Puglis, H.J., and Boone, M.D., 2012, Effects of terrestrial buffer zones on amphibians on golf courses: PLOS ONE, v. 7, no. 6, p. e39590
Holly Puglis
Science and Products
Date published: July 7, 2021
Status: Completed Do Trace Metal Concentrations in the Upper Columbia River Affect Early Life Stage White Sturgeon?
To understand if contaminants are associated with white sturgeon population declines, U.S. Geological Survey scientists reviewed the life history, physiology, and behavior of white sturgeon, along with recent toxicological studies and existing trace metal data for locations in the Columbia River. The analysis indicated that the highest concentrations of copper and other metals in...
Contacts: Holly Puglis, Aida Farag, Ph.D.
Date published: March 16, 2021
Status: Completed Clothianidin Exposure Associated with Changes in Tadpole Behavior
During a laboratory exposure study, tadpole movement decreased with increased concentrations of clothianidin, a neonicotinoid pesticide. Decreased movement could affect a tadpole’s ability to forage, escape predation, and metamorphose before ponds dry.
Contacts: Holly Puglis, Michelle L Hladik
Date published: August 29, 2018
Status: Active Behavioral Toxicology — Columbia, Missouri
About the Research
The Environmental Health Program supports scientists at the Behavioral Toxicology Laboratory at the Columbia Environmental Research Center. The scientists develop behavioral methods that are used to characterize and quantify effects of contaminants on aquatic organisms. They have utilized these methods with a variety of organisms including larval and...
Contacts: Holly Puglis
Year Published: 2021
Predicting the spatiotemporal exposure of aquatic species to intrusions of fire retardant in streams with limited data
Because fire retardant can enter streams and harm aquatic species including endangered fish, agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) must estimate the downstream extent of toxic effects every time fire retardant enters streams (denoted as an “intrusion”). A challenge in estimating the length of stream affected by the intrusion...
Rehmann, Chris R.; Jackson, P. Ryan; Puglis, Holly J.
Year Published: 2020
Copper concentrations in the upper Columbia River as a limiting factor in White Sturgeon recruitment and recovery
Currently there is little natural recruitment of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the Upper Columbia River located in British Columbia, Canada and Washington, USA. This review of life history, physiology, and behavior of white sturgeon, along with data from recent toxicological studies, suggest that trace metals, especially Cu, affect...
Puglis, Holly J.; Farag, Aida; Mebane, Christopher A.
Year Published: 2019
Effects of the neonicotinoid insecticide clothianidin on southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala) tadpole behavior
Neonicotinoid insecticides are highly water soluble with relatively long half-lives, which allows them to move into and persist in aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known of the impacts of neonicotinoids on non-target vertebrates, especially at sublethal concentrations. We evaluated the effects of the neonicotinoid clothianidin on the...
Holtswarth, J. N.; Rowland, F. E.; Puglis, Holly J.; Hladik, Michelle; Webb, Elisabeth B.
Year Published: 2019
Behavioral effects of copper on larval white sturgeon
Early–life stage white sturgeon are sensitive to copper (Cu), with adverse behavioral responses observed during previous studies. The objectives of the present study were to quantify the effects of Cu exposure on white sturgeon swimming and feeding behaviors and determine their time to response. Larval sturgeon (1–2, 28, or 35 d posthatch [dph])...
Puglis, Holly J.; Calfee, Robin D.; Little, Edward E.
Year Published: 2018
Potential toxicity of dissolved metal mixtures (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) to early life stage white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the Upper Columbia River, Washington, United States
The Upper Columbia River (UCR) received historical releases of smelter waste resulting in elevated metal concentrations in downstream sediments. Newly hatched white sturgeon hide within the rocky substrate at the sediment–water interface in the UCR for a few weeks before swim-up. Hiding behavior could expose them to metal contaminants, and metal...
Balistrieri, Laurie S.; Mebane, Christopher A.; Cox, Stephen E.; Puglis, Holly J.; Calfee, Robin D.; Wang, Ning
Year Published: 2017
Widespread legacy brine contamination from oil production reduces survival of chorus frog larvae
Advances in drilling techniques have facilitated a rapid increase in hydrocarbon extraction from energy shales, including the Williston Basin in central North America. This area overlaps with the Prairie Pothole Region, a region densely populated with wetlands that provide numerous ecosystem services. Historical (legacy) disposal practices often...
Hossack, Blake R.; Puglis, Holly J.; Battaglin, William A.; Anderson, Chauncey W.; Honeycutt, R. Ken; Smalling, Kelly L.Attribution: Colorado Water Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Ecosystems, Water Resources, Contaminant Biology, Energy & Wildlife, Toxic Substances Hydrology
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Hossack, B. R., H. J. Puglis, W. A. Battaglin, C. W. Anderson, R. K. Honeycutt, and K. L. Smalling. 2017. Widespread legacy brine contamination from oil production reduces survival of chorus frog larvae. Environmental Pollution 231:742–751.
