David C Walters
David is a biological science tech with the Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, MD
David is a wetland ecologist, researching how coastal wetlands respond to sea level rise. With a background in biological and physical sciences, his work focuses on the interaction between wetland plant species and their physical environment.
Professional Experience
2020-Present - U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Biologist, Coastal Wetlands Group
2017-2020 - NSA Contractor with U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, Coastal Wetlands Group
2013-2017 - Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Laboratory and Research Specialist
Education and Certifications
M.S., University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, Geology (2013)
B.S., Longwood Univerity, Biology, concentration in Ecology (2011)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 83
GPS data from 2019 and 2020 campaigns in the Chesapeake Bay region towards quantifying vertical land motions GPS data from 2019 and 2020 campaigns in the Chesapeake Bay region towards quantifying vertical land motions
The Chesapeake Bay is a region along the eastern coast of the United States where sea-level rise is confounded with poorly resolved rates of land subsidence, thus new constraints on vertical land motions (VLM) in the region are warranted. In this paper, we provide a description of two campaign-style Global Positioning System (GPS) datasets, explain the methods used in data collection and
Authors
Gabrielle Troia, Sarah Stamps, R. Russell Lotspeich, James M. Duda, Kurt J. McCoy, William Moore, Philippe Hensel, Ryan Hippenstiel, Thomas McKenna, David C. Andreasen, Charles Geoghegan, Thomas P Ulizo, Madeline Kronebusch, Joel A. Carr, David Walters, Neil Winn
PCB exposure is associated with reduction of endosymbionts in riparian spider microbiomes PCB exposure is associated with reduction of endosymbionts in riparian spider microbiomes
Microbial communities, including endosymbionts, play diverse and critical roles in host biology and reproduction, but contaminant exposure may cause an imbalance in the microbiome composition with subsequent impacts on host health. Here, we examined whether there was a significant alteration of the microbiome community within two taxa of riparian spiders (Tetragnathidae and Araneidae)...
Authors
Brittany G. Perrotta, Karen A. Kidd, David Walters
Use of riparian spiders as sentinels of persistent and bioavailable chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems: A review Use of riparian spiders as sentinels of persistent and bioavailable chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems: A review
Aquatic ecosystems around the world are contaminated with a wide range of anthropogenic chemicals, including metals and organic pollutants, that originate from point and nonpoint sources. Many of these chemical contaminants have complex environmental cycles, are persistent and bioavailable, can be incorporated into aquatic food webs, and pose a threat to the health of wildlife and humans
Authors
Matthew M. Chumchal, Gale B. Beaubien, Ray W. Drenner, Madeline P. Hannappel, Marc A. Mills, Connor I. Olson, Ryan R. Otter, Andrew C. Todd, David Walters
Dietary composition and fatty acid content of giant salmonflies (Pteronarcys californica) in two Rocky Mountain rivers Dietary composition and fatty acid content of giant salmonflies (Pteronarcys californica) in two Rocky Mountain rivers
Many aquatic invertebrates are declining or facing extinction from stressors that compromise physiology, resource consumption, reproduction, and phenology. However, the influence of these common stressors specifically on consumer–resource interactions for aquatic invertebrate consumers is only beginning to be understood. We conducted a field study to investigate Pteronarcys californica...
Authors
Lindsey K. Albertson, Michelle A. Briggs, Zachary Maguire, Sophia Swart, Wyatt F. Cross, Cornelia W. Twining, Jeff S. Wesner, Colden V. Baxter, David Walters
Experimental tree mortality does not induce marsh transgression in a Chesapeake Bay low-lying coastal forest Experimental tree mortality does not induce marsh transgression in a Chesapeake Bay low-lying coastal forest
Transgression into adjacent uplands is an important global response of coastal wetlands to accelerated rates of sea level rise. “Ghost forests” mark a signature characteristic of marsh transgression on the landscape, as changes in tidal inundation and salinity cause bordering upland tree mortality, increase light availability, and the emergence of tidal marsh species due to reduced...
