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Deborah D Iwanowicz, PhD

Dr. Deborah D. Iwanowicz is a research fish biologist that utilizes molecular diagnostics for research studies.

Her research principally focuses on targeted amplicon sequencing applied to topics such as: diet evaluation, pollen identification, pathogen identification and microbial community profiling. She is a principle investigator and collaborator on a number of projects that focus on the effects of contaminants on fish health, the significance of disease organisms in invasive species, profiling complex microbial community dynamics, as well as protocol and assay development. Her research includes that of molecular microbiology (parasitology, bacteriology, virology on fishes, amphibians, sea turtles, marine mammals, insects, plants, aquatic and terrestrial gastropods). She leads efforts in the NFHRL for method development on metagenomics analyses of diet from scat, stomach content, or regurgitated cough pellets. This work has been modified to identify plant species found in pollen, diets of mammals, birds, and aquatic animals. She also often focuses her efforts on threatened and endangered species.

Education

  • Ph.D., 2007, University of Georgia
  • M.S., 1998, Purdue University
  • B.S., 1993, Purdue University

Science and Products

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Smallmouth Bass

Use of next-generation sequencing for the dietary analyses of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) stomach content

The USGS Leetown Science Center (USGS LSC) scientists are collaborating with the PADEP (SMB) to develop and evaluate a genetic assay for fish diets that will allow us to develop a cost-effective monitoring program for determining the diet of wild fish. We will test the utility of this method and, once fully developed, these methods could be generally applied in many other piscivorous species of...
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Use of next-generation sequencing for the dietary analyses of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) stomach content

The USGS Leetown Science Center (USGS LSC) scientists are collaborating with the PADEP (SMB) to develop and evaluate a genetic assay for fish diets that will allow us to develop a cost-effective monitoring program for determining the diet of wild fish. We will test the utility of this method and, once fully developed, these methods could be generally applied in many other piscivorous species of...
Learn More
link
WERC Banded CACW

Development of Next Generation Techniques of fecal samples collected from nestling cactus wren

Coastal cactus wren populations have declined in southern California over the last three decades. In San Diego County, this decline has been especially noticeable in the Otay area, which in 2014 supported 14 territories on conserved lands. In the past, there were 25-53 active territories reported for this same area, with the highest estimate in 1992. There is also concern the number of active...
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Development of Next Generation Techniques of fecal samples collected from nestling cactus wren

Coastal cactus wren populations have declined in southern California over the last three decades. In San Diego County, this decline has been especially noticeable in the Otay area, which in 2014 supported 14 territories on conserved lands. In the past, there were 25-53 active territories reported for this same area, with the highest estimate in 1992. There is also concern the number of active...
Learn More
link
Stream raceway

An ecosystem approach to assessing unconventional oil and gas impacts in aquatic ecosystems

The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) technology promises economic, societal and national security benefits. However, technological developments in this field have rapidly outpaced scientific studies on potential environmental effects. The effects of accidental UOG-related spills on environmental health are not adequately characterized, often occur in already ecological sensitive...
By
Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife, Fisheries Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
link

An ecosystem approach to assessing unconventional oil and gas impacts in aquatic ecosystems

The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) technology promises economic, societal and national security benefits. However, technological developments in this field have rapidly outpaced scientific studies on potential environmental effects. The effects of accidental UOG-related spills on environmental health are not adequately characterized, often occur in already ecological sensitive...
Learn More
link
2 small gray/green fish laying on a rock

Metabarcoding of stomach contents from the Round Goby (Negobius melanostromus) in Pennsylvania

The Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus, is a small benthic fish native to the Sea of Azov, the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The first round goby found in the Pennsylvania waters was in 1996. Since then, round gobies are now the dominant benthic fish in many of the tributary streams in the Pennsylvanian waters of Lake Erie, including French Creek. French Creek is also home to...
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Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Invasive Species Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Metabarcoding of stomach contents from the Round Goby (Negobius melanostromus) in Pennsylvania

The Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus, is a small benthic fish native to the Sea of Azov, the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The first round goby found in the Pennsylvania waters was in 1996. Since then, round gobies are now the dominant benthic fish in many of the tributary streams in the Pennsylvanian waters of Lake Erie, including French Creek. French Creek is also home to...
Learn More
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Honey bees

Improving Forage for Honey Bees on USDA Conservation Lands: A Pilot Study for Testing Sampling Methods and Hypothesis Development

Commercial beekeepers have been bringing their bees to the Northern Great Prairie (NGP) for many decades due to the availability of nectar and pollen-rich plants in abundant grasslands.
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Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Improving Forage for Honey Bees on USDA Conservation Lands: A Pilot Study for Testing Sampling Methods and Hypothesis Development

Commercial beekeepers have been bringing their bees to the Northern Great Prairie (NGP) for many decades due to the availability of nectar and pollen-rich plants in abundant grasslands.
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40+ pound blue catfish

Establishing Molecular Methods to Quantitatively Profile Stomach Diet Items of Fish—Application to the Invasive Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)

The USGS Leetown Science Center (USGS LSC) scientists are collaborating with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDDNR) to develop and evaluate a genetic assay for blue catfish fish diets that will allow us to design a cost-effective monitoring program for determining the diet of wild fish. We will test the utility of this method and, once fully developed, these methods could be...
By
Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Establishing Molecular Methods to Quantitatively Profile Stomach Diet Items of Fish—Application to the Invasive Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)

The USGS Leetown Science Center (USGS LSC) scientists are collaborating with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDDNR) to develop and evaluate a genetic assay for blue catfish fish diets that will allow us to design a cost-effective monitoring program for determining the diet of wild fish. We will test the utility of this method and, once fully developed, these methods could be...
Learn More
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Pacific pocket mouse

Developing Novel Amplicon Sequencing Assays From Scat For Diet Analysis of the pacific pocket mouse (perognathus longimembris pacificus)