Year Published: 2017
Sensitivity of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) early life stages to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-P-dioxin and 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl
The aquatic food web of the Great Lakes has been contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) since the mid-20th century. Threats of PCB exposures to long-lived species of fish, such as lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), have been uncertain because of a lack of information on the relative sensitivity of the species. The objective of the...
Tillitt, Donald E.; Buckler, Justin A.; Nicks, Diane; Candrl, James; Claunch, Rachel; Gale, Robert W.; Puglis, Holly J.; Little, Edward E.; Linbo, Tiffany L.; Baker, MaryView Citation
Tillitt, D.E., Buckler, J.A., Nicks, D.K., Candrl, J.S., Claunch, R.A., Gale, R.W., Puglis, H.J., Little, E.E., Linbo, T.L., and Baker, M., 2017, Sensitivity of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) early life stages to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-P-dioxin and 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 36(4): 988-998
Year Published: 2016
Quantifying fish swimming behavior in response to acute exposure of aqueous copper using computer assisted video and digital image analysis
Behavioral responses of aquatic organisms to environmental contaminants can be precursors of other effects such as survival, growth, or reproduction. However, these responses may be subtle, and measurement can be challenging. Using juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) with copper exposures, this paper illustrates techniques used for...
Calfee, Robin D.; Puglis, Holly J.; Little, Edward E.; Brumbaugh, William G.; Mebane, Christopher A.Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center, Ecosystems, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Calfee, R.D., Puglis, H.J., Little, E.E., Brumbaugh, W.G., Mebane, C.A., 2016, Quantifying Fish Swimming Behavior in Response to Acute Exposure of Aqueous Copper Using Computer Assisted Video and Digital Image Analysis, Journal of Visualized Experiments (108), e53477
Year Published: 2014
Acute sensitivity of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to copper, cadmium, or zinc in water-only laboratory exposures
The acute toxicity of cadmium, copper, and zinc to white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were determined for 7 developmental life stages in flow-through water-only exposures. Metal toxicity varied by species and by life stage. Rainbow trout were more sensitive to cadmium than white sturgeon across all...
Calfee, Robin D.; Little, Edward E.; Puglis, Holly J.; Scott, Erinn L.; Brumbaugh, William G.; Mebane, Christopher A.View Citation
Acute sensitivity of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to copper, cadmium, or zinc in water-only laboratory exposures; 2014; Article; Journal; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; Calfee, Robin D.; Little, Edward E.; Puglis, Holly J.; Scott, Erinn L.; Brumbaugh, William G.; Mebane, Christopher A.
Year Published: 2014
Acute and chronic sensitivity of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to cadmium, copper, lead, or zinc in laboratory water-only exposures
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) are experiencing poor recruitment in the trans boundary reach of the upper Columbia River in eastern Washington State. Limited toxicity data indicated that early life stages of white sturgeon are sensitive to metals. In acute 4-day (d) exposures with larval white sturgeon, previous studies have reported...
Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Contributions by Wang, Ning; Calfee, Robin D.; Beahan, Erinn; Brumbaugh, William G.; Dorman, Rebecca A.; Hardesty, Doug K.; Kunz, James L.; Little, Edward E.; Mebane, Christopher A.; Puglis, Holly J.View Citation
Acute and chronic sensitivity of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to cadmium, copper, lead, or zinc in laboratory water-only exposures; 2014; SIR; 2013-5204; Edited by Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Mebane, Christopher A.; Contributions by Wang, Ning; Calfee, Robin D.; Beahan, Erinn; Brumbaugh, William G.; Dorman, Rebecca A.; Hardesty, Doug K.; Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Kunz, James L.; Little, Edward E.; Mebane, Christopher A.; Puglis, Holly J.
Pre-USGS Publications
Ramirez, E.A., Puglis, H.J., Ritzenthaler, A., and Boone, M., 2012, Terrestrial movements and habitat preferences of male cricket frogs on a golf course: Copeia, v. 2012, no. 2, p. 191-196
Puglis, H.J., and Boone, M.D., 2011, Effects of technical-grade active ingredient vs. commercial formulation of seven pesticides in the presence or absence of UV radiation on survival of green frog tadpoles: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 60, no. 1, p. 145-155
Ade, C.M., Boone, M.D., and Puglis, H.J., 2010, Effects of an insecticide and potential predators on green frogs and northern cricket frogs: Journal of Herpetology, v. 44, no. 4, p. 591-600
Puglis, H.J., and Boone, M.D., 2007, Effects of a fertilizer, an insecticide, and a pathogenic fungus on hatching and survival of bullfrog (Rana Catesbeiana) tadpoles: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 26, no. 10, p. 2198-2201