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
Total Mercury and Methylmercury in Riparian Songbirds and Aquatic Invertebrates from the Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2013-2014 Total Mercury and Methylmercury in Riparian Songbirds and Aquatic Invertebrates from the Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2013-2014
This dataset includes bird species, invertebrate order and family, sample identification codes, capture date, latitude, longitude, habitat, site name, bird age, total mercury concentrations in bird blood, and methylmercury concentrations in whole body aquatic invertebrates.
Pacific Northwest Avian Scavenger Lead and Mercury Dataset, 2012-2016 Pacific Northwest Avian Scavenger Lead and Mercury Dataset, 2012-2016
The dataset includes the bird species, region where sampled, sampling site, capture location, mercury concentration in whole blood, lead concentration in whole blood, sulfur stable isotope concentration in blood plasma, carbon isotope concentration in blood plasma, whole blood ALAD activity, and fecal corticosterone concentrations.
Data for Biogeochemical and Physical Processes Controlling Mercury and Selenium Bioaccumulation in Bighorn Lake, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Montana and Wyoming, 2015-2016 Data for Biogeochemical and Physical Processes Controlling Mercury and Selenium Bioaccumulation in Bighorn Lake, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Montana and Wyoming, 2015-2016
This dataset includes the field measurements and laboratory analyses of surface water, seston, fish tissue, and sediment samples collected from Bighorn Lake, within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation area (BICA), during high flow (July 2015) and low flow (August 2016) conditions. The study area includes 7-9 sampling sites that follow a transect spanning the entire length of the reservoir...
A Baseline Assessment of Contaminant Concentrations in Sediment and Biota in Proximity to Coal Transport Tracks in the Pacific Northwest (2014) A Baseline Assessment of Contaminant Concentrations in Sediment and Biota in Proximity to Coal Transport Tracks in the Pacific Northwest (2014)
This dataset provides baseline concentrations (from 2014) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), other aromatic organic compounds, mercury (Hg), and trace metal concentrations in sediment and biota collected from two sites along an existing rail line used for coal transport in the Columbia River Gorge, Washington. For this study, aquatic surface sediments, aquatic insects, and...
Summary of Total Mercury Concentrations in Dragonfly Larvae, Western Mosquitofish, and Tree Swallow Eggs Collected from Cosumnes River Preserve 2011 2013 Summary of Total Mercury Concentrations in Dragonfly Larvae, Western Mosquitofish, and Tree Swallow Eggs Collected from Cosumnes River Preserve 2011 2013
The Cosumnes River Preserve in the Californias Central Valley contains a mosaic of managed wetlands where conditions may promote high levels of methylmercury bioaccumulation. In order to document potential environmental health risk in these wetlands due to mercury, we analyzed dragonfly larvae, western mosquitofish, and tree swallow eggs collected from wetlands and rice fields of the...
Fluctuating asymmetry in waterbirds in relation to mercury exposure Fluctuating asymmetry in waterbirds in relation to mercury exposure
The dataset includes the bird species, sex, mercury concentration in breast feathers and whole blood, and the composite measure of fluctuating asymmetry. Statistical models were developed for each species to analyze the relationship between mercury exposure in either breast feathers or whole blood and the composite measure of fluctuating asymmetry, while accounting for the sex of each...
Bullet fragments in Belding's ground squirrels in Oregon and California in 2014-2015 Bullet fragments in Belding's ground squirrels in Oregon and California in 2014-2015
The dataset includes specifics on fragments of bullets recovered from shot Belding's ground squirrels from Oregon and California. Ground squirrels were radiographed and then we used ImageJ software to count and measure the area of those bullet fragments. A subset of shot carcasses were then digested and bullet fragments were recovered. Statistical models were developed to predict either...
Total Mercury Concentrations in Fish Muscle from the Colorado River and Bright Angel Creek, AZ, USA (2015) Total Mercury Concentrations in Fish Muscle from the Colorado River and Bright Angel Creek, AZ, USA (2015)
Mercury is a globally distributed pollutant that threatens human and ecosystem health. Even protected areas, such as national parks, are subjected to mercury contamination because it is delivered via atmospheric deposition, often after long-range transport. In aquatic ecosystems, certain environmental conditions can promote microbial processes that convert inorganic mercury to an organic...