Developing Novel Amplicon Sequencing Assays From Scat For Diet Analysis of the pacific pocket mouse (perognathus longimembris pacificus)
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Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Developing Novel Amplicon Sequencing Assays From Scat For Diet Analysis of the pacific pocket mouse (perognathus longimembris pacificus)

Developing Novel Amplicon Sequencing Assays From Scat For Diet Analysis of the pacific pocket mouse (perognathus longimembris pacificus)
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Genetics technician running a next generation sequencer

Molecular tools and methodologies

Molecular tools and methodologies are used designed and used for diverse applications. These applications can be used to assess questions of threatened and endangered species, population and conservation biology, ecological communities, microbial diversity, molecular epidemiology and genomics of non-model organisms among many others. Successful integration of these tools and technologies greatly...
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Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Molecular tools and methodologies

Molecular tools and methodologies are used designed and used for diverse applications. These applications can be used to assess questions of threatened and endangered species, population and conservation biology, ecological communities, microbial diversity, molecular epidemiology and genomics of non-model organisms among many others. Successful integration of these tools and technologies greatly...
Learn More
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Giant African Land Snail

Giant African Land Snail

Originally from East Africa, the giant African land snail (Achatina fulica), has been established throughout the Indo-Pacific Basin, including the Hawaiian Islands. Since 2011, these snails have been found in Miami, Florida. Although the current range is limited to the southern latitudes of Florida, this snail can withstand freezing and go into hibernation for as much as a year. This allows them...
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Ecosystems, Invasive Species Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Giant African Land Snail

Originally from East Africa, the giant African land snail (Achatina fulica), has been established throughout the Indo-Pacific Basin, including the Hawaiian Islands. Since 2011, these snails have been found in Miami, Florida. Although the current range is limited to the southern latitudes of Florida, this snail can withstand freezing and go into hibernation for as much as a year. This allows them...
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Presence and prevalence of pathogens among amphibians of Catoctin Mountain Park, 2014

Data described herein was collected by USGS personnel and the project funded by USGS and the National Park Service (Catoctin Mountain Park) through a FY14 NRPP project involving both agencies and developed to detect the presence and prevalence of ranavirus and chytrid pathogens among amphibians of Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO). Supplemental molecular analyses were performed on behalf of LSC by the
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Eastern Ecological Science Center

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Pollen Metagenome

The rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is a listed species under the Endangered Species Act of the United States. While understood to be a highly generalist forager, little is known on the role that limited floral resources or shifting floral community composition could have played in B. affinis decline. Determining which floral species provide suitable B. affinis forage could assist conser
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Eastern Ecological Science Center

Genetic detection of Lake Sinai Virus in honey bees (Apis mellifera) and other insects

Lake Sinai Viruses (LSV) are common ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) that frequently reach high abundance but are not linked to overt disease. LSVs are genetically heterogeneous and collectively widespread, but despite frequent detection in surveys, the ecological and geographic factors structuring their distribution in A. mellifera are not understood. Even less is kno
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Fort Collins Science Center

Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) genomic sequences obtained through long-range PCR and high throughput sequencing from Florida and Hawaii green sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis

The files in this data release are the processed DNA consensus sequence alignment files for the chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV-5) genome plus 66 open reading frames representing protien-coding genes. DNA was extracted from tumor biopsies from green sea turtles (Chelonias mydas) with fibropapillomatosis sampled from Florida and Hawaii coastal waters. We used high-throughput short-read sequencing (Ill
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Eastern Ecological Science Center
Filter Total Items: 30

Novel microbiome dominated by Arcobacter during anoxic excurrent flow from an ocean blue hole in Andros Island, The Bahamas

Andros Island, The Bahamas, composed of porous carbonate rock, has about 175 inland blue holes and over 50 known submerged ocean caves along its eastern barrier reef. These ocean blue holes can have both vertical and horizontal zones that penetrate under the island. Tidal forces drive water flow in and out of these caves. King Kong Cavern has a vertical collapse zone and a deep penetration under A
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

A century of pollen foraging by the endangered rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis): Inferences from molecular sequencing of museum specimens

In 2017 the rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) became the first bee listed under the Endangered Species Act in the continental United States due to population declines and an 87% reduction in the species’ distribution. Bombus affinis decline began in the 1990s, predating modern bee surveying initiatives, and obfuscating drivers of decline. While understood to be a highly generalist forager,
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

An updated genetic marker for detection of Lake Sinai Virus and metagenetic applications

BackgroundLake Sinai Viruses (LSV) are common RNA viruses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) that frequently reach high abundance but are not linked to overt disease. LSVs are genetically heterogeneous and collectively widespread, but despite frequent detection in surveys, the ecological and geographic factors structuring their distribution in A. mellifera are not understood. Even less is known about
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Forage and habitat for pollinators in the northern Great Plains—Implications for U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs

Managed and wild pollinators are critical components of agricultural and natural systems. Despite the well-known value of insect pollinators to U.S. agriculture, Apis mellifera (Linnaeus, 1758; honey bees) and wild bees currently face numerous stressors that have resulted in declining health. These declines have engendered support for pollinator conservation efforts across all levels of government
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Influenza A virus detected in native bivalves in waterfowl habitat of the Delmarva Peninsula, USA

We evaluated the prevalence of influenza A virus (IAV) in different species of bivalves inhabiting natural water bodies in waterfowl habitat along the Delmarva Peninsula and Chesapeake Bay in eastern Maryland. Bivalve tissue from clam and mussel specimens (Macoma balthica, Macoma phenax, Mulinia sp., Rangia cuneata, Mya arenaria, Guekensia demissa, and an undetermined mussel species) from five col
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Molecular identification of fecal contamination in the Elks Run Watershed, Jefferson County, West Virginia, 2016–17

