Brander, S. M., He, G., Smalling, K. L., Denison, M. S. and Cherr, G. N. (2012), The in vivo estrogenic and in vitro anti-estrogenic activity of permethrin and bifenthrin. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 31: 2848–2855
Kelly Smalling
I am interested in the exposure and effects of contaminants including current-use pesticides and other endocrine active compounds on fish and wildlife with a focus on amphibian populations.
Biography
I am an environmental organic chemist who has been working with the USGS since 2004. My current research focuses on the occurrence, fate and effects of emerging contaminants including current-use pesticides in the environment. I am the lead for the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative's Contaminants Project, the project coordinator of the "EDC effects on fish and wildlife in the Cheseapeake Bay Watershed" project through the Contaminants Biology Program, and a member of the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program's Pesticide Fate Research Team.
I received a BS in Chemistry from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1999 and a MSPH in Environmental Health Science from the University of South Carolina in 2003.
Science and Products
Date published: October 2, 2019
Status: Completed Amphibians Exposed to Oil and Gas Co-Produced Wastewaters: Differentiating the Actual and the Perceived Inorganic Contaminant Hazards — Prairie Pothole Region
Chloride and metals in oil and gas co-produced wastewaters (often referred to as brines) are commonly perceived as contaminant hazards for biota. Amphibian abundance in the Prairie Pothole Region affected by historic oil and gas co-produced wastewaters was lower in wetlands with high concentrations of chloride indicating an actual contaminant hazard. Metals detected in sediments and amphibian...
Contacts: Kelly Smalling
Date published: May 7, 2019
Status: Active Sublethal Effects of Contaminants in Aquatic Food Webs—Research Challenges and Considerations for Future Studies
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and academic scientists partnered to identify challenges and provide considerations for future scientific study designs to advance our understanding of the often subtle sublethal effects of contaminants on individuals, populations, communities, and entire aquatic food webs.
Contacts: Kelly Smalling
Date published: March 19, 2019
Status: Active Pre-listing Science Support in the Northeast
The background information required to support listing decisions is not always current or available, and additional information or tools to model potential future condition can greatly improve the confidence in Species Status Assessments. We are working closely with multiple partners to provide updated information, model potential outcomes, and identify key uncertainties relevant to amphibian...
Attribution: Ecosystems, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Date published: September 11, 2018
Status: Active Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Science Team
Treatment and distribution systems for safe water supply and wastewater recycling and reuse are essential for public health and the environment. Approximately 80 percent of the U.S. population resides in urban areas where public water and wastewater systems are monitored and made safe under state and federal regulations. The remainder of the population depends on self-monitored and maintained...
Contacts: Paul M Bradley
Date published: September 11, 2018
Status: Active Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Science Team
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and provides critical resources to fish, wildlife and people. For more than a decade, recreational fish species have been plagued with skin lesions and intersex conditions (the presence of male and female sex characteristics in the same fish) that biologists attributed to exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)....
Contacts: Kelly Smalling
Date published: September 7, 2018
Status: Completed Unique Methods Used to Understand Frog Exposure to Pesticides in Agricultural Settings
Adult frog exposure to pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial habitats was quantified using a novel combination of radio telemetry and passive sampling techniques to better understand factors affecting frog health and survival in agricultural landscapes.
Contacts: Kelly Smalling
Date published: July 5, 2018
Status: Active Emerging Contaminants and their Effects on Fish and Frogs
The endocrine system in animals produce hormones to regulate essential life processes, such as metabolism, tissue function, reproduction, and development. A large group of natural and synthetic chemicals are known to disrupt endocrine function. Examples include plant hormones, plastic components, flame retardants, surfactants, fragrances, pesticides, etc. Endocrine disrupting chemicals, or...
Contacts: Kelly Smalling
Attribution: New Jersey Water Science Center
Date published: July 5, 2018
Status: Active Point and Nonpoint Sources of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and the Potential effects on Fish and Frogs in the New Jersey Pinelands
Scientists from the NJ WSC, Leetown Science Center and New Jersey Pinelands Commission recently initiated a 4 year study designed to characterize the point and non-point sources of endocrine disrupting compound (EDCs) and their potential effects on fish and frogs in the NJ Pinelands.
Contacts: Kelly Smalling, Vicki Blazer, John Bunnell
Attribution: New Jersey Water Science Center
Date published: July 5, 2018
Status: Active Pesticides and Amphibian Pathogens in Natural and Created Wetlands in the New Jersey Pinelands
The New Jersey Water Science Center in collaboration with the New Jersey Pinelands Commission and Montclair University, conducted a 4 year study to assess the functional equivalency of ponds and stormwater basins in the New Jersey Pinelands by comparing indicators of hydrologic condition, water quality (including pesticides) and biological metrics (amphibian pathogens).
