are sexually monochromatic and gender cannot easily be distinguished in the field without extensive behavioral observations. We assessed sexual size dimorphism and developed a discriminant function to assign gender in Caspian Terns based on external morphology. We collected and measured Caspian Terns in San Francisco Bay, California...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, John Takekawa, J.D. Bluso, J.L. Yee, Collin Eagles-Smith
Survival of postfledging Forster's terns in relation to mercury exposure in San Francisco Bay Survival of postfledging Forster's terns in relation to mercury exposure in San Francisco Bay
We examined factors influencing mercury concentrations in 90 fledgling Forster's terns (Sterna forsteri) and evaluated whether mercury influenced postfledging survival in San Francisco Bay, California. Mercury concentrations (??SE) in chicks 21-29 days old (just before fledging) were 0.33 ?? 0.01 ??g g-1 ww for blood and 6.44 ?? 0.28 ??g g -1 fw for breast feathers. Colony site had an...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin Eagles-Smith, John Takekawa, S. Iverson
Mercury concentrations in blood and feathers of prebreeding Forster's terns in relation to space use of San Francisco Bay, California, USA, habitats Mercury concentrations in blood and feathers of prebreeding Forster's terns in relation to space use of San Francisco Bay, California, USA, habitats
We examined mercury concentrations and space use of prebreeding Forster's terns (Sterna forsteri) in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, to assess factors influencing mercury levels in piscivorous birds. In 2005 and 2006, we collected blood and feathers from 122 Forster's terns and radio-marked and tracked 72 terns to determine locations of dietary mercury uptake. Capture site and...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin Eagles-Smith, John Takekawa, J.D. Bluso, T.L. Adelsbach
Ecosystem conceptual model- Mercury Ecosystem conceptual model- Mercury
Mercury has been identified as an important contaminant in the Delta, based on elevated concentrations of methylmercury (a toxic, organic form that readily bioaccumulates) in fish and wildlife. There are health risks associated with human exposure to methylmercury by consumption of sport fish, particularly top predators such as bass species. Original mercury sources were upstream...
Authors
Charles Alpers, Collin Eagles-Smith, Chris Foe, Susan Klasing, Mark Marvin-DiPasquale, Darell Slotton, Lisamarie Windham-Myers
Mercury contamination and effects on survival of American avocet and black-necked stilt chicks in San Francisco Bay Mercury contamination and effects on survival of American avocet and black-necked stilt chicks in San Francisco Bay
We evaluated whether mercury influenced survival of free-ranging American avocet (Recurvirostra americana) and black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) chicks in San Francisco Bay, California. Using radio telemetry, we radio-marked 158 avocet and 79 stilt chicks at hatching and tracked them daily until their fate was determined. We did not find strong support for an influence of in ovo...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, John Takekawa, Collin Eagles-Smith, S. Iverson
Mercury concentrations and space use of pre-breeding American avocets and black-necked stilts in San Francisco Bay Mercury concentrations and space use of pre-breeding American avocets and black-necked stilts in San Francisco Bay
We examined factors influencing mercury concentrations in pre-breeding American avocets (Recurvirostra americana) and black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus), the two most abundant breeding shorebirds in San Francisco Bay, California. We tested the effects of species, site, sex, year, and date on total mercury concentrations in blood of pre-breeding adult birds and used radio...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin Eagles-Smith, John Takekawa, Scott Demers, Terrence Adelsbach, J.D. Bluso, A. Miles, Nils Warnock, Thomas H. Suchanek, Steven Schwarzbach
Mercury in birds of the San Francisco Bay-Delta: trophic pathways, bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological risk to avian reproduction Mercury in birds of the San Francisco Bay-Delta: trophic pathways, bioaccumulation and ecotoxicological risk to avian reproduction
No abstract available at this time
Authors
S.E. Schwarzbach, T.H. Suchanek, G. Heinz, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin Eagles-Smith, T.L. Adelsbach, John Takekawa, A.K. Miles, D. Hoffman, Wainwright-De La Cruz, S.E. Spring, M.A. Ricca, T. Maurer
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