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study using modern methods of molecular analysis aimed at attempting to identify the source(s) of fecal contamination that had been identified in previous studies conducted by the West Virginia Conservation Agency in the Elk Run watershed, Jefferson County, West Virginia. Water samples from multiple sites showing elevated fecal coliform counts were analyzed u
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Establishing molecular methods to quantitatively profile gastric diet items of fish—Application to the invasive blue catfish (ictalurus furcatus)

Understanding the diet of invasive species helps researchers to more accurately assess the health, survivorship, growth, and stability of an invasive fish species, as well as their effects on native populations. Techniques capable of identifying multiple prey species from fish stomach contents have been developed. In this study, a multi-locus metabarcoding approach was used to identify fish and in
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities

Isolation, characterization and molecular identification of a novel aquareovirus that infects the endangered fountain darter, Etheostoma fonticola

The fountain darter Etheostoma fonticola (FOD) is a federally endangered fish listed under the US Endangered Species Act. Here, we identified and characterized a novel aquareovirus isolated from wild fountain darters inhabiting the San Marcos River. This virus was propagated in Chinook salmon embryo (CHSE)-214, rainbow trout gonad-2 and fathead minnow cells at 15°C. The epithelioma papulosum cypri
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

A method for determining avian influenza virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtype association

Methods for grouping specific avian influenza virus (AIV) hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtype reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products into HA:NA subtypes when egg incubation is technically not feasible were evaluated. These approaches were adopted for use as post hoc methods after melt curve analysis. The methods are based on ratios obtained from amplicon co
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Exposure to synthetic hydraulic fracturing waste influences the mucosal bacterial community structure of the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) epidermis

Production of natural gas using unconventional technologies has risen as demand for alternative fuels has increased. Impacts on the environment from waste generated from these processes are largely unexplored. In particular, the outcomes of organismal exposure to hydraulic fracturing waste have not been rigorously evaluated. We evaluated the effects of exposure to surrogate hydraulic fracturing wa
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Genomic evolution, recombination, and inter-strain diversity of chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 from Florida and Hawaii green sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis

Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is a herpesvirus associated with fibropapillomatosis (FP) in sea turtles worldwide. Single-locus typing has previously shown differentiation between Atlantic and Pacific strains of this virus, with low variation within each geographic clade. However, a lack of multi-locus genomic sequence data hinders understanding of the rate and mechanisms of ChHV5 evolutionar
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center

Using colony monitoring devices to evaluate the impacts of land use and nutritional value of forage on honey bee health

Colony monitoring devices used to track and assess the health status of honey bees are becoming more widely available and used by both beekeepers and researchers. These devices monitor parameters relevant to colony health at frequent intervals, often approximating real time. The fine-scale record of hive condition can be further related to static or dynamic features of the landscape, such as weath
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Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Pre-USGS Publications

Cartwright, D.D. 1998. Dietary lipid levels of juvenile yellow perch (Master’s Thesis). Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Densmore, C. L., J. H. Schachte, V. S. Blazer, T. B. Waldrop, C. J. Petrie, A. Mack, M. V. Bature, P. S. Pooler, D.D. Cartwright and W. B. Schill. 2001. A comparison of susceptibility to Myxobolus cerebralis, the cause of whirling disease among Onchorhynchus mykiss strains in field and laboratory exposures. J. Aquatic Animal Health 13:220-227.
Gauthier, D. T., D.D. Cartwright, C. L. Densmore, V. S. Blazer, and C. A. Ottinger. 2003. Measurement of in vitro mitogenesis in fish: ELISA based detection of the thymidine analogue 5’-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine. Fish & Shellfish Immunology 14(4):279-288.
Blazer, V. S., Densmore, C. L.; Schill, W. B.; Cartwright, D.D., and Page, S. J. 2004. Comparative susceptibility of Atlantic salmon, lake trout and rainbow trout to Myxobolus cerebralis in controlled laboratory exposures. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 58(1):27-34.
Iwanowicz, L., Griffin, A., Cartwright, D., and Blazer, V. 2006. Mortality and pathology associated in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) naturally infected with Edwarsiella ictaluri under tank culture conditions. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 70(3):219-225.
Blazer, V. S., L. R. Iwanowicz, D. D. Iwanowicz, D. R. Smith, J. A. Young, J. D. Hedrick, S. W. Foster, and S.J. Reeser. 2007. Intersex (Testicular oocytes) in Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 19: 242-253.
Iwanowicz, D.D. 2007. Effects of environmental stressors and anthropogenic disturbances on infections with myxozoan parasites (Doctoral dissertation). University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Print.
Iwanowicz, L. R., D. D. Iwanowicz, L. M. Pote, V. S. Blazer, and W. B. Schill. 2008. Morphology and 18S rDNA of Henneguya gurlei (Myxosporea) from Ameiurus nebulosus (Siluriformes) in North Carolina, USA. Journal of Parasitology 94:46-57.
Burdick, S.M., Ottinger, C., Brown, D.T., VanderKooi, S.P., Robertson, L., and Iwanowicz, D.. 2009. Distribution, health, and development of larval and juvenile Lost River and Shortnose suckers in the Williamson River Delta restoration project and Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2008 Annual Data Summary: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1287, 76 p.
Blazer, V.S., L.R. Iwanowicz, C.E. Starliper, and D.D. Iwanowicz. 2010. Mortality of Centrarchid fishes in the Potomac Drainage: Survey results and overview of potential contributing factors. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 22: 190-218.