Contacts: Kelly Smalling, John Bunnell
Attribution: New Jersey Water Science Center
Date published: May 4, 2018
Status: Archived Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Prevalence of Intersex in Fish Populations in New Jersey
NJ WSC and Leetown Science Center scientists in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection were tasked with characterizing endocrine disruption in smallmouth bass from New Jersey.
Contacts: Kelly Smalling, Luke R Iwanowicz, Ph.D., Sandra Goodrow
Attribution: New Jersey Water Science Center
Date published: June 17, 2019
Chronic toxicity of azoxystrobin to freshwater amphipods, midges, cladocerans, and mussels in water-only exposures-Data
Understanding the effects of fungicides on non-target organisms at realistic concentrations and exposure durations is vital for determining potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Environmental concentrations of the fungicide azoxystrobin have been reported up to 4.6µg/L in the United States and 30 µg/L in Europe. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the chronic toxicity of...
Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center
Date published: January 1, 2018
Current-use pesticides and emerging amphibian pathogens in natural ponds, excavated ponds, and stormwater basins from 24 sites varying in land-use classifications throughout the New Jersey Pinelands, 2014-2016
Water, sediment, anuran food (leaf litter and detritus) and whole body larval amphibian composites were analyzed for over 100 current-use pesticides from 24 wetlands representing land-use gradients in the New Jersey Pinelands, USA during 2014-2016. Emerging amphibian pathogens, Ranavirus and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) were also assessed in individual larvae at the 24 wetlands. Tables...
Attribution: New Jersey Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2018
Amphibian Occupancy and Effects of Habitat Use on Pesticide Exposure in Iowa Wetlands
Amphibians living in agricultural areas encounter many challenges. Two factors affecting individuals in these landscapes are habitat loss and pesticides. This thesis focuses on amphibians using agricultural wetlands in Iowa, where row crops such as corn and soybeans dominate the landscape. The goal of my first study was to determine the influences of site characteristics on amphibian presence...
Date published: January 1, 2018
Chloride in water, metals in sediment and amphibian tissues and amphibian capture information from wetlands in the Williston Basin of Montana and North Dakota, 2015-2017
The data presented includes chloride concentration and specific conductance in surface water collected from 33 wetlands in the Williston Basin of Montana and North Dakota, 2015-2017 as well as count data for three species of amphibians captured at each wetland. Data also includes concentrations of metals in bed sediment and larval amphibians collected from 32 and 12 wetlands, respectively in...
Attribution: New Jersey Water Science Center
Date published: August 31, 2017
Widespread Legacy Brine Contamination from Oil Shales Reduces Survival of Chorus Frog Larvae-Data
Advances in drilling technique 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 and greater than 35% of wetlands are less than or equal to 1 km from a petroleum-related well. Legacy practices often released saline co-produced waters (brines) that were...
Attribution: Columbia Environmental Research Center
Year Published: 2019
Managing the trifecta of disease, climate, and contaminants: Searching for robust choices under multiple sources of uncertainty
Wood frogs, like other amphibian species worldwide, are experiencing population declines due to multiple stressors. In the northeastern United States, wood frog declines are thought to result from a reduction in successful metamorphosis in part due to climate change, disease (specifically ranavirus) and contaminant exposure. The presence of...
Smalling, Kelly; Eagles-Smith, Collin; Katz, Rachel A.; Grant, Evan
Year Published: 2019
Fungicides: An overlooked pesticide class?
Fungicides are indispensable to global food security and their use is forecasted to intensify. Fungicides can reach aquatic ecosystems and occur in surface water bodies in agricultural catchments throughout the whole growing season due to their frequent, prophylactic application. However, in comparison to herbicides and insecticides, the exposure...
Zubrod, Jochen; Bundschuh, Micro; Arts, Gertie; Bruhl, Carsten; Imfeld, Gwenaël; Knäbel, Anja; Payraudeau, Sylvain; Rasmussen, Jes J; Rohr, Jason; Scharmüller, Andreas; Smalling, Kelly; Stehle, Sebastian; Schulz, Ralf; Schäfer, Ralf B.
Year Published: 2019
Associations between environmental pollutants and larval amphibians in wetlands contaminated by energy-related brines are potentially mediated by feeding traits
Energy production in the Williston Basin, located in the Prairie Pothole Region of central North America, has increased rapidly over the last several decades. Advances in recycling and disposal practices of saline wastewaters (brines) co-produced during energy production have reduced ecological risks, but spills still...
