Karen R Murray, Ph.D.
Karen is currently a Research Scientist Emeritus with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
I began working with USGS as an aquatic ecologist in 1991 and retired as a research ecologist in May 2020. As a Scientist Emeritus, I continue my work on selected projects in a volunteer capacity. My major research focus has been on mercury cycling and bioaccumulation in aquatic ecosystems, especially streams and rivers. I have also investigated the effects of urbanization, forest fragmentation, and hydrologic alteration on stream ecosystems. Much of my work has involved the integration of biological aspects (e.g. food web dynamics, community ecology) into multi-disciplinary studies. I have a Ph.D. in environmental biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, and a B.A. in environmental studies from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. In addition to my volunteer work with USGS, I volunteer as the Water Quality Monitoring Coordinator for the Lake Onota Preservation Association (LOPA), and am a member of LOPA's Board of Directors.
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Professional Studies/Experience
Mentorship/Outreach
Professional societies/affiliations/committees/editorial boards
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Science and Products
Mercury Bioaccumulation in Fish in New York's Streams and Rivers
Background Although New York State has more than 70,000 miles of streams and rivers, little is known about the status, distribution, and trends of mercury (Hg) levels in stream fish, or the environmental drivers of these patterns. Streams and their riparian zones provide critical habitat for fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and serve as the interface between aquatic and...
Effects of flow alteration on ecological health of streams across the Atlantic Highlands Ecoregion
Problem: The Clean Water Act (PL 92-500) requires that the health of the Nation’s rivers and streams be assessed on a regular basis, and in the Northeast such assessments often use information from aquatic biological communities that live in the stream. Biomonitoring programs implemented by individual states evaluate biological data to assess stream health on the premise that certain...
The Effectiveness of Total Mercury as a Surrogate for Methylmercury in Aquatic Invertebrates
A. BACKGROUND Aquatic macroinvertebrates, such as dragonfly larvae or crayfish have great potential for Mercury (Hg) monitoring, both as indicator organisms (or "sentinels'), and to provide critical information on Hg in lower food webs to assist in interpreting fish Hg levels. Despite these advantages, macroinvertebrates are not widely used in Hg monitoring because of the current need to...
Mercury Cycling and Bioaccumulation in the Upper Hudson River Basin--Fishing Brook
BackgroundDetailed investigations of mercury cycling and bioaccumulation have been done in the Upper Hudson River basin (upstream of the Hudson River near Newcomb, in New York's Adirondack Mountains, with a focus on the Fishing Brook sub-basin, part of the western headwaters of the Hudson River. This study is part of a National mercury study that includes a concurrent study of McTier...
The Effects of Watershed and Stream Liming on Mercury Dynamics at Honnedaga Lake
Problem The Adirondack region of New York has 128 lakes that are listed as impaired by acidity under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. Acidity can limit the survival and reproduction of native fishes such as brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Chronic and episodic acidification also stresses fish, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and other biota of inflowing tributaries of these and...
Potential Recovery of Water Chemistry and Stream Biota from Reduced Levels of Acid Deposition at a Sensitive Watershed in the Catskill Mountains, New York
The Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York receive among the highest loads of acid deposition in New York and the northeastern U.S. Additionally, the Catskills are underlain by sandstone and conglomerate, which is base poor and weathers slowly. Thus, the Catskills contain numerous streams with low (< 50 µeq/L) acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) and are sensitive to impacts from...
Science and Products
Mercury Bioaccumulation in Fish in New York's Streams and Rivers
Background Although New York State has more than 70,000 miles of streams and rivers, little is known about the status, distribution, and trends of mercury (Hg) levels in stream fish, or the environmental drivers of these patterns. Streams and their riparian zones provide critical habitat for fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and serve as the interface between aquatic and...
Effects of flow alteration on ecological health of streams across the Atlantic Highlands Ecoregion
Problem: The Clean Water Act (PL 92-500) requires that the health of the Nation’s rivers and streams be assessed on a regular basis, and in the Northeast such assessments often use information from aquatic biological communities that live in the stream. Biomonitoring programs implemented by individual states evaluate biological data to assess stream health on the premise that certain...
The Effectiveness of Total Mercury as a Surrogate for Methylmercury in Aquatic Invertebrates
A. BACKGROUND Aquatic macroinvertebrates, such as dragonfly larvae or crayfish have great potential for Mercury (Hg) monitoring, both as indicator organisms (or "sentinels'), and to provide critical information on Hg in lower food webs to assist in interpreting fish Hg levels. Despite these advantages, macroinvertebrates are not widely used in Hg monitoring because of the current need to...
Mercury Cycling and Bioaccumulation in the Upper Hudson River Basin--Fishing Brook
BackgroundDetailed investigations of mercury cycling and bioaccumulation have been done in the Upper Hudson River basin (upstream of the Hudson River near Newcomb, in New York's Adirondack Mountains, with a focus on the Fishing Brook sub-basin, part of the western headwaters of the Hudson River. This study is part of a National mercury study that includes a concurrent study of McTier...
The Effects of Watershed and Stream Liming on Mercury Dynamics at Honnedaga Lake
Problem The Adirondack region of New York has 128 lakes that are listed as impaired by acidity under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. Acidity can limit the survival and reproduction of native fishes such as brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Chronic and episodic acidification also stresses fish, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and other biota of inflowing tributaries of these and...
Potential Recovery of Water Chemistry and Stream Biota from Reduced Levels of Acid Deposition at a Sensitive Watershed in the Catskill Mountains, New York
The Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York receive among the highest loads of acid deposition in New York and the northeastern U.S. Additionally, the Catskills are underlain by sandstone and conglomerate, which is base poor and weathers slowly. Thus, the Catskills contain numerous streams with low (< 50 µeq/L) acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) and are sensitive to impacts from...