Ian R Waite
Ian Waite has been an aquatic ecologist in the USGS Oregon Water Science Center since June 1992.
Research Focus My primary focus has been on understanding the effects of multiple instream stressors in wadeable streams on biological assemblages (diatoms, macroinvertebrates, fish) throughout the U.S., primarily looking at the effects of agriculture and urban land use.
One of my specialties is the use of multivariate statistics and various modeling techniques (e.g., machine learning, predictive, etc.) to help us untangle the complex mixture of natural and anthropogenic variables at diverse spatial scales (e.g., instream, local, watershed and regional) that are effecting stream ecosystems.
I've been applying various predictive modeling approaches to better understand the causal mechanisms of disturbance on aquatic ecosystems across a large diversity of ecosystems and scales. I collaborate with other federal agencies, Indian tribes, State and non-profit groups and I am increasingly working with international researchers to better understand and improve our ability to manage aquatic ecosystems. I work to communicate the findings through public meetings, watershed councils, international science conferences and in journal publications.
I feel I can analyze, develop models and summarize almost any type of data and present the findings in a clear concise manner.
Education and Certifications
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Natural Resources (Fisheries and Marine Biology), B.A., 1982.
Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, Fisheries, M.Sc., 1987.
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, Entomology (Minor-Aquatic Ecology), Ph.D., 1994.
Science and Products
Below are data created by Ian Waite.
Below are publications authored by Ian Waite.
Relationships between diatom metrics based on species nutrient traits and agricultural land use
Effects of urban multi-stressors on three stream biotic assemblages
Mixed-chemical exposure and predicted effects potential in wadeable southeastern USA streams
Nutrient enrichment in wadeable urban streams in the piedmont ecoregion of the southeastern United States
Understanding the influence of nutrients on stream ecosystems in agricultural landscapes
Can data from disparate long-term fish monitoring programs be used to increase our understanding of regional and continental trends in large river assemblages?
Assessing the influence of multiple stressors on stream diatom metrics in the upper Midwest, USA
Influence of sediment chemistry and sediment toxicity on macroinvertebrate communities across 99 wadable streams of the Midwestern USA
Multistressor predictive models of invertebrate condition in the Corn Belt, USA
Long-term fish monitoring in large rivers: Utility of “benchmarking” across basins
Metformin and other pharmaceuticals widespread in wadeable streams of the southeastern United States
Correspondence of biological condition models of California streams at statewide and regional scales
Science and Products
- Data
Below are data created by Ian Waite.
- Publications
Below are publications authored by Ian Waite.
Filter Total Items: 40Relationships between diatom metrics based on species nutrient traits and agricultural land use
We assessed how diatom metrics were related to different ranges of agricultural land use. Diatom assemblage composition, nutrients, and landscape characteristics were determined at 232 sites in eight agriculturally dominated study areas of the continental United States. Two regional groups based on differences in diatom relations to human disturbance were determined. Changes in diatom species compAuthorsRobert Pillsbury, R. Jan Stevenson, Mark D. Munn, Ian R. WaiteEffects of urban multi-stressors on three stream biotic assemblages
During 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment(NAWQA) project assessed stream quality in 75 streams across an urban disturbance gradient within the Piedmont ecoregion of southeastern United States. Our objectives were to identify primary instream stressors affecting algal, macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages in wadeable streams. Biotic communities were surveyedAuthorsIan R. Waite, Mark D. Munn, Patrick W. Moran, Christopher P. Konrad, Lisa H. Nowell, Michael R. Meador, Peter C. Van Metre, Daren CarlisleMixed-chemical exposure and predicted effects potential in wadeable southeastern USA streams
Complex chemical mixtures have been widely reported in larger streams but relatively little work has been done to characterize them and assess their potential effects in headwaterstreams. In 2014, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) sampled 54 Piedmont streams over ten weeks and measured 475 unique organic compounds using five analytical methods. Maximum and median exposure conditions wereAuthorsPaul M. Bradley, Celeste A. Journey, Jason P. Berninger, Daniel T. Button, Jimmy M. Clark, Steven R. Corsi, Laura A. DeCicco, Kristina G. Hopkins, Bradley J. Huffman, Naomi Nakagaki, Julia E. Norman, Lisa H. Nowell, Sharon L. Qi, Peter C. Van Metre, Ian R. WaiteNutrient enrichment in wadeable urban streams in the piedmont ecoregion of the southeastern United States
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Southeastern Stream Quality Assessment (SESQA) collected weekly samples for nitrogen and phosphorus in 76 wadeable streams in the urbanized Piedmont ecoregion of the Southeastern United States, during April–June 2014. Total nitrogen (TN) concentrations in excess of EPA guidelines and statistically greater than at reference locations indicated nitrogen-nutrient enrAuthorsCeleste A. Journey, Peter C. Van Metre, Daniel T. Button, Jimmy M. Clark, Mark D. Munn, Naomi Nakagaki, Sharon L. Qi, Ian R. Waite, Paul M. BradleyUnderstanding the influence of nutrients on stream ecosystems in agricultural landscapes
Sustaining the quality of the Nation’s water resources and the health of our diverse ecosystems depends on the availability of sound water-resources data and information to develop effective, science-based policies. Effective management of water resources also brings more certainty and efficiency to important economic sectors. Taken together, these actions lead to immediate and long-term economic,AuthorsMark D. Munn, Jeffrey W. Frey, Anthony J. Tesoriero, Robert W. Black, John H. Duff, Kathy Lee, Terry R. Maret, Christopher A. Mebane, Ian R. Waite, Ronald B. ZeltCan data from disparate long-term fish monitoring programs be used to increase our understanding of regional and continental trends in large river assemblages?