Smalling, Kelly L.; Anderson, Chauncey W.; Honeycutt, R. Ken; Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.; Preston, Todd M.; Hossack, Blake R.
Year Published: 2019
Critical review: Grand challenges in assessing the adverse effects of contaminants of emerging concern on aquatic food webs
Much progress has been made in the past few decades in understanding the sources, transport, fate, and biological effects of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in aquatic ecosystems. Despite these advancements, significant obstacles still prevent comprehensive assessments of the environmental risks associated with the presence of CECs. Many...
Nilsen, Elena; Smalling, Kelly L.; Ahrens, Lutz; Gros, Meritxell; Miglioranza, Karina S. B.; Pico, Yolanda; Schoenfuss, Heiko L.
Year Published: 2018
Reconnaissance of mixed organic and inorganic chemicals in private and public supply tapwaters at selected residential and workplace sites in the United States
Safe drinking water at the point-of-use (tapwater, TW) is a United States public health priority. Multiple lines of evidence were used to evaluate potential human health concerns of 482 organics and 19 inorganics in TW from 13 (7 public supply, 6 private well self-supply) home and 12 (public supply) workplace locations in 11 states. Only uranium (...
Bradley, Paul M.; Kolpin, Dana W.; Romanok, Kristin M.; Smalling, Kelly L.; Focazio, Michael J.; Brown, Juliane B.; Cardon, Mary C.; Carpenter, Kurt; Corsi, Steven R.; DeCicco, Laura A.; Dietze, Julie E.; Evans, Nicola; Furlong, Edward T.; Givens, Carrie E.; Gray, James; Griffin, Dale W.; Higgins, Christopher P.; Hladik, Michelle L.; Iwanowicz, Luke R. ; Journey, Celeste A.; Kuivila, Kathryn ; Masoner, Jason R.; McDonough, Carrie A.; Meyer, Michael T.; Orlando, James L.; Strynar, Mark J.; Weis, Christopher P.; Wilson, Vickie S.
Year Published: 2018
Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines
A research priority can be defined as a knowledge gap that, if resolved, identifies the optimal course of conservation action. We (a group of geographically distributed and multidisciplinary research scientists) used tools from nominal group theory and decision analysis to collaboratively identify and prioritize information...
Campbell Grant, Evan H.; Adams, M.J.; Fisher, Robert N.; Grear, Daniel A.; Halstead, Brian J.; Hossack, Blake R.; Muths, Erin L.; Richgels, Katherine L. D.; Russell, Robin E.; Smalling, Kelly L.; Waddle, J. Hardin; Walls, Susan C.; White, C. LeAnnAttribution: Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Water Resources, Fish & Wildlife Disease, Wildlife Program
View Citation
Grant, E. H. C., Adams, M. J., Fisher, R. N., Grear, D. A., Halstead, B. J., Hossack, B. R., Muths, E., Richgels, K. L. D., Russell, R. E., Smalling, K. L., Waddle, J. H., Walls, S. C., and White, C. L., 2018, Identifying management-relevant research priorities for responding to disease-associated amphibian declines: Global Ecology and Conservation, v. 16, article e00441, 9 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00441
Year Published: 2018
Effects of persistent energy-related brine contamination on amphibian abundance in national wildlife refuge wetlands
To inform sustainable energy development, it is important to understand the ecological effects of historical and current production practices and the persistence of those effects. The Williston Basin is one of North America's largest oil production areas and overlaps the Prairie Pothole Region, an area densely...
Hossack, Blake R.; Smalling, Kelly L.; Anderson, Chauncey W.; Preston, Todd M.; Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.; Honeycutt, R. KenAttribution: Environmental Health, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Ecosystems, Environmental Health, Contaminant Biology Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, Midcontinent, United States of America
View Citation
Hossack, B. R., K. L. Smalling, C. W. Anderson, T. M. Preston, I. M. Cozzarelli, and R. Ken Honeycutt. 2018. Effects of persistent energy-related brine contamination on amphibian abundance in national wildlife refuge wetlands. Biological Conservation 228:36–43.
Year Published: 2018
Exploring the amphibian exposome in an agricultural landscape using telemetry and passive sampling
This is the first field study of its kind to combine radio telemetry, passive samplers, and pesticide accumulation in tissues to characterize the amphibian exposome as it relates to pesticides. Understanding how habitat drives exposure in individuals (i.e., their exposome), and how that relates to individual health is critical to managing species...