1. Iwanowicz, D.D. 2011. Overview On the Effects of Parasites On Fish Health. Pages 176-184 in Cipriano, R.C., Bruckner, A.W. and Shchelkunov, I.S., editors. 2011. Bridging America and Russia with Shared Perspectives on Aquatic Animal Health Proceedings of the Third Bilateral Conference between Russia and the United States. 20 July 2009. Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, Landover, Maryland, USA.
https://www.lsc.usgs.gov/files/D%20Iwanowicz%202011.pdf
Walsh, HL, LR Iwanowicz, GW Glenney, D. D. Iwanowicz, VS Blazer. 2012. Description of Two New Gill Myxozoans from Smallmouth (Micropterus dolomieu) and Largemouth (M. salmoides) Bass. Journal of Parasitology. 98 415-422.
Iwanowicz, D. D., L.R. Iwanowicz, E.W. Howerth, W.B. Schill, V.S. Blazer, and R.L. Johnson. 2013. Characterization of a new Myxozoan Species (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae: Myxosporea) in Largescale Stonerollers (Campostoma oligolepis) from the Mobile River Basin (Alabama). Journal of Parasitology 99(1): 102-111.
Ciparis, S., D. D. Iwanowicz and J. R. Voshell. 2013. Relationships between nutrient enrichment, pleurocerid snail densities, and trematode infection rates in streams. Fish Biology 58 (7): 1392-1404.
Iwanowicz. D.D., L.R. Iwanowicz, N. Hitt, T.L. King. 2013. Differential expression profiles of miRNA in the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) associated with White Nose affected and unaffected individuals. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1099, 11 p., available only at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1099
Blazer, V.S, D.D. Iwanowicz, H.L. Walsh, A.J. Sperry, L.R. Iwanowicz, D.A. Alvarez, R.A. Brightbill, G. Smith and R. Manning. 2014. Reproductive Health Indicators of Fishes from Pennsylvania Watersheds: Association with Chemicals of Emerging Concern. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 186 (10): 6471-6491.
Morrison, C., M. Springmann, D. Iwanowicz, and C. Wade. 2014.Development of ten microsatellite loci in the intensive giant African land snail, Achatina (Lissachatina) fulica Bowdich, 1822. Conservation Genetics Resources. 19 September.
Chalupnicki, M., D. Dittman, C.E. Starliper, and D.D. Iwanowicz. 2015. Efficacy of Iodine for Disinfection of Lake Sturgeon Eggs from the St. Lawrence River, New York. North American Journal of Aquaculture 77: 82-89.
Iwanowicz, D, Sanders L, Schill W., Xayavong M, de Silva, A, Qvarnstrom Y, Smith T. 2015. Spread of the Rat Lungworm (Angiostrogylus cantonensis) in Giant African Land Snails (Lissachatina fulica) in Florida, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 51(3): 749-753. doi: 10.7589/2014-06-160. Epub 2015 May 14.
Starliper, C.E., B.J. Watten, D.D. Iwanowicz, P.A. Green, N. L. Bassett, and C.R. Adams. 2015. Efficacy of pH Elevation as a Bactericidal Strategy for Treating Ballast Water of Freight Carriers. Journal of Advanced Research 6: 501-509.

Iwanowicz, L., V. Blazer, A. Pinkney, C. Guy, A. Major, K. Munney, S. Mierzykowski, S. Lingenfelser, A. Secord, T. Kubiak, C. Stern, C. Hahn, D. Iwanowicz, H. Walsh, and A. Sperry. 2015. Evidence of Estrogenic Endocrine Disruption in Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass Inhabiting Northeast U.S. National Wildlife Refuge Waters: A Reconnaissance Study. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 124: 50-59.
Densmore, C.L., L.R. Iwanowicz, A.P. Henderson, D.D. Iwanowicz and J.S. Odenkirk. 2015. Mycobacterial Infection in Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) from the Potomac River Catchment. Journal of Fish Diseases. Epub 2015.
Cornman, R.S., C.R.V. Otto, D. Iwanowicz, J.S. Pettis. 2015. Taxonomic characterization of honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollen foraging based on non-overlapping paired-end sequencing of nuclear ribosomal loci. Plos One
Iwanowicz, D., M.C. Black, V.S. Blazer, H. Zappia, and W. Bryant. 2016. Effects of urban land-use on largescale stonerollers in the Mobile River Basin, Birmingham, AL. Ecotoxicology 25:608-621.
Ottinger, C.A., C.L. Densmore, L.S. Robertson, D.D. Iwanowicz, S.P. VanderKooi. 2016. Transforming growth factor-β1 expression in endangered age-0 shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) from Upper Klamath Lake, OR relative to histopathology, meristic, patial and temporal data. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 49:1-6.
Iwanowicz, D.D., A.G. Vandergast, R.S. Cornman, C.R. Adams, J.R. Kohn, R.N. Fisher, C.S. Brehme. 2016. Metabarcoding of fecal samples to determine herbivore diets: a case study of the endangered pacific pocket mouse. Plos One
Iwanowicz, D.D., W.B. Schill, D.H. Olson, M.J. Adams, C. Densmore, R.S.Cornman, C. Adams, C.Figiel, Jr., C.W. Anderson, A.R. Blaustein, and T. Chestnut. 2017. Potential concerns with the analytical methods used for the detection of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans from archived DNA of amphibian swab samples, Oregon, USA. Herpetological Review 48(2): 352-355.
Smart, M.D., R.S. Cornman, D.D. Iwanowicz, M. McDermott-Kubeczko, J.S. Pettis, M.S. Spivak, C.R.V. Otto. 2017. A comparison of honey bee-collected pollen from working agricultural lands using light microscopy and ITS metabarcoding. Environmental Entomology 46(1):38-49. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvw159
Prosser, D.J., C.L.Densmore, L.J. Hindman, D.D. Iwanowicz, C.A. Ottinger, L.R. Iwanowicz, C.P. Driscoll, J.L. Nagel. 2017. Low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in wild migratory waterfowl in a region of high poultry production, Delmarva, Maryland. Avian Diseases 61(1): 128-134.
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USGS Leetown Science Center to Host Earth Day Open House

USGS Leetown Science Center (LSC) to host Earth Day Open House on Sunday, April 28 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

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LSC Earth Day Open House ..HUGE success!