Understanding trends in the diverse resources provided by large rivers will help balance tradeoffs among stakeholders and inform strategies to mitigate the effects of landscape scale stressors such as climate change and invasive species. Absent a cohesive coordinated effort to assess trends in important large river resources, a logical starting point is to assess our ability to draw inferences froAuthorsTimothy D. Counihan, Ian R. Waite, Andrew F. Casper, David L. Ward, Jennifer S. Sauer, Elise R. Irwin, Colin G. Chapman, Brian Ickes, Craig P. Paukert, John J. Kosovich, Jennifer M. BayerByEcosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program, Cooperative Research Units, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Species Management Research Program, Oregon Water Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)Assessing the influence of multiple stressors on stream diatom metrics in the upper Midwest, USA
Water resource managers face increasing challenges in identifying what physical and chemical stressors are responsible for the alteration of biological conditions in streams. The objective of this study was to assess the comparative influence of multiple stressors on benthic diatoms at 98 sites that spanned a range of stressors in an agriculturally dominated region in the upper Midwest, USA. The pAuthorsMark D. Munn, Ian R. Waite, Christopher P. KonradInfluence of sediment chemistry and sediment toxicity on macroinvertebrate communities across 99 wadable streams of the Midwestern USA
Simultaneous assessment of sediment chemistry, sediment toxicity, and macroinvertebrate communities can provide multiple lines of evidence when investigating relations between sediment contaminants and ecological degradation. These three measures were evaluated at 99 wadable stream sites across 11 states in the Midwestern United States during the summer of 2013 to assess sediment pollution acrossAuthorsPatrick W. Moran, Lisa H. Nowell, Nile E. Kemble, Barbara Mahler, Ian R. Waite, Peter C. Van MetreMultistressor predictive models of invertebrate condition in the Corn Belt, USA
Understanding the complex relations between multiple environmental stressors and ecological conditions in streams can help guide resource-management decisions. During 14 weeks in spring/summer 2013, personnel from the US Geological Survey and the US Environmental Protection Agency sampled 98 wadeable streams across the Midwest Corn Belt region of the USA for water and sediment quality, physical anAuthorsIan R. Waite, Peter C. Van MetreLong-term fish monitoring in large rivers: Utility of “benchmarking” across basins
In business, benchmarking is a widely used practice of comparing your own business processes to those of other comparable companies and incorporating identified best practices to improve performance. Biologists and resource managers designing and conducting monitoring programs for fish in large river systems tend to focus on single river basins or segments of large rivers, missing opportunities toAuthorsDavid L. Ward, Andrew F. Casper, Timothy D. Counihan, Jennifer M. Bayer, Ian R. Waite, John J. Kosovich, Colin Chapman, Elise R. Irwin, Jennifer S. Sauer, Brian Ickes, Alexa McKerrowByCore Science Systems Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program, Gap Analysis Project, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Species Management Research Program, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)Metformin and other pharmaceuticals widespread in wadeable streams of the southeastern United States
Pharmaceutical contaminants are growing aquatic-health concerns and largely attributed to wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) discharges. Five biweekly water samples from 59 small Piedmont (United States) streams were analyzed for 108 pharmaceuticals and degradates using high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The antidiabetic metformin was detected in 89% of samplesAuthorsPaul M. Bradley, Celeste A. Journey, Daniel T. Button, Daren Carlisle, Jimmy M. Clark, Barbara Mahler, Naomi Nakagaki, Sharon L. Qi, Ian R. Waite, Peter C. Van MetreCorrespondence of biological condition models of California streams at statewide and regional scales
We used boosted regression trees (BRT) to model stream biological condition as measured by benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomic completeness, the ratio of observed to expected (O/E) taxa. Models were developed with and without exclusion of rare taxa at a site. BRT models are robust, requiring few assumptions compared with traditional modeling techniques such as multiple linear regression. The BRT mAuthorsJason T. May, Larry R. Brown, Andrew C. Rehn, Ian R. Waite, Peter R Ode, Raphael D Mazor, Kenneth C Schiff