Historical methyl mercury in San Francisco Bay Historical methyl mercury in San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay, California is considered a mercury-impaired watershed. Elevated concentrations of mercury are found in water and sediment as well as fish and estuarine birds. Sources of mercury to the watershed since 1845 include sediment-associated mercury from mercury mining, mercury losses from gold amalgamation activities in mines of the Sierra Nevada, aerial deposition of mercury...
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
Mercury exposure of tidal marsh songbirds in the northeastern United States and its association with nest survival Mercury exposure of tidal marsh songbirds in the northeastern United States and its association with nest survival
The biogeochemistry of tidal marsh sediments facilitates the transformation of mercury (Hg) into the biologically available form methylmercury (MeHg), resulting in elevated Hg exposures to tidal marsh wildlife. Saltmarsh and Acadian Nelson’s sparrows (Ammospiza caudacutua and A. nelsoni subvirgatus, respectively) exclusively inhabit tidal marshes, potentially experiencing elevated risk...
Authors
Katherine Ruskin, Garth Herring, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Alyssa Eiklor, Chris Elphick, Matthew Etterson, Chrisopher Field, Rebecca Longnecker, Adrienne Kovach, W Shriver, James Walsh, Brian J. Olsen
Lethal impacts of selenium counterbalance the potential reduction in mercury bioaccumulation for freshwater organisms☆ Lethal impacts of selenium counterbalance the potential reduction in mercury bioaccumulation for freshwater organisms☆
Mercury (Hg), a potent neurotoxic element, can biomagnify through food webs once converted into methylmercury (MeHg). Some studies have found that selenium (Se) exposure may reduce MeHg bioaccumulation and toxicity, though this pattern is not universal. Se itself can also be toxic at elevated levels. We experimentally manipulated the relative concentrations of dietary MeHg and Se (as...
Authors
Jacqueline Gerson, Rebecca Consbrock, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Emily S. Bernhardt, David Walters
Small mammal shooting as a conduit for lead exposure in avian scavengers Small mammal shooting as a conduit for lead exposure in avian scavengers
Lead (Pb) exposure is a widespread wildlife conservation threat. Although commonly associated with Pb-based ammunition from big-game hunting, small mammals (e.g., ground squirrels) shot for recreational or pest-management purposes represent a potentially important Pb vector in agricultural regions. We measured the responses of avian scavengers to pest-shooting events and examined their...
Authors
Garth Herring, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, John Goodell, Jeremy Buck, James Willacker
Metal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians Metal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians
Amphibian larvae are commonly used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health because they are susceptible to contaminants. However, there is limited information on how species characteristics and trophic position influence contaminant loads in larval amphibians. Importantly, there remains a need to understand whether grazers (frogs and toads [anurans]) and predators (salamanders) provide...
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Emily Oja, Danielle Cleveland, Jon Davenport, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Evan Campbell Grant, Patrick Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead, Kenzi Stemp, Brian J. Tornabene, Zachary Bunnell, Blake R. Hossack
Differential reliance on aquatic prey subsidies influences mercury exposure in riparian arachnids and songbirds Differential reliance on aquatic prey subsidies influences mercury exposure in riparian arachnids and songbirds
Cross-ecosystem subsidies move substantial amounts of nutrients between ecosystems. Emergent aquatic insects are a particularly important prey source for riparian songbirds but may also move aquatic contaminants, such as mercury (Hg), to riparian food webs. While many studies focus on species that eat primarily emergent aquatic insects, we instead study riparian songbirds with flexible...
Authors
Allyson Jackson, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, W Robinson
Demethylation of methylmercury in bird, fish, and earthworm Demethylation of methylmercury in bird, fish, and earthworm
Toxicity of methylmercury (MeHg) to wildlife and humans results from its binding to cysteine residues of proteins, forming MeHg-cysteinate (MeHgCys) complexes that hinder biological functions. MeHgCys complexes can be detoxified in vivo, yet how this occurs is unknown. We report that MeHgCys complexes are transformed into selenocysteinate (Hg(Sec)4) complexes in multiple animals from two...
