Field sampling in the Hells Canyon Reservoir Complex, with Dr. M. Marvin-DiPasquale at the bow of the sediment collection boat. Photographer: D. Krabbenhoft.
Mark Marvin-DiPasquale, PhD
Dr. Marvin-DiPasquale is a Research Microbiologist for the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
A native of Rochester NY, Dr. Marvin-DiPasquale is Project Chief of the USGS-Earth Systems Processes Divison (ESPD) effort "“Biogeochemical Cycling at Regional Scales”. He completed a B.S. in Chemistry at SUNY StonyBrook in 1987, and a Ph.D. in 1995 from University of Maryland, Marine and Estuarine Environmental Science Program, with a focus on the microbial ecology of Chesapeake Bay sediments. He began a career at USGS (Menlo Park, CA) as a ‘National Research Council’ post-doc in 1995, and became a Project Chief in 2004. During much of his USGS tenure, his research focus has been on mercury cycling in various ecosystems, including: the San Francisco Bay watershed and associated mining areas throughout CA; FL Everglades; Carson River, NV (mercury Superfund site); coastal Louisiana; Pategonia region of Argentina; Puget Sound, WA; USGS-NAWQA and USGS-WEBB Study Units in OR, FL, WI, SC, NY, CO, GA, PR, and VT.
Education
- State University of N.Y., Stony Brook, NY. 1985‑87. B.S., Chemistry.
- University of Maryland, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, MD. 1987-95. Ph.D., Marine and Estuarine Environmental Sciences. Research Focus: Aquatic Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry
Professional Experience
- National Research Council Associate, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, 1995-1998.
- Research Term Appointment, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, 1998-2001.
- Microbial Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, 2001-2004.
- Project Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, 2004-present.
Research Interests: microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, estuarine and freshwater ecology, mercury and other trace metal biogoechemisty
Professional Society Memberships (past & current)
Amer. Chem. Soc.; Amer. Geophysical Union; Amer. Soc. Limnology and Oceanography; Amer. Soc. Microbiology; Californian Estuarine Research Soc.; Estuarine Research Federation
Science and Products
Microbial Biogeochemistry Core Technology Team
Proxies Project
Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay
High Resolution Temporal and Spatial Mapping of Mercury and Methylmercury in Surface Waters of the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta
Mercury cycling, bioaccumulation, and risk across western North America: a landscape scale synthesis linking long-term datasets
Optical measurements for surface water samples collected within the Neshaminy Creek basin during November 2021
Geochemical data for water, sediment, and biota in areas affected by historical mining, northwestern Sierra Nevada and Trinity Mountains, California
Elemental partitioning between aqueous and solid phases of mercury and other constituents associated with Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) gas well production waste water, Morgantown, WV, 2015 - 2018.
Geochemistry and microbiology data collected to study the effects of oil and gas wastewater dumping on arid lands in New Mexico
Geochemical data for water, sediment, and biota in Lake Combie, California, 2017-2021
Mercury concentration data for soil, surface water and rice grain from six commercial rice growing fields in the Sacramento Valley of California (USA)
High resolution and discrete temporal and spatial water-quality measurements in support of modeling mercury and methylmercury concentrations in surface waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
Concentration Data for 12 Elements of Concern Used in the Development of Surrogate Models for Estimating Elemental Concentrations in Surface Water of Three Hydrologic Basins (Delaware River, Illinois River and Upper Colorado River)
Mercury speciation and other constituent data for surface water and bed sediment associated with the Hamilton Airfield Wetland Restoration, Novato, California. USA (ver. 4.0, March 2023)
Geochemistry Data for Wastewater Samples Collected at a Separator Tank and from an On-Site Storage Tank at the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) 2015-2019, Morgantown Industrial Park (MIP), West Virginia (ver. 2.0, May 2023)
Geochemical data including mercury for subsamples of deep cores from the Cache Creek Settling Basin, Yolo County, California
The Geochemistry of Mercury and Other Constituents in Redox Manipulated Sediment cores from Clear Lake, Lake County, California
Field sampling in the Hells Canyon Reservoir Complex, with Dr. M. Marvin-DiPasquale at the bow of the sediment collection boat. Photographer: D. Krabbenhoft.