Authors
David Walters, Joel A. Carr, Alyssa Hockaday, Joshua A Jones, Eliza McFarland, Katya Kovalenko, Matthew L. Kirwan, Donald R. Cahoon, Glenn R. Guntenspergen
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 R. Gerson, Rebecca A. Consbrock, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Emily S. Bernhardt, David Walters
Non-USGS Publications**
Lauzon, R., Murray, A. B., Moore, L. J., Walters, D. C., Kirwan, M. L., & Fagherazzi, S. (2018). Effects of marsh edge erosion in coupled barrier island-marsh systems and geometric constraints on marsh evolution. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123, 1218– 1234. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JF004530
Moore, L.J. et al. (2018). The Role of Ecomorphodynamic Feedbacks and Landscape Couplings in Influencing the Response of Barriers to Changing Climate. In: Moore, L., Murray, A. (eds) Barrier Dynamics and Response to Changing Climate. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68086-6_10
Schieder, N.W., Walters, D.C. & Kirwan, M.L. Massive Upland to Wetland Conversion Compensated for Historical Marsh Loss in Chesapeake Bay, USA. Estuaries and Coasts 41, 940–951 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0336-9
Walters, D.C. & M.L. Kirwan, Optimal hurricane overwash thickness for maximizing marsh resilience to sea level rise, Ecology and Evolution (2016). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.2024
Moore, L.J., Walters, D.C., et al., Ecomorphodynamic feedbacks and couplings between landscape units affect barrier island response to changing climate. In: Coastal Sediments, (2015). https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/9789814689977_0246
Walters, D., et al., Interactions between barrier islands and backbarrier marshes affect island system response to sea level rise: Insights from a coupled model, Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, (2014). https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2014JF003091
**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
Filter Total Items: 83
GPS data from 2019 and 2020 campaigns in the Chesapeake Bay region towards quantifying vertical land motions GPS data from 2019 and 2020 campaigns in the Chesapeake Bay region towards quantifying vertical land motions
The Chesapeake Bay is a region along the eastern coast of the United States where sea-level rise is confounded with poorly resolved rates of land subsidence, thus new constraints on vertical land motions (VLM) in the region are warranted. In this paper, we provide a description of two campaign-style Global Positioning System (GPS) datasets, explain the methods used in data collection and
Authors
Gabrielle Troia, Sarah Stamps, R. Russell Lotspeich, James M. Duda, Kurt J. McCoy, William Moore, Philippe Hensel, Ryan Hippenstiel, Thomas McKenna, David C. Andreasen, Charles Geoghegan, Thomas P Ulizo, Madeline Kronebusch, Joel A. Carr, David Walters, Neil Winn
PCB exposure is associated with reduction of endosymbionts in riparian spider microbiomes PCB exposure is associated with reduction of endosymbionts in riparian spider microbiomes
Microbial communities, including endosymbionts, play diverse and critical roles in host biology and reproduction, but contaminant exposure may cause an imbalance in the microbiome composition with subsequent impacts on host health. Here, we examined whether there was a significant alteration of the microbiome community within two taxa of riparian spiders (Tetragnathidae and Araneidae)...
Authors
Brittany G. Perrotta, Karen A. Kidd, David Walters
Use of riparian spiders as sentinels of persistent and bioavailable chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems: A review Use of riparian spiders as sentinels of persistent and bioavailable chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems: A review
Aquatic ecosystems around the world are contaminated with a wide range of anthropogenic chemicals, including metals and organic pollutants, that originate from point and nonpoint sources. Many of these chemical contaminants have complex environmental cycles, are persistent and bioavailable, can be incorporated into aquatic food webs, and pose a threat to the health of wildlife and humans
Authors
Matthew M. Chumchal, Gale B. Beaubien, Ray W. Drenner, Madeline P. Hannappel, Marc A. Mills, Connor I. Olson, Ryan R. Otter, Andrew C. Todd, David Walters
Dietary composition and fatty acid content of giant salmonflies (Pteronarcys californica) in two Rocky Mountain rivers Dietary composition and fatty acid content of giant salmonflies (Pteronarcys californica) in two Rocky Mountain rivers
Many aquatic invertebrates are declining or facing extinction from stressors that compromise physiology, resource consumption, reproduction, and phenology. However, the influence of these common stressors specifically on consumer–resource interactions for aquatic invertebrate consumers is only beginning to be understood. We conducted a field study to investigate Pteronarcys californica...
Authors
Lindsey K. Albertson, Michelle A. Briggs, Zachary Maguire, Sophia Swart, Wyatt F. Cross, Cornelia W. Twining, Jeff S. Wesner, Colden V. Baxter, David Walters
Experimental tree mortality does not induce marsh transgression in a Chesapeake Bay low-lying coastal forest Experimental tree mortality does not induce marsh transgression in a Chesapeake Bay low-lying coastal forest
Transgression into adjacent uplands is an important global response of coastal wetlands to accelerated rates of sea level rise. “Ghost forests” mark a signature characteristic of marsh transgression on the landscape, as changes in tidal inundation and salinity cause bordering upland tree mortality, increase light availability, and the emergence of tidal marsh species due to reduced...
Authors
David Walters, Joel A. Carr, Alyssa Hockaday, Joshua A Jones, Eliza McFarland, Katya Kovalenko, Matthew L. Kirwan, Donald R. Cahoon, Glenn R. Guntenspergen
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 R. Gerson, Rebecca A. Consbrock, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Emily S. Bernhardt, David Walters
Non-USGS Publications**
Lauzon, R., Murray, A. B., Moore, L. J., Walters, D. C., Kirwan, M. L., & Fagherazzi, S. (2018). Effects of marsh edge erosion in coupled barrier island-marsh systems and geometric constraints on marsh evolution. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123, 1218– 1234. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JF004530
Moore, L.J. et al. (2018). The Role of Ecomorphodynamic Feedbacks and Landscape Couplings in Influencing the Response of Barriers to Changing Climate. In: Moore, L., Murray, A. (eds) Barrier Dynamics and Response to Changing Climate. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68086-6_10
Schieder, N.W., Walters, D.C. & Kirwan, M.L. Massive Upland to Wetland Conversion Compensated for Historical Marsh Loss in Chesapeake Bay, USA. Estuaries and Coasts 41, 940–951 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0336-9
Walters, D.C. & M.L. Kirwan, Optimal hurricane overwash thickness for maximizing marsh resilience to sea level rise, Ecology and Evolution (2016). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.2024
Moore, L.J., Walters, D.C., et al., Ecomorphodynamic feedbacks and couplings between landscape units affect barrier island response to changing climate. In: Coastal Sediments, (2015). https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/9789814689977_0246
Walters, D., et al., Interactions between barrier islands and backbarrier marshes affect island system response to sea level rise: Insights from a coupled model, Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, (2014). https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2014JF003091
**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.