Authors
Alain Manceau, Jean-Paul Bourdineaud, Ricardo Oliveira, Sandra Sarrazin, David Krabbenhoft, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Josh Ackerman, Robin Stewart, Christian Ward-Deitrich, M del Castillo Busto, Heidi Goenaga-Infante, Aude Wack, Marius Retegan, Blanka Detlefs, Pieter Glatzel, Paco Bustamante, Kathryn Nagy, Brett Poulin
Isotope fractionation from In Vivo methylmercury detoxification in waterbirds Isotope fractionation from In Vivo methylmercury detoxification in waterbirds
The robust application of stable mercury (Hg) isotopes for mercury source apportionment and risk assessment necessitates the understanding of mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) due to internal transformations within organisms. Here, we used high energy-resolution XANES spectroscopy and isotope ratios of total mercury (δ202THg) and methylmercury (δ202MeHg) to elucidate the chemical...
Authors
Brett Poulin, Sarah Janssen, Tylor Rosera, David Krabbenhoft, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Josh Ackerman, Robin Stewart, Eunhee Kim, Zofia Baumann, Jeong-Hoon Kim, Alain Manceau
Examining historical mercury sources in the Saint Louis River estuary: How legacy contamination influences biological mercury levels in Great Lakes coastal regions Examining historical mercury sources in the Saint Louis River estuary: How legacy contamination influences biological mercury levels in Great Lakes coastal regions
Industrial chemical contamination within coastal regions of the Great Lakes can pose serious risks to wetland habitat and offshore fisheries, often resulting in fish consumption advisories that directly affect human and wildlife health. Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of concern in many of these highly urbanized and industrialized coastal regions, one of which is the Saint Louis River...
Authors
Sarah E. Janssen, Joel Hoffman, Ryan F. Lepak, David Krabbenhoft, David Walters, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Greg Peterson, Jacob Ogorek, John DeWild, Anne Cotter, Mark Pearson, Michael T. Tate, Roger Yeardley, Marc Mills
Fish habitat use and food web structure following pond and plug restoration of a Montane Meadow in the Sierra Nevada, California Fish habitat use and food web structure following pond and plug restoration of a Montane Meadow in the Sierra Nevada, California
Montane meadows are areas of high biodiversity and provide many important ecosystem services; however, degradation of 40–60% of these habitats in the Sierra Nevada region of California has left many of these areas impaired. The “pond-and-plug” meadow-restoration technique is 1 type of treatment implemented to restore montane meadows. The objectives of this technique are to re-water the...
Authors
Lora Tennant, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, James Willacker, Matthew Johnson
Surface-air mercury fluxes and a watershed mass balance in forested and harvested catchments Surface-air mercury fluxes and a watershed mass balance in forested and harvested catchments
Forest soils are among the world’s largest repositories for long-term accumulation of atmospherically deposited mercury (Hg), and understanding the potential for remobilization through gaseous emissions, aqueous dissolution and runoff, or erosive particulate transport to down-gradient aquatic ecosystems is critically important for projecting ecosystem recovery. Forestry operations...
Authors
Chris Eckley, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Michael T. Tate, David Krabbenhoft
Long-term trends in regional wet mercury deposition and lacustrine mercury concentrations in four lakes in Voyageurs National Park Long-term trends in regional wet mercury deposition and lacustrine mercury concentrations in four lakes in Voyageurs National Park
Although anthropogenic mercury (Hg) releases to the environment have been substantially lowered in the United States and Canada since 1990, concerns remain for contamination in fish from remote lakes and rivers where atmospheric deposition is the predominant source of mercury. How have aquatic ecosystems responded? We report on one of the longest known multimedia data sets for mercury in...
Authors
Mark Brigham, David VanderMeulen, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, David Krabbenhoft, Ryan P. Maki, John DeWild
From forests to fish: Mercury in mountain lake food webs influenced by factors at multiple scales From forests to fish: Mercury in mountain lake food webs influenced by factors at multiple scales
Mountain lakes, while seemingly pristine, have been subjected to historical fish stocking practices and exposure to atmospherically deposited contaminants like mercury. Mercury bioaccumulation in these ecosystems varies widely due to strong environmental gradients, and there are complex, hierarchical factors that affect mercury transport and loading, methylmercury production, and food...