Approximately over 600 individuals attended LSC (WV) Earth Day Open House on Sunday, April 22, 2018 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

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Snail Trail for Parasites Expands

The invasive giant African land snail is expanding its range in Miami, and with it, the range of the parasitic rat lungworm, according to new U.S...
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Science and Products

  • Science
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    Smallmouth Bass

    Use of next-generation sequencing for the dietary analyses of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) stomach content

    The USGS Leetown Science Center (USGS LSC) scientists are collaborating with the PADEP (SMB) to develop and evaluate a genetic assay for fish diets that will allow us to develop a cost-effective monitoring program for determining the diet of wild fish. We will test the utility of this method and, once fully developed, these methods could be generally applied in many other piscivorous species of...
    By
    Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
    link

    Use of next-generation sequencing for the dietary analyses of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) stomach content

    The USGS Leetown Science Center (USGS LSC) scientists are collaborating with the PADEP (SMB) to develop and evaluate a genetic assay for fish diets that will allow us to develop a cost-effective monitoring program for determining the diet of wild fish. We will test the utility of this method and, once fully developed, these methods could be generally applied in many other piscivorous species of...
    Learn More
    link
    WERC Banded CACW

    Development of Next Generation Techniques of fecal samples collected from nestling cactus wren

    Coastal cactus wren populations have declined in southern California over the last three decades. In San Diego County, this decline has been especially noticeable in the Otay area, which in 2014 supported 14 territories on conserved lands. In the past, there were 25-53 active territories reported for this same area, with the highest estimate in 1992. There is also concern the number of active...
    By
    Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
    link

    Development of Next Generation Techniques of fecal samples collected from nestling cactus wren

    Coastal cactus wren populations have declined in southern California over the last three decades. In San Diego County, this decline has been especially noticeable in the Otay area, which in 2014 supported 14 territories on conserved lands. In the past, there were 25-53 active territories reported for this same area, with the highest estimate in 1992. There is also concern the number of active...
    Learn More
    link
    Stream raceway

    An ecosystem approach to assessing unconventional oil and gas impacts in aquatic ecosystems

    The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) technology promises economic, societal and national security benefits. However, technological developments in this field have rapidly outpaced scientific studies on potential environmental effects. The effects of accidental UOG-related spills on environmental health are not adequately characterized, often occur in already ecological sensitive...
    By
    Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife, Fisheries Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
    link

    An ecosystem approach to assessing unconventional oil and gas impacts in aquatic ecosystems

    The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) technology promises economic, societal and national security benefits. However, technological developments in this field have rapidly outpaced scientific studies on potential environmental effects. The effects of accidental UOG-related spills on environmental health are not adequately characterized, often occur in already ecological sensitive...
    Learn More
    link
    2 small gray/green fish laying on a rock

    Metabarcoding of stomach contents from the Round Goby (Negobius melanostromus) in Pennsylvania

    The Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus, is a small benthic fish native to the Sea of Azov, the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The first round goby found in the Pennsylvania waters was in 1996. Since then, round gobies are now the dominant benthic fish in many of the tributary streams in the Pennsylvanian waters of Lake Erie, including French Creek. French Creek is also home to...
    By
    Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Invasive Species Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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    Metabarcoding of stomach contents from the Round Goby (Negobius melanostromus) in Pennsylvania

    The Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus, is a small benthic fish native to the Sea of Azov, the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The first round goby found in the Pennsylvania waters was in 1996. Since then, round gobies are now the dominant benthic fish in many of the tributary streams in the Pennsylvanian waters of Lake Erie, including French Creek. French Creek is also home to...
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    Honey bees

    Improving Forage for Honey Bees on USDA Conservation Lands: A Pilot Study for Testing Sampling Methods and Hypothesis Development

    Commercial beekeepers have been bringing their bees to the Northern Great Prairie (NGP) for many decades due to the availability of nectar and pollen-rich plants in abundant grasslands.
    By
    Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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    Improving Forage for Honey Bees on USDA Conservation Lands: A Pilot Study for Testing Sampling Methods and Hypothesis Development

    Commercial beekeepers have been bringing their bees to the Northern Great Prairie (NGP) for many decades due to the availability of nectar and pollen-rich plants in abundant grasslands.
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    40+ pound blue catfish

    Establishing Molecular Methods to Quantitatively Profile Stomach Diet Items of Fish—Application to the Invasive Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)

    The USGS Leetown Science Center (USGS LSC) scientists are collaborating with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDDNR) to develop and evaluate a genetic assay for blue catfish fish diets that will allow us to design a cost-effective monitoring program for determining the diet of wild fish. We will test the utility of this method and, once fully developed, these methods could be...
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    Ecosystems, Fisheries Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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    Establishing Molecular Methods to Quantitatively Profile Stomach Diet Items of Fish—Application to the Invasive Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)

    The USGS Leetown Science Center (USGS LSC) scientists are collaborating with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDDNR) to develop and evaluate a genetic assay for blue catfish fish diets that will allow us to design a cost-effective monitoring program for determining the diet of wild fish. We will test the utility of this method and, once fully developed, these methods could be...
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    Pacific pocket mouse

    Developing Novel Amplicon Sequencing Assays From Scat For Diet Analysis of the pacific pocket mouse (perognathus longimembris pacificus)

    Developing Novel Amplicon Sequencing Assays From Scat For Diet Analysis of the pacific pocket mouse (perognathus longimembris pacificus)
    By
    Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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    Developing Novel Amplicon Sequencing Assays From Scat For Diet Analysis of the pacific pocket mouse (perognathus longimembris pacificus)

    Developing Novel Amplicon Sequencing Assays From Scat For Diet Analysis of the pacific pocket mouse (perognathus longimembris pacificus)
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    Genetics technician running a next generation sequencer

