Jo Ellen Hinck
Biography
Jo Ellen's research interests revolve around evaluating and effectively communicating the biological effects of chemical contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Jo Ellen's research has ranged from fish health evaluations in the Yukon River of Alaska to ecological risk assessments at uranium mines in the Grand Canyon region. A recent passion is exploring ways to translate scientific data into consumable products for non-technical audiences. We cannot rely on journal publications alone to tell the story of USGS science.
Since 2014, Jo Ellen has served as the USGS science coordinator for the DOI Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Program. She assists natural resource managers from federal, state, and tribal agencies in scientific problem formulation related to contamination from mining sites, industrial areas, and oil spills. Every NRDAR case is unique in terms of geographic setting, type of release, and natural resource injured; therefore, the science required is also unique. Jo Ellen helps to design experiments, recruit USGS expertise to conduct research studies, and interpret the results for the natural resource managers.
Jo Ellen also serves as the science coordinator of the Supplemental Oversight Team (SOT), under the Natural Hazards Mission Area. The SOT oversees USGS activities related to supplemental appropriations for disaster recovery, which includes hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Jo Ellen ensures accountability of supplemental activities and provides scientific knowledge, information, and tools to decision makers to increase USGS capability and capacity to respond to future disaster events.
Education
M.S. Zoology, Department of Zoology, Miami University, 2001
B.S. Biology, Department of Biology and Department of Earth Sciences, University of Central Missouri, 1999
Professional Experience
- 2018-present Hurricane and Wildfire Supplemental Science Coordinator, U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Hazards Mission Area
- 2014-present USGS NRDAR Coordinator, U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO
- 2002-2014 Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO
- 2001-2002 Ecological Risk Assessor, Tetra Tech NUS, Pittsburgh, PA
- 1999-2001 Research and Teaching Assistant, Miami University, Department of Zoology, Oxford, OH
- 1998-1999 Research Assistant, University of Central Missouri, Department of Biology and Department of Earth Sciences, Warrensburg, MO
Science and Products
Disaster Science
Natural (coastal storms, wildfires, floods) and human-induced (structural failures, building collapse, oil, and/or chemical spills) disasters occur every year in the United States. Minimizing loss of human life and damages to personal property and infrastructure is the focus of most disaster response and preparedness activities by federal, state, and local communities. However, the potential...
Damage Assessment and Restoration Tracking System (DARTS)—A new tool to support the Department of Interior's Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program
A new, web-based interactive tool has been developed to increase access to the Department of Interior (DOI) Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Program information.
Brecchia pipe uranium mine bird survey data, Grand Canyon region, 2014-2015
Containment ponds at uranium mines in the Grand Canyon region have been suspected to pose an attractive nuisance to local wildlife in this arid landscape. To determine the presence of bird species at uranium mine openings, we surveyed the bird community in the area surrounding the mines repeatedly within one year and summarized species occurrence.
Metabarcoding data from freshwater mussel eDNA collected in Clinch River, Virginia 2017
Data from metabarcoding assays to detect a suite of mussel species using mitochondrial DNA regions of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit (ND1) genes sequences.
Chemical analyses and histopathology of organisms and plants collected from breccia pipe uranium mine sites in the Grand Canyon watershed, 2015-2020
These data are comprised of measurements of aluminum, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, silver, cadmium, thallium, lead, bismuth, thorium, uranium, and mercury in invertebrates, vegetation, and small rodents. Gross alpha activity, gross beta activity, and radionuclide activities (isotopic U, isotopic Th) are also pres
Data for the assessment of the containment pond at Canyon Mine, Arizona, 2019
These data are comprised of measurements of elements (e.g., uranium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.), major anions (chloride, nitrite+nitrate as nitrogen, sulfate, etc.), dissolved organic carbon, and general water quality characteristics in Canyon Mine containment pond water, sediment, vegetaiton and invertebrate samples collected in c
Metabarcoding assays for the detection of freshwater mussels (Unionida) with environmental DNA
Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are a widely distributed taxon that are important in maintaining freshwater ecosystems and are also highly imperiled throughout the world. Monitoring of mussel populations with environmental DNA (eDNA) is an attractive alternative to traditional methods because it is noninvasive and requires less labor and...
Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Thompson, Nathan; Hinck, Jo Ellen; Jones, Jess W. Elemental and radionuclide exposures and uptakes by small rodents, invertebrates, and vegetation at active and post-production uranium mines in the Grand Canyon watershed
The effects of breccia pipe uranium mining in the Grand Canyon watershed (Arizona) on ecological and cultural resources are largely unknown. We characterized the exposure of biota to uranium and co-occurring ore body elements during active ore production and at a site where ore production had recently concluded. Our results indicate that biota...