Authors
Ariana Chiapella, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Angela Strecker
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
Total Mercury and Methylmercury in Riparian Songbirds and Aquatic Invertebrates from the Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2013-2014 Total Mercury and Methylmercury in Riparian Songbirds and Aquatic Invertebrates from the Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2013-2014
This dataset includes bird species, invertebrate order and family, sample identification codes, capture date, latitude, longitude, habitat, site name, bird age, total mercury concentrations in bird blood, and methylmercury concentrations in whole body aquatic invertebrates.
Pacific Northwest Avian Scavenger Lead and Mercury Dataset, 2012-2016 Pacific Northwest Avian Scavenger Lead and Mercury Dataset, 2012-2016
The dataset includes the bird species, region where sampled, sampling site, capture location, mercury concentration in whole blood, lead concentration in whole blood, sulfur stable isotope concentration in blood plasma, carbon isotope concentration in blood plasma, whole blood ALAD activity, and fecal corticosterone concentrations.
Data for Biogeochemical and Physical Processes Controlling Mercury and Selenium Bioaccumulation in Bighorn Lake, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Montana and Wyoming, 2015-2016 Data for Biogeochemical and Physical Processes Controlling Mercury and Selenium Bioaccumulation in Bighorn Lake, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Montana and Wyoming, 2015-2016
This dataset includes the field measurements and laboratory analyses of surface water, seston, fish tissue, and sediment samples collected from Bighorn Lake, within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation area (BICA), during high flow (July 2015) and low flow (August 2016) conditions. The study area includes 7-9 sampling sites that follow a transect spanning the entire length of the reservoir...
A Baseline Assessment of Contaminant Concentrations in Sediment and Biota in Proximity to Coal Transport Tracks in the Pacific Northwest (2014) A Baseline Assessment of Contaminant Concentrations in Sediment and Biota in Proximity to Coal Transport Tracks in the Pacific Northwest (2014)
This dataset provides baseline concentrations (from 2014) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), other aromatic organic compounds, mercury (Hg), and trace metal concentrations in sediment and biota collected from two sites along an existing rail line used for coal transport in the Columbia River Gorge, Washington. For this study, aquatic surface sediments, aquatic insects, and...
Summary of Total Mercury Concentrations in Dragonfly Larvae, Western Mosquitofish, and Tree Swallow Eggs Collected from Cosumnes River Preserve 2011 2013 Summary of Total Mercury Concentrations in Dragonfly Larvae, Western Mosquitofish, and Tree Swallow Eggs Collected from Cosumnes River Preserve 2011 2013
The Cosumnes River Preserve in the Californias Central Valley contains a mosaic of managed wetlands where conditions may promote high levels of methylmercury bioaccumulation. In order to document potential environmental health risk in these wetlands due to mercury, we analyzed dragonfly larvae, western mosquitofish, and tree swallow eggs collected from wetlands and rice fields of the...
Fluctuating asymmetry in waterbirds in relation to mercury exposure Fluctuating asymmetry in waterbirds in relation to mercury exposure
The dataset includes the bird species, sex, mercury concentration in breast feathers and whole blood, and the composite measure of fluctuating asymmetry. Statistical models were developed for each species to analyze the relationship between mercury exposure in either breast feathers or whole blood and the composite measure of fluctuating asymmetry, while accounting for the sex of each...
Bullet fragments in Belding's ground squirrels in Oregon and California in 2014-2015 Bullet fragments in Belding's ground squirrels in Oregon and California in 2014-2015
The dataset includes specifics on fragments of bullets recovered from shot Belding's ground squirrels from Oregon and California. Ground squirrels were radiographed and then we used ImageJ software to count and measure the area of those bullet fragments. A subset of shot carcasses were then digested and bullet fragments were recovered. Statistical models were developed to predict either...
Total Mercury Concentrations in Fish Muscle from the Colorado River and Bright Angel Creek, AZ, USA (2015) Total Mercury Concentrations in Fish Muscle from the Colorado River and Bright Angel Creek, AZ, USA (2015)
Mercury is a globally distributed pollutant that threatens human and ecosystem health. Even protected areas, such as national parks, are subjected to mercury contamination because it is delivered via atmospheric deposition, often after long-range transport. In aquatic ecosystems, certain environmental conditions can promote microbial processes that convert inorganic mercury to an organic...