    Molecular tools and methodologies

    Molecular tools and methodologies are used designed and used for diverse applications. These applications can be used to assess questions of threatened and endangered species, population and conservation biology, ecological communities, microbial diversity, molecular epidemiology and genomics of non-model organisms among many others. Successful integration of these tools and technologies greatly...
    By
    Eastern Ecological Science Center
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    Molecular tools and methodologies

    Molecular tools and methodologies are used designed and used for diverse applications. These applications can be used to assess questions of threatened and endangered species, population and conservation biology, ecological communities, microbial diversity, molecular epidemiology and genomics of non-model organisms among many others. Successful integration of these tools and technologies greatly...
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    Giant African Land Snail

    Giant African Land Snail

    Originally from East Africa, the giant African land snail (Achatina fulica), has been established throughout the Indo-Pacific Basin, including the Hawaiian Islands. Since 2011, these snails have been found in Miami, Florida. Although the current range is limited to the southern latitudes of Florida, this snail can withstand freezing and go into hibernation for as much as a year. This allows them...
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    Ecosystems, Invasive Species Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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    Giant African Land Snail

    Originally from East Africa, the giant African land snail (Achatina fulica), has been established throughout the Indo-Pacific Basin, including the Hawaiian Islands. Since 2011, these snails have been found in Miami, Florida. Although the current range is limited to the southern latitudes of Florida, this snail can withstand freezing and go into hibernation for as much as a year. This allows them...
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  • Data

    Presence and prevalence of pathogens among amphibians of Catoctin Mountain Park, 2014

    Data described herein was collected by USGS personnel and the project funded by USGS and the National Park Service (Catoctin Mountain Park) through a FY14 NRPP project involving both agencies and developed to detect the presence and prevalence of ranavirus and chytrid pathogens among amphibians of Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO). Supplemental molecular analyses were performed on behalf of LSC by the
    By
    Eastern Ecological Science Center

    Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Pollen Metagenome

    The rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is a listed species under the Endangered Species Act of the United States. While understood to be a highly generalist forager, little is known on the role that limited floral resources or shifting floral community composition could have played in B. affinis decline. Determining which floral species provide suitable B. affinis forage could assist conser
    By
    Eastern Ecological Science Center

    Genetic detection of Lake Sinai Virus in honey bees (Apis mellifera) and other insects

    Lake Sinai Viruses (LSV) are common ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) that frequently reach high abundance but are not linked to overt disease. LSVs are genetically heterogeneous and collectively widespread, but despite frequent detection in surveys, the ecological and geographic factors structuring their distribution in A. mellifera are not understood. Even less is kno
    By
    Fort Collins Science Center

    Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) genomic sequences obtained through long-range PCR and high throughput sequencing from Florida and Hawaii green sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis

    The files in this data release are the processed DNA consensus sequence alignment files for the chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV-5) genome plus 66 open reading frames representing protien-coding genes. DNA was extracted from tumor biopsies from green sea turtles (Chelonias mydas) with fibropapillomatosis sampled from Florida and Hawaii coastal waters. We used high-throughput short-read sequencing (Ill
    By
    Eastern Ecological Science Center
  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 30

    Novel microbiome dominated by Arcobacter during anoxic excurrent flow from an ocean blue hole in Andros Island, The Bahamas

    Andros Island, The Bahamas, composed of porous carbonate rock, has about 175 inland blue holes and over 50 known submerged ocean caves along its eastern barrier reef. These ocean blue holes can have both vertical and horizontal zones that penetrate under the island. Tidal forces drive water flow in and out of these caves. King Kong Cavern has a vertical collapse zone and a deep penetration under A
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

    A century of pollen foraging by the endangered rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis): Inferences from molecular sequencing of museum specimens

    In 2017 the rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) became the first bee listed under the Endangered Species Act in the continental United States due to population declines and an 87% reduction in the species’ distribution. Bombus affinis decline began in the 1990s, predating modern bee surveying initiatives, and obfuscating drivers of decline. While understood to be a highly generalist forager,
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

    An updated genetic marker for detection of Lake Sinai Virus and metagenetic applications

    BackgroundLake Sinai Viruses (LSV) are common RNA viruses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) that frequently reach high abundance but are not linked to overt disease. LSVs are genetically heterogeneous and collectively widespread, but despite frequent detection in surveys, the ecological and geographic factors structuring their distribution in A. mellifera are not understood. Even less is known about
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

    Forage and habitat for pollinators in the northern Great Plains—Implications for U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs

    Managed and wild pollinators are critical components of agricultural and natural systems. Despite the well-known value of insect pollinators to U.S. agriculture, Apis mellifera (Linnaeus, 1758; honey bees) and wild bees currently face numerous stressors that have resulted in declining health. These declines have engendered support for pollinator conservation efforts across all levels of government
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

    Influenza A virus detected in native bivalves in waterfowl habitat of the Delmarva Peninsula, USA

    We evaluated the prevalence of influenza A virus (IAV) in different species of bivalves inhabiting natural water bodies in waterfowl habitat along the Delmarva Peninsula and Chesapeake Bay in eastern Maryland. Bivalve tissue from clam and mussel specimens (Macoma balthica, Macoma phenax, Mulinia sp., Rangia cuneata, Mya arenaria, Guekensia demissa, and an undetermined mussel species) from five col
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

    Molecular identification of fecal contamination in the Elks Run Watershed, Jefferson County, West Virginia, 2016–17

    The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study using modern methods of molecular analysis aimed at attempting to identify the source(s) of fecal contamination that had been identified in previous studies conducted by the West Virginia Conservation Agency in the Elk Run watershed, Jefferson County, West Virginia. Water samples from multiple sites showing elevated fecal coliform counts were analyzed u
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

    Establishing molecular methods to quantitatively profile gastric diet items of fish—Application to the invasive blue catfish (ictalurus furcatus)