Cleveland, Danielle; Hinck, Jo Ellen; Lankton, Julia S. Terrestrial ecological risk analysis via dietary exposure at uranium mine sites in the Grand Canyon watershed (Arizona, USA)
The U.S. Department of the Interior recently included uranium (U) on a list of mineral commodities that are considered critical to economic and national security. The uses of U for commercial and residential energy production, defense applications, medical device technologies, and energy generation for space vehicles and satellites are known, but...
Hinck, Jo Ellen; Cleveland, Danielle; Sample, Bradley E.
2019 Disaster Relief Act: USGS recovery activities
The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 2157) was signed by the President on June 6, 2019. The U.S. Geological Survey received $98.5 million for repair and replacement of facilities and equipment, collection of high-resolution elevation data in affected areas, and scientific assessments to support recovery...
Hinck, Jo Ellen; Stachyra, Joseph Biota dose assessment of small rodents sampled near breccia pipe uranium mines in the Grand Canyon watershed
The biotic exposure and uptake of radionuclides and potential health effects due to breccia pipe uranium mining in the Grand Canyon watershed are largely unknown. This paper describes the use of the RESRAD-BIOTA dose model to assess exposure of small rodents (n = 11) sampled at three uranium mine sites in different stages of ore production (active...
Minter, Kelsey M.; Jannik, Timothy; Hinck, Jo Ellen; Cleveland, Danielle; Kubilius, Walter P.; Kuhne, Wendy W. Assessment of chronic low‐dose elemental and radiological exposures of biota at the Kanab North uranium mine site in the Grand Canyon watershed
High‐grade U ore deposits are in various stages of exploitation across the Grand Canyon watershed, yet the effects of U mining on ecological and cultural resources are largely unknown. We characterized the concentrations of Al, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Hg, Mo, Ni, Se, Ag, Tl, Th, U, and Zn, gross alpha and beta activities, and U and Th...
Cleveland, Danielle; Hinck, Jo Ellen; Lankton, Julia S.
2018 hurricane and wildfire supplemental funding: USGS recovery activities
The Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-123), was signed by the President on February 9, 2018. This funding provided $42.2 million to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for equipment repair and replacement, high-resolution elevation data collection in both hurricane- and wildfire-impacted...
Hinck, Jo Ellen; Stachyra, Joseph
Science support for evaluating natural recovery of polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in fish from Crab Orchard Lake, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois
IntroductionCrab Orchard Lake in southern Illinois is one of the largest and most popular recreational lakes in the state. Construction of the nearly 7,000-acre reservoir in the late 1930s created employment opportunities through the Works Progress Administration, and the lake itself was intended to supply water, control flooding, and provide...
Kunz, Bethany K.; Hinck, Jo Ellen; Calfee, Robin D.; Linder, Greg L.; Little, Edward E. Metabarcoding of environmental DNA samples to explore the use of uranium mine containment ponds as a water source for wildlife
Understanding how anthropogenic impacts on the landscape affect wildlife requires a knowledge of community assemblages. Species surveys are the first step in assessing community structure, and recent molecular applications such as metabarcoding and environmental DNA analyses have been proposed as an additional and complementary wildlife survey...
Klymus, Katy E.; Richter, Catherine A.; Thompson, Nathan; Hinck, Jo Ellen Pre-mining trace element and radiation exposure to biota from a breccia pipe uranium mine in the Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA) watershed
The risks to wildlife and humans from uranium (U) mining in the Grand Canyon watershed are largely unknown. In addition to U, other co-occurring ore constituents contribute to risks to biological receptors depending on their toxicological profiles. This study characterizes the pre-mining concentrations of total arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (...
Hinck, Jo Ellen; Cleveland, Danielle; Brumbaugh, William G.; Linder, Greg; Lankton, Julia S. Amphibian acoustic data from the Arizona 1, Pinenut, and Canyon breccia pipe uranium mines in Arizona
The data consists of a summary of amphibian acoustic recordings at Canyon, Arizona 1, and Pinenut mines near the Grand Canyon. USGS is currently conducting biological surveys associated with uranium mines on federal lands in Arizona. These surveys include determining the composition of the local amphibian community. Original raw acoustic...
Hinck, Jo E.; Hossack, Blake R.; Honeycutt, Richard Chemistry, radiation and histopathology data in support of manuscript "Pre-mining trace element and radiation exposure to biota from a breccia pipe uranium mine in the Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA) watershed"
The risks to wildlife and humans from uranium (U) mining to the Grand Canyon watershed are largely unknown. In addition to U, other co-occurring ore constituents contribute to risks to biological receptors depending on their toxicological profiles. This data was collected to characterize the pre-mining concentrations of total arsenic (As), cadmium...
Hinck, Jo E.; Cleveland, Danielle; Lankton, Julia S.
Supplemental Funds Make a Difference in USGS Readiness for Hurricane Dorian
Completed 2018 Supplemental Appropriations activities are being used to prepare for Hurricane Dorian in Puerto Rico and Florida.