Historical methyl mercury in San Francisco Bay Historical methyl mercury in San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay, California is considered a mercury-impaired watershed. Elevated concentrations of mercury are found in water and sediment as well as fish and estuarine birds. Sources of mercury to the watershed since 1845 include sediment-associated mercury from mercury mining, mercury losses from gold amalgamation activities in mines of the Sierra Nevada, aerial deposition of mercury...
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
Mercury exposure of tidal marsh songbirds in the northeastern United States and its association with nest survival Mercury exposure of tidal marsh songbirds in the northeastern United States and its association with nest survival
The biogeochemistry of tidal marsh sediments facilitates the transformation of mercury (Hg) into the biologically available form methylmercury (MeHg), resulting in elevated Hg exposures to tidal marsh wildlife. Saltmarsh and Acadian Nelson’s sparrows (Ammospiza caudacutua and A. nelsoni subvirgatus, respectively) exclusively inhabit tidal marshes, potentially experiencing elevated risk...
Authors
Katherine Ruskin, Garth Herring, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Alyssa Eiklor, Chris Elphick, Matthew Etterson, Chrisopher Field, Rebecca Longnecker, Adrienne Kovach, W Shriver, James Walsh, Brian J. Olsen
Lethal impacts of selenium counterbalance the potential reduction in mercury bioaccumulation for freshwater organisms☆ Lethal impacts of selenium counterbalance the potential reduction in mercury bioaccumulation for freshwater organisms☆
Mercury (Hg), a potent neurotoxic element, can biomagnify through food webs once converted into methylmercury (MeHg). Some studies have found that selenium (Se) exposure may reduce MeHg bioaccumulation and toxicity, though this pattern is not universal. Se itself can also be toxic at elevated levels. We experimentally manipulated the relative concentrations of dietary MeHg and Se (as...
Authors
Jacqueline Gerson, Rebecca Consbrock, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Emily S. Bernhardt, David Walters
Small mammal shooting as a conduit for lead exposure in avian scavengers Small mammal shooting as a conduit for lead exposure in avian scavengers
Lead (Pb) exposure is a widespread wildlife conservation threat. Although commonly associated with Pb-based ammunition from big-game hunting, small mammals (e.g., ground squirrels) shot for recreational or pest-management purposes represent a potentially important Pb vector in agricultural regions. We measured the responses of avian scavengers to pest-shooting events and examined their...
Authors
Garth Herring, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, John Goodell, Jeremy Buck, James Willacker
Metal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians Metal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians
Amphibian larvae are commonly used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health because they are susceptible to contaminants. However, there is limited information on how species characteristics and trophic position influence contaminant loads in larval amphibians. Importantly, there remains a need to understand whether grazers (frogs and toads [anurans]) and predators (salamanders) provide...
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Emily Oja, Danielle Cleveland, Jon Davenport, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Evan Campbell Grant, Patrick Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead, Kenzi Stemp, Brian J. Tornabene, Zachary Bunnell, Blake R. Hossack
Differential reliance on aquatic prey subsidies influences mercury exposure in riparian arachnids and songbirds Differential reliance on aquatic prey subsidies influences mercury exposure in riparian arachnids and songbirds
Cross-ecosystem subsidies move substantial amounts of nutrients between ecosystems. Emergent aquatic insects are a particularly important prey source for riparian songbirds but may also move aquatic contaminants, such as mercury (Hg), to riparian food webs. While many studies focus on species that eat primarily emergent aquatic insects, we instead study riparian songbirds with flexible...
Authors
Allyson Jackson, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, W Robinson
Demethylation of methylmercury in bird, fish, and earthworm Demethylation of methylmercury in bird, fish, and earthworm
Toxicity of methylmercury (MeHg) to wildlife and humans results from its binding to cysteine residues of proteins, forming MeHg-cysteinate (MeHgCys) complexes that hinder biological functions. MeHgCys complexes can be detoxified in vivo, yet how this occurs is unknown. We report that MeHgCys complexes are transformed into selenocysteinate (Hg(Sec)4) complexes in multiple animals from two...