Swanson, Jennifer E.; Muths, Erin L.; Pierce, Clay; Dinsmore, Stephen J.; Vandever, Mark W.; Hladik, Michelle; Smalling, Kelly L.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
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Swanson, J.E., Muths, E., Pierce, C.L., Dinsmore, S.J., Vandever, M.W., Hladik, M.L. and Smalling, K.L., 2018. Exploring the amphibian exposome in an agricultural landscape using telemetry and passive sampling. Scientific reports, 8(1), p.10045.
Year Published: 2018
An initial comparison of pesticides and amphibian pathogens between natural and created wetlands in the New Jersey Pinelands, 2014–16
A study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Jersey Pinelands Commission and Montclair State University, was designed to compare pesticide concentrations and the presence and prevalence of amphibian pathogens between natural ponds and two types of created wetlands, excavated ponds and stormwater basins, throughout...
Smalling, Kelly L.; Bunnell, John F.; Cohl, Jonathan; Romanok, Kristin M.; Hazard, Lisa; Monsen, Kirsten; Akob, Denise M.; Hansen, Angela M.; Hladik, Michelle L.; Abdallah, Nicole; Ahmed, Quratulain; Assan, Araba; De Parsia, Matthew; Griggs, Amaryl; McWayne-Holmes, Megan; Patel, Naisargi; Sanders, Corey; Shrestha, Yesha; Stout, Sean M.; Williams, BriannaAttribution: New Jersey Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
Smalling, K.L., Bunnell, J.F., Cohl, J., Romanok, K.M., Hazard, L., Monsen, K., Akob, D.M., Hansen, A., Hladik, M.L., Abdallah, N., Ahmed, Q., Assan, A., De Parsia, M., Griggs, A., McWayne-Holmes, M., Patel, N., Sanders, C., Shrestha, Y., Stout, S., and Williams, B., 2018, An initial comparison of pesticides and amphibian pathogens between natural and created wetlands in the New Jersey Pinelands, 2014–16: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1077, 18 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181077.
Year Published: 2018
Leaching and sorption of neonicotinoid insecticides and fungicides from seed coatings
Seed coatings are a treatment used on a variety of crops to improve production and offer protection against pests and fungal outbreaks. The leaching of the active ingredients associated with the seed coatings and the sorption to soil was evaluated under laboratory conditions using commercially available corn and soybean seeds to study the fate and...
Smalling, Kelly L.; Hladik, Michelle; Sanders, Corey; Kuivila, KathrynView Citation
Kelly L. Smalling, Michelle L. Hladik, Corey J. Sanders & Kathryn M. Kuivila
(2017): Leaching and sorption of neonicotinoid insecticides and fungicides from seed coatings,
Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2017.1405619
Year Published: 2017
Placement of intracoelomic radio transmitters and silicone passive sampling devices in northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens)
Historically, wetland toxin exposure studies have relied on single time point samples from stationary sampling devices. Development of passive sampling devices (PSDs) that can be attached to individual animals within wetland habitats has greatly improved in recent years, presenting an innovative sampling technology that can potentially yield...
Yaw, Taylor; Swanson, Jennifer E.; Pierce, Clay; Muths, Erin L.; Smalling, Kelly L.; Vandever, Mark W.; Zaffarano, Bianca AnneAttribution: Cooperative Research Units
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: Water, Colorado Water Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Oregon Water Science Center, Ecosystems, Environmental Health, Water Resources, Contaminant Biology Program, Energy & Wildlife, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, Midcontinent, United States of America
View Citation
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.
Pre-USGS Publications
Brander SM, Connon RE, He G, Hobbs JA, Smalling KL, et al. (2013) From ‘Omics to Otoliths: Responses of an Estuarine Fish to Endocrine Disrupting Compounds across Biological Scales. PLoS ONE 8(9): e74251. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074251
Smalling, K.L and Aelion, C.M., 2006, Biological and chemical transformation of atrazine in coastal aquatic sediments, Chemosphere, 62: 188-196.
Pulster, E. L., Smalling, K. L., Zolman, E., Schwacke, L. and Maruya, K. A. (2009), Persistent organochlorine pollutants and toxaphene congener profiles in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) frequenting the Turtle/Brunswick River Estuary, Georgia, USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28: 1390–1399
Date published: June 14, 2019
Modeling Management Actions Helps Researchers Pinpoint the Main Culprit of Wood Frog Declines
Amphibian decline is a global conservation crisis driven by multiple interacting stressors, which often act at a local scale with global implications.
Date published: October 26, 2018
A Unified Research Strategy for Disease Management
As wildlife diseases increase globally, an understanding of host-pathogen relationships can elucidate avenues for management and improve conservation efficacy. Amphibians are among the most threatened groups of wildlife, and disease is a major factor in global amphibian declines.
Attribution: Fish & Wildlife Disease, Wildlife Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center