Left: USGS Employee L. Windham-Myers showing a surface water sample collected in acid-cleaned mason jar (deployed for 24 hours) for a mercury study conducted at the Cosumnes River Nature Preserve (CA). Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale. Date: 10/29/2014.
Left: USGS Employee L. Windham-Myers showing a surface water sample collected in acid-cleaned mason jar (deployed for 24 hours) for a mercury study conducted at the Cosumnes River Nature Preserve (CA). Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale. Date: 10/29/2014.
Left: Distillation rig used in the measurement of microbial sulfate reduction rates associated with a method based on the incubation of sediment samples with radioactively labeled sulfate. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale. Date: 3/5/2001.
Left: Distillation rig used in the measurement of microbial sulfate reduction rates associated with a method based on the incubation of sediment samples with radioactively labeled sulfate. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale. Date: 3/5/2001.
USGS researcher Jennifer Agee taking surface sediment oxidation-reduction and pH measurements at Crissy Marsh, a vegetated saltmarsh near the Golden Gate Bridge (background) in San Francisco, CA. Photographer: L. Windham-Myers.
USGS researcher Jennifer Agee taking surface sediment oxidation-reduction and pH measurements at Crissy Marsh, a vegetated saltmarsh near the Golden Gate Bridge (background) in San Francisco, CA. Photographer: L. Windham-Myers.
USGS researcher, Dr. Windham-Myers, collecting a white rice sample after 2 months of growth.
USGS researcher, Dr. Windham-Myers, collecting a white rice sample after 2 months of growth.
A diversity of birds forage for small fish and invertebrates on fallow fields throughout the year.
A diversity of birds forage for small fish and invertebrates on fallow fields throughout the year.
USGS employee showing the rhizosphere (root zone) of a wetland plant, which is a critical zone for microbiological and biogeochemical processes.
USGS employee showing the rhizosphere (root zone) of a wetland plant, which is a critical zone for microbiological and biogeochemical processes.
Left Image: Managed wetland at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Preserve (California Central Valley) showing mixed flocks of foraging birds. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale.
Left Image: Managed wetland at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Preserve (California Central Valley) showing mixed flocks of foraging birds. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale.
Left: USGS Employee Sherry Wren removing a square meter of surface sediment in pickleweed dominated marsh along the Petaluma River (California), for a study designed to investigate the role of marsh plant root zone on the cycling of mercury. Photographer: L. Windham-Myers. Date: 4/4/2006
Left: USGS Employee Sherry Wren removing a square meter of surface sediment in pickleweed dominated marsh along the Petaluma River (California), for a study designed to investigate the role of marsh plant root zone on the cycling of mercury. Photographer: L. Windham-Myers. Date: 4/4/2006
Hilltop view of the Ravenswood ponds (right side of levee) in South San Francisco Bay. These former salt-production ponds were subsequently slated for a major wetland restoration project.
Hilltop view of the Ravenswood ponds (right side of levee) in South San Francisco Bay. These former salt-production ponds were subsequently slated for a major wetland restoration project.
USGS researchers Jennifer Agee and Le Kieu sampling surface sediment in a vegetated Louisiana saltmarsh. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale.
USGS researchers Jennifer Agee and Le Kieu sampling surface sediment in a vegetated Louisiana saltmarsh. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale.
Long-term mercury loading and trapping dynamics in a Western North America reservoir
Linking meso-scale spatial variation in methylmercury production to bioaccumulation in tidal marsh food webs
Successful hindcast of 7 years of mud morphodynamics influenced by salt pond restoration in south San Francisco Bay
South San Francisco Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project—A synthesis of Phase-1 mercury studies
The relative importance of mercury methylation and demethylation in rice paddy soil varies depending on the presence of rice plants
Resolving a paradox—high mercury deposition, but low bioaccumulation in northeastern Puerto Rico
Disentangling the effects of habitat biogeochemistry, food web structure, and diet composition on mercury bioaccumulation in a wetland bird
Wetland management strategy to reduce mercury export in water and bioaccumulation in fish
Biogeochemical and physical processes controlling mercury methylation and bioaccumulation in Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah and Arizona, 2014 and 2015
Slough evolution and legacy mercury remobilization induced by wetland restoration in South San Francisco Bay
Human-induced and natural carbon storage in floodplains of the Central Valley of California
Geochemical data for water, streambed sediment, and fish tissue from the Sierra Nevada Mercury Impairment Project, 2011–12
Concentration data for 12 elements of concern in surface water of three hydrologic basins (Delaware River, Illinois River and Upper Colorado River) – A data visualization tool
This data visualization and exploration tool was designed as part of the USGS WMA Proxies Project. It provides surface water concentration data associated with 12 elements of concern (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se, U, Zn) in a geospatial framework spanning three hydrologic basins (Delaware River, Illinois River, and the Upper Colorado River).
