David P Krabbenhoft
David Krabbenhoft is a Scientist Emeritus with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.
David Krabbenhoft received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988 and has been a research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey since. He has general research interests are in biogeochemistry and hydrogeology of aquatic ecosystems. Dave began working on environmental mercury cycling, transformations, and fluxes in aquatic ecosystems with the Mercury in Temperate Lakes project in 1988; since then, the topic has consumed his professional life. In 1994, Dave established the USGS’s Mercury Research Laboratory, which includes a team of multi-disciplinary mercury investigators and a state-of-the-art analytical facility strictly dedicated to low-level speciation analysis of mercury. In 1995 he initiated the multi-agency Aquatic Cycling of Mercury in the Everglades (ACME) project, which is still ongoing. More recently, Dave has been a Primary Investigator on the internationally conducted Mercury Experiment To Assess Atmospheric Loadings in Canada and the US (METAALICUS) project, which is a novel effort to examine the ecosystem-level response to loading an entire watershed with mercury. Currently, Dave’s research team is active on projects that span environments as far ranging as the Pacific Ocean to freshwater systems in Alaska to Florida, and from California to New England. In recent years, the Mercury Research Team entered into the realm of atmospheric research by constructing and deployed the USGS Mobile Atmospheric Mercury Lab, which has the capability for rapid deployment and advanced study of mercury in the atmosphere. Since 1990, he has authored or coauthored over 100 papers on mercury in the environment. In August 2006, Dave served as the Co-Chair for the 8th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant.
Professional Experience
Research Hydrologist/Geochemist, U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Water Science Center, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, Wisconsin, July 1988 to present.
Adjunct, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2001 to present.
USGS Mercury Research Lab, Team Leader, 1994 to present.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1988, University of Wisconsin-Madsion, Department of Geology and Geophysics; research emphasis isotope geochemistry, limnology, and hydrogeology
M.S. 1984, University of Wisconsin-Madsion, Department of Geology and Geophysics; research emphasis geochemistry and hydrogeology
B.S. 1982, North Dakota St. University, Major: Geology, Minor: Chemistry
Honors and Awards
Shoemaker Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Science Communications (October 2013)
USGS performance awards (received on 24 occasions from 1988-2013)
Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, In Recognition for Meritorious Service (2003)
Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, In Recognition for Superior Service (1997)
Exxon Research Scholarship, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1982)
Summa Cum Laude, North Dakota State University (19
Science and Products
Data for Biogeochemical and Physical Processes Controlling Mercury Methylation and Bioaccumulation in Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah and Arizona
Historical methyl mercury in San Francisco Bay
Insights into mercury source identification and bioaccumulation using stable isotope approaches in the Hannibal Pool of the Ohio River
Mercury export from Arctic great rivers
Isolation of methylmercury using distillation and anion-exchange chromatography for isotopic analyses in natural matrices
Aquatic cycling of mercury
Sulfur contamination in the Everglades, a major control on mercury methylation
Mercury source changes and food web shifts alter contamination signatures of predatory fish from Lake Michigan
Disentangling the effects of habitat biogeochemistry, food web structure, and diet composition on mercury bioaccumulation in a wetland bird
Chemical and physical controls on mercury source signatures in stream fish from the northeastern United States
Timber harvest alters mercury bioaccumulation and food web structure in headwater streams
Biogeochemical and physical processes controlling mercury methylation and bioaccumulation in Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah and Arizona, 2014 and 2015
Coagulant and sorbent efficacy in removing mercury from surface waters in the Cache Creek watershed, California
Rapid pre-concentration of mercury in solids and water for isotopic analysis
Science and Products
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Data for Biogeochemical and Physical Processes Controlling Mercury Methylation and Bioaccumulation in Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah and Arizona
This dataset includes the field measurements and laboratory analyses of surface water, seston, and sediment collected from Lake Powell, within Glen Canyon National Recreation area (GLCA), during high flow (May-June 2014) and low flow (August 2015) conditions. The study area includes 12-13 sampling sites that follow a transect spanning the entire length of the reservoir from the Colorado River inflHistorical 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 from gl - Multimedia
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Insights into mercury source identification and bioaccumulation using stable isotope approaches in the Hannibal Pool of the Ohio River
Mercury contamination in river systems due to historic and current Hg releases is a persistent concern for both wildlife and human health. In larger rivers, like the Ohio River, USA, it is difficult to directly link Hg discharges to bioaccumulation due to the existence of multiple industrial Hg sources as well as the varied dietary and migratory habits of biota. To better understand how industrialAuthorsSarah E. Janssen, Kathleen A. Patnode, Bruce R Pluta, David P. KrabbenhoftMercury export from Arctic great rivers
Land–ocean linkages are strong across the circumpolar north, where the Arctic Ocean accounts for 1% of the global ocean volume and receives more than 10% of the global river discharge. Yet estimates of Arctic riverine mercury (Hg) export constrained from direct Hg measurements remain sparse. Here, we report results from a coordinated, year-round sampling program that focused on the six major ArctiAuthorsScott Zolkos, David P. Krabbenhoft, Anya Suslova, Suzanne E. Tank, James W. McClelland, Robert G. M. Spencer, Alexander Shiklomanov, Alexander V. Zhulidov, Tatiana Gurtovaya, Nikita Zimov, Sergey Zimov, Edda A. Mutter, Les Kutny, Edwin Amos, Robert M. HolmesIsolation of methylmercury using distillation and anion-exchange chromatography for isotopic analyses in natural matrices