    Understanding the diet of invasive species helps researchers to more accurately assess the health, survivorship, growth, and stability of an invasive fish species, as well as their effects on native populations. Techniques capable of identifying multiple prey species from fish stomach contents have been developed. In this study, a multi-locus metabarcoding approach was used to identify fish and in
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities

    Isolation, characterization and molecular identification of a novel aquareovirus that infects the endangered fountain darter, Etheostoma fonticola

    The fountain darter Etheostoma fonticola (FOD) is a federally endangered fish listed under the US Endangered Species Act. Here, we identified and characterized a novel aquareovirus isolated from wild fountain darters inhabiting the San Marcos River. This virus was propagated in Chinook salmon embryo (CHSE)-214, rainbow trout gonad-2 and fathead minnow cells at 15°C. The epithelioma papulosum cypri
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

    A method for determining avian influenza virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtype association

    Methods for grouping specific avian influenza virus (AIV) hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtype reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products into HA:NA subtypes when egg incubation is technically not feasible were evaluated. These approaches were adopted for use as post hoc methods after melt curve analysis. The methods are based on ratios obtained from amplicon co
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

    Exposure to synthetic hydraulic fracturing waste influences the mucosal bacterial community structure of the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) epidermis

    Production of natural gas using unconventional technologies has risen as demand for alternative fuels has increased. Impacts on the environment from waste generated from these processes are largely unexplored. In particular, the outcomes of organismal exposure to hydraulic fracturing waste have not been rigorously evaluated. We evaluated the effects of exposure to surrogate hydraulic fracturing wa
    By
    Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center

    Genomic evolution, recombination, and inter-strain diversity of chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 from Florida and Hawaii green sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis

    Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is a herpesvirus associated with fibropapillomatosis (FP) in sea turtles worldwide. Single-locus typing has previously shown differentiation between Atlantic and Pacific strains of this virus, with low variation within each geographic clade. However, a lack of multi-locus genomic sequence data hinders understanding of the rate and mechanisms of ChHV5 evolutionar
    By
    Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center

    Using colony monitoring devices to evaluate the impacts of land use and nutritional value of forage on honey bee health

    Colony monitoring devices used to track and assess the health status of honey bees are becoming more widely available and used by both beekeepers and researchers. These devices monitor parameters relevant to colony health at frequent intervals, often approximating real time. The fine-scale record of hive condition can be further related to static or dynamic features of the landscape, such as weath
    By
    Ecosystems, Energy & Wildlife, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

    Pre-USGS Publications

    Cartwright, D.D. 1998. Dietary lipid levels of juvenile yellow perch (Master’s Thesis). Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
    Densmore, C. L., J. H. Schachte, V. S. Blazer, T. B. Waldrop, C. J. Petrie, A. Mack, M. V. Bature, P. S. Pooler, D.D. Cartwright and W. B. Schill. 2001. A comparison of susceptibility to Myxobolus cerebralis, the cause of whirling disease among Onchorhynchus mykiss strains in field and laboratory exposures. J. Aquatic Animal Health 13:220-227.
    Gauthier, D. T., D.D. Cartwright, C. L. Densmore, V. S. Blazer, and C. A. Ottinger. 2003. Measurement of in vitro mitogenesis in fish: ELISA based detection of the thymidine analogue 5’-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine. Fish & Shellfish Immunology 14(4):279-288.
    Blazer, V. S., Densmore, C. L.; Schill, W. B.; Cartwright, D.D., and Page, S. J. 2004. Comparative susceptibility of Atlantic salmon, lake trout and rainbow trout to Myxobolus cerebralis in controlled laboratory exposures. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 58(1):27-34.
    Iwanowicz, L., Griffin, A., Cartwright, D., and Blazer, V. 2006. Mortality and pathology associated in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) naturally infected with Edwarsiella ictaluri under tank culture conditions. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 70(3):219-225.
    Blazer, V. S., L. R. Iwanowicz, D. D. Iwanowicz, D. R. Smith, J. A. Young, J. D. Hedrick, S. W. Foster, and S.J. Reeser. 2007. Intersex (Testicular oocytes) in Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 19: 242-253.
    Iwanowicz, D.D. 2007. Effects of environmental stressors and anthropogenic disturbances on infections with myxozoan parasites (Doctoral dissertation). University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Print.
    Iwanowicz, L. R., D. D. Iwanowicz, L. M. Pote, V. S. Blazer, and W. B. Schill. 2008. Morphology and 18S rDNA of Henneguya gurlei (Myxosporea) from Ameiurus nebulosus (Siluriformes) in North Carolina, USA. Journal of Parasitology 94:46-57.
    Burdick, S.M., Ottinger, C., Brown, D.T., VanderKooi, S.P., Robertson, L., and Iwanowicz, D.. 2009. Distribution, health, and development of larval and juvenile Lost River and Shortnose suckers in the Williamson River Delta restoration project and Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon: 2008 Annual Data Summary: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1287, 76 p.
    Blazer, V.S., L.R. Iwanowicz, C.E. Starliper, and D.D. Iwanowicz. 2010. Mortality of Centrarchid fishes in the Potomac Drainage: Survey results and overview of potential contributing factors. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 22: 190-218.