Authors
Alain Manceau, Jean-Paul Bourdineaud, Ricardo Oliveira, Sandra Sarrazin, David Krabbenhoft, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Josh Ackerman, Robin Stewart, Christian Ward-Deitrich, M del Castillo Busto, Heidi Goenaga-Infante, Aude Wack, Marius Retegan, Blanka Detlefs, Pieter Glatzel, Paco Bustamante, Kathryn Nagy, Brett Poulin
Isotope fractionation from In Vivo methylmercury detoxification in waterbirds Isotope fractionation from In Vivo methylmercury detoxification in waterbirds
The robust application of stable mercury (Hg) isotopes for mercury source apportionment and risk assessment necessitates the understanding of mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) due to internal transformations within organisms. Here, we used high energy-resolution XANES spectroscopy and isotope ratios of total mercury (δ202THg) and methylmercury (δ202MeHg) to elucidate the chemical...
Authors
Brett Poulin, Sarah Janssen, Tylor Rosera, David Krabbenhoft, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Josh Ackerman, Robin Stewart, Eunhee Kim, Zofia Baumann, Jeong-Hoon Kim, Alain Manceau
Examining historical mercury sources in the Saint Louis River estuary: How legacy contamination influences biological mercury levels in Great Lakes coastal regions Examining historical mercury sources in the Saint Louis River estuary: How legacy contamination influences biological mercury levels in Great Lakes coastal regions
Industrial chemical contamination within coastal regions of the Great Lakes can pose serious risks to wetland habitat and offshore fisheries, often resulting in fish consumption advisories that directly affect human and wildlife health. Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of concern in many of these highly urbanized and industrialized coastal regions, one of which is the Saint Louis River...
Authors
Sarah E. Janssen, Joel Hoffman, Ryan F. Lepak, David Krabbenhoft, David Walters, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Greg Peterson, Jacob Ogorek, John DeWild, Anne Cotter, Mark Pearson, Michael T. Tate, Roger Yeardley, Marc Mills
Fish habitat use and food web structure following pond and plug restoration of a Montane Meadow in the Sierra Nevada, California Fish habitat use and food web structure following pond and plug restoration of a Montane Meadow in the Sierra Nevada, California
Montane meadows are areas of high biodiversity and provide many important ecosystem services; however, degradation of 40–60% of these habitats in the Sierra Nevada region of California has left many of these areas impaired. The “pond-and-plug” meadow-restoration technique is 1 type of treatment implemented to restore montane meadows. The objectives of this technique are to re-water the...
Authors
Lora Tennant, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, James Willacker, Matthew Johnson
Surface-air mercury fluxes and a watershed mass balance in forested and harvested catchments Surface-air mercury fluxes and a watershed mass balance in forested and harvested catchments
Forest soils are among the world’s largest repositories for long-term accumulation of atmospherically deposited mercury (Hg), and understanding the potential for remobilization through gaseous emissions, aqueous dissolution and runoff, or erosive particulate transport to down-gradient aquatic ecosystems is critically important for projecting ecosystem recovery. Forestry operations...
Authors
Chris Eckley, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Michael T. Tate, David Krabbenhoft
Long-term trends in regional wet mercury deposition and lacustrine mercury concentrations in four lakes in Voyageurs National Park Long-term trends in regional wet mercury deposition and lacustrine mercury concentrations in four lakes in Voyageurs National Park
Although anthropogenic mercury (Hg) releases to the environment have been substantially lowered in the United States and Canada since 1990, concerns remain for contamination in fish from remote lakes and rivers where atmospheric deposition is the predominant source of mercury. How have aquatic ecosystems responded? We report on one of the longest known multimedia data sets for mercury in...
Authors
Mark Brigham, David VanderMeulen, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, David Krabbenhoft, Ryan P. Maki, John DeWild
From forests to fish: Mercury in mountain lake food webs influenced by factors at multiple scales From forests to fish: Mercury in mountain lake food webs influenced by factors at multiple scales
Mountain lakes, while seemingly pristine, have been subjected to historical fish stocking practices and exposure to atmospherically deposited contaminants like mercury. Mercury bioaccumulation in these ecosystems varies widely due to strong environmental gradients, and there are complex, hierarchical factors that affect mercury transport and loading, methylmercury production, and food...
Authors
Ariana Chiapella, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Angela Strecker
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.
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