The development of mercury (Hg) stable isotope measurements has enhanced the study of Hg sources and transformations in the environment. As a result of the mixing of inorganic Hg (iHg) and methylmercury (MeHg) species within organisms of the aquatic food web, understanding species-specific Hg stable isotopic compositions is of significant importance. The lack of MeHg isotope measurements is due toAuthorsTylor Rosera, Sarah E. Janssen, Michael T. Tate, Ryan F. Lepak, Jacob M. Ogorek, John F. DeWild, Christopher L. Babiarz, David P. Krabbenhoft, James P. HurleyAquatic cycling of mercury
This chapter examines crucial processes in the aquatic cycling of mercury (Hg) that may lead to microbial production of neurotoxic and bioaccumulative methylmercury (MeHg), and highlights environmental conditions in the Everglades that make it ideal for MeHg production and bioaccumulation. The role of complexation of Hg2+ in surface water, especially by dissolved organic matter (DOM), in the transAuthorsWilliam H. Orem, David P. Krabbenhoft, Brett Poulin, George A AikenSulfur contamination in the Everglades, a major control on mercury methylation
In this chapter sulfur contamination of the Everglades and its role as a major control on methylmercury (MeHg) production is examined. Sulfate concentrations over large portions of the Everglades (60% of the ecosystem) are elevated or greatly elevated compared to background conditions of <1 mg/L. Land and water management practices in south Florida are the primary reason for the high levels of sulAuthorsWilliam H. Orem, David P. Krabbenhoft, Brett Poulin, George AikenMercury source changes and food web shifts alter contamination signatures of predatory fish from Lake Michigan
To understand the impact reduced mercury (Hg) loading and invasive species have had on methylmercury bioaccumulation in predator fish of Lake Michigan, we reconstructed bioaccumulation trends from a fish archive (1978 to 2012). By measuring fish Hg stable isotope ratios, we related temporal changes in Hg concentrations to varying Hg sources. Additionally, dietary tracers were necessary to identifyAuthorsRyan F. Lepak, Joel C. Hoffman, Sarah E. Janssen, David P. Krabbenhoft, Jacob M. Ogorek, John F. DeWild, Michael T. Tate, Christopher L. Babiarz, Runsheng Yin, Elizabeth W Murphy, Daniel R Engstrom, James P. HurleyDisentangling the effects of habitat biogeochemistry, food web structure, and diet composition on mercury bioaccumulation in a wetland bird
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a globally pervasive contaminant with known toxicity to humans and wildlife. Several sources of variation can lead to spatial differences in MeHg bioaccumulation within a species including: biogeochemical processes that influence MeHg production and availability within an organism’s home range; trophic positions of consumers and MeHg biomagnification efficiency in food websAuthorsLaurie Anne Hall, Isa Woo, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Danika C Tsao, David P. Krabbenhoft, John Y. Takekawa, Susan E. W. De La CruzChemical and physical controls on mercury source signatures in stream fish from the northeastern United States
Streams in the northeastern U.S. receive mercury (Hg) in varying proportions from atmospheric deposition and legacy point sources, making it difficult to attribute shifts in fish concentrations directly back to changes in Hg source management. Mercury stable isotope tracers were utilized to relate sources of Hg to co-located fish and bed sediments from 23 streams across a forested to urban-industrAuthorsSarah E. Janssen, Karen Riva-Murray, John F. DeWild, Jacob M. Ogorek, Michael T. Tate, Peter C. Van Metre, David P. Krabbenhoft, James F. ColesTimber harvest alters mercury bioaccumulation and food web structure in headwater streams
Timber harvest has many effects on aquatic ecosystems, including changes in hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological processes that can influence mercury (Hg) cycling. Although timber harvest’s influence on aqueous Hg transformation and transport are well studied, the effects on Hg bioaccumulation are not. We evaluated Hg bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and food web structure in 10 paired cAuthorsJames Willacker, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Brandon M Kowalski, Robert J Danehy, Allyson K. Jackson, Evan M. Adams, David C. Evers, Chris S. Eckley, Michael T. Tate, David P. KrabbenhoftBiogeochemical and physical processes controlling mercury methylation and bioaccumulation in Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah and Arizona, 2014 and 2015
Mercury monitoring results from about 300 Morone saxatilis (striped bass) muscle tissue samples collected by the State of Utah from Lake Powell resulted in a Utah/Arizona fish consumption advisory issued in 2012 for approximately the lower 100 kilometers of the reservoir. Chemical, physical, and biological data were collected during two synoptic sampling cruises on Lake Powell during May/June 2014AuthorsDavid L. Naftz, Mark Marvin-DiPasquale, David P. Krabbenhoft, George Aiken, Eric S. Boyd, Christopher H. Conaway, Jacob M. Ogorek, Gregory M. AndersonCoagulant and sorbent efficacy in removing mercury from surface waters in the Cache Creek watershed, California
Cache Creek drains part of northern California’s Coast Ranges and is an important source of mercury (Hg) to the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Cache Creek is contaminated with Hg from several sources, including historical Hg and gold mines, native Hg in the soils, and active mineral springs. In laboratory experiments in a study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. EAuthorsErica R. De Parsia, Jacob A. Fleck, David P. Krabbenhoft, Kim Hoang, David Roth, Paul RandallRapid pre-concentration of mercury in solids and water for isotopic analysis
The precise quantification of mercury (Hg) stable isotope compositions in low concentration or dilute samples poses analytical challenges due to Hg mass limitations. Common Hg pre-concentration procedures require extended processing times, making rapid Hg stable isotope measurements challenging. Here we present a modified pre-concentration method that combines commonly used Hg reduction and gold tAuthorsSarah E. Janssen, Ryan F. Lepak, Michael T. Tate, Jacob M. Ogorek, John F. DeWild, Christopher L. Babiarz, James P. Hurley, David P. Krabbenhoft - Web Tools
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