    1. Iwanowicz, D.D. 2011. Overview On the Effects of Parasites On Fish Health. Pages 176-184 in Cipriano, R.C., Bruckner, A.W. and Shchelkunov, I.S., editors. 2011. Bridging America and Russia with Shared Perspectives on Aquatic Animal Health Proceedings of the Third Bilateral Conference between Russia and the United States. 20 July 2009. Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, Landover, Maryland, USA.
    https://www.lsc.usgs.gov/files/D%20Iwanowicz%202011.pdf
    Walsh, HL, LR Iwanowicz, GW Glenney, D. D. Iwanowicz, VS Blazer. 2012. Description of Two New Gill Myxozoans from Smallmouth (Micropterus dolomieu) and Largemouth (M. salmoides) Bass. Journal of Parasitology. 98 415-422.
    Iwanowicz, D. D., L.R. Iwanowicz, E.W. Howerth, W.B. Schill, V.S. Blazer, and R.L. Johnson. 2013. Characterization of a new Myxozoan Species (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae: Myxosporea) in Largescale Stonerollers (Campostoma oligolepis) from the Mobile River Basin (Alabama). Journal of Parasitology 99(1): 102-111.
    Ciparis, S., D. D. Iwanowicz and J. R. Voshell. 2013. Relationships between nutrient enrichment, pleurocerid snail densities, and trematode infection rates in streams. Fish Biology 58 (7): 1392-1404.
    Iwanowicz. D.D., L.R. Iwanowicz, N. Hitt, T.L. King. 2013. Differential expression profiles of miRNA in the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) associated with White Nose affected and unaffected individuals. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1099, 11 p., available only at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1099
    Blazer, V.S, D.D. Iwanowicz, H.L. Walsh, A.J. Sperry, L.R. Iwanowicz, D.A. Alvarez, R.A. Brightbill, G. Smith and R. Manning. 2014. Reproductive Health Indicators of Fishes from Pennsylvania Watersheds: Association with Chemicals of Emerging Concern. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 186 (10): 6471-6491.
    Morrison, C., M. Springmann, D. Iwanowicz, and C. Wade. 2014.Development of ten microsatellite loci in the intensive giant African land snail, Achatina (Lissachatina) fulica Bowdich, 1822. Conservation Genetics Resources. 19 September.
    Chalupnicki, M., D. Dittman, C.E. Starliper, and D.D. Iwanowicz. 2015. Efficacy of Iodine for Disinfection of Lake Sturgeon Eggs from the St. Lawrence River, New York. North American Journal of Aquaculture 77: 82-89.
    Iwanowicz, D, Sanders L, Schill W., Xayavong M, de Silva, A, Qvarnstrom Y, Smith T. 2015. Spread of the Rat Lungworm (Angiostrogylus cantonensis) in Giant African Land Snails (Lissachatina fulica) in Florida, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 51(3): 749-753. doi: 10.7589/2014-06-160. Epub 2015 May 14.
    Starliper, C.E., B.J. Watten, D.D. Iwanowicz, P.A. Green, N. L. Bassett, and C.R. Adams. 2015. Efficacy of pH Elevation as a Bactericidal Strategy for Treating Ballast Water of Freight Carriers. Journal of Advanced Research 6: 501-509.

    Iwanowicz, L., V. Blazer, A. Pinkney, C. Guy, A. Major, K. Munney, S. Mierzykowski, S. Lingenfelser, A. Secord, T. Kubiak, C. Stern, C. Hahn, D. Iwanowicz, H. Walsh, and A. Sperry. 2015. Evidence of Estrogenic Endocrine Disruption in Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass Inhabiting Northeast U.S. National Wildlife Refuge Waters: A Reconnaissance Study. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 124: 50-59.
    Densmore, C.L., L.R. Iwanowicz, A.P. Henderson, D.D. Iwanowicz and J.S. Odenkirk. 2015. Mycobacterial Infection in Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) from the Potomac River Catchment. Journal of Fish Diseases. Epub 2015.
    Cornman, R.S., C.R.V. Otto, D. Iwanowicz, J.S. Pettis. 2015. Taxonomic characterization of honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollen foraging based on non-overlapping paired-end sequencing of nuclear ribosomal loci. Plos One
    Iwanowicz, D., M.C. Black, V.S. Blazer, H. Zappia, and W. Bryant. 2016. Effects of urban land-use on largescale stonerollers in the Mobile River Basin, Birmingham, AL. Ecotoxicology 25:608-621.
    Ottinger, C.A., C.L. Densmore, L.S. Robertson, D.D. Iwanowicz, S.P. VanderKooi. 2016. Transforming growth factor-β1 expression in endangered age-0 shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) from Upper Klamath Lake, OR relative to histopathology, meristic, patial and temporal data. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 49:1-6.
    Iwanowicz, D.D., A.G. Vandergast, R.S. Cornman, C.R. Adams, J.R. Kohn, R.N. Fisher, C.S. Brehme. 2016. Metabarcoding of fecal samples to determine herbivore diets: a case study of the endangered pacific pocket mouse. Plos One
    Iwanowicz, D.D., W.B. Schill, D.H. Olson, M.J. Adams, C. Densmore, R.S.Cornman, C. Adams, C.Figiel, Jr., C.W. Anderson, A.R. Blaustein, and T. Chestnut. 2017. Potential concerns with the analytical methods used for the detection of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans from archived DNA of amphibian swab samples, Oregon, USA. Herpetological Review 48(2): 352-355.
    Smart, M.D., R.S. Cornman, D.D. Iwanowicz, M. McDermott-Kubeczko, J.S. Pettis, M.S. Spivak, C.R.V. Otto. 2017. A comparison of honey bee-collected pollen from working agricultural lands using light microscopy and ITS metabarcoding. Environmental Entomology 46(1):38-49. DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvw159
    Prosser, D.J., C.L.Densmore, L.J. Hindman, D.D. Iwanowicz, C.A. Ottinger, L.R. Iwanowicz, C.P. Driscoll, J.L. Nagel. 2017. Low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in wild migratory waterfowl in a region of high poultry production, Delmarva, Maryland. Avian Diseases 61(1): 128-134.
  • News
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    USGS Leetown Science Center to Host Earth Day Open House

    USGS Leetown Science Center (LSC) to host Earth Day Open House on Sunday, April 28 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

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    LSC Earth Day Open House ..HUGE success!

    Approximately over 600 individuals attended LSC (WV) Earth Day Open House on Sunday, April 22, 2018 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

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    Snail Trail for Parasites Expands

    The invasive giant African land snail is expanding its range in Miami, and with it, the range of the parasitic rat lungworm, according to new U.S...
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