Science and Products
- Science
Microbial Biogeochemistry Core Technology Team
About the Research The Microbial Biogeochemistry Laboratory Core Technology Team (CTT) as part of the Environmental Health Program focuses on environmental questions in aquatic systems (sediment and water) involving the linkages between major biogeochemical cycles (those involving carbon, sulfur, iron and nitrogen) and those associated with contaminants of concern.Proxies Project
The Proxies Project is a series of studies to improve our understanding of water contaminants and water quality hazards. These studies develop models and technical approaches for estimating concentrations and assessing risk associated with: - harmful algal blooms (HABs) - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - 12 elements of concern (EoC)Remote Sensing of Mercury Pollution in South San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay has a long history of being subject to natural resources exploitation and pollution. Ongoing flux of contaminants into the bay, legacy pollution from the Gold Rush era and structural modifications still influence the natural ecosystem today. This project aims to map multiple forms (i.e. species) of mercury -- one of the major contaminants in the bay -- to help inform restoration...High Resolution Temporal and Spatial Mapping of Mercury and Methylmercury in Surface Waters of the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta
Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of significant concern in the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary and watershed (Bay-Delta). The formation, fate, and transport of methylmercury (MeHg), a particularly toxic organic form of Hg that readily bioaccumulates in wildlife, has been studied extensively throughout the system. However, there is widespread recognition of the need for more comprehensive monitoring...Mercury cycling, bioaccumulation, and risk across western North America: a landscape scale synthesis linking long-term datasets
Mercury (Hg) is a serious environmental problem that is impacting ecological and human health on a global scale. However, local and regional processes are largely responsible for producing methylmercury, which drives ecological risk. This is particularly true in western North America where the combination of diverse landscapes, habitat types, climates, and Hg sources may disproportionally impact t - Data
Filter Total Items: 23
Optical measurements for surface water samples collected within the Neshaminy Creek basin during November 2021
Here we report optical data collected as part of a collaborative study between USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Water Mission Area Proxies Project. The optical measurements reported here were collected to aide in the characterization of water sources and mixtures and establish proxies (surrogates) for per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl suGeochemical data for water, sediment, and biota in areas affected by historical mining, northwestern Sierra Nevada and Trinity Mountains, California
This dataset includes data for water, sediment, and biota samples collected at 250 locations in the northwestern Sierra Nevada and the Trinity Mountains during 1999–2012. The locations were chosen to assess potential effects from historical mining, with a focus primarily on mercury contamination associated with placer gold mines in the Sierra Nevada and the Trinity Mountains, and a hard-rock mercuElemental partitioning between aqueous and solid phases of mercury and other constituents associated with Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) gas well production waste water, Morgantown, WV, 2015 - 2018.
The Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) site is a long-term field site and laboratory at the Northeast Natural Energy LLC (NNE) production facility, adjacent to the Monongahela River, located in western Monongalia County, West Virginia, USA. NNE began drilling two horizontal production wells, MIP (Morgantown Industrial Park) -5H and MIP-3H, in the Marcellus Shale in 2014. TheGeochemistry and microbiology data collected to study the effects of oil and gas wastewater dumping on arid lands in New Mexico
The Permian Basin, straddling New Mexico and Texas, is one of the most productive oil and gas (OG) provinces in the United States. OG production yields large volumes of wastewater that contain elevated concentrations of major ions including salts (also referred to as brines), and trace organic and inorganic constituents. These OG wastewaters pose unknown environmental health risks, particularly inByWater Resources Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Environmental Health Program, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Eastern Energy and Environmental Laboratory (EEEL), Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Laboratory, Reston Microbiology LaboratoryGeochemical data for water, sediment, and biota in Lake Combie, California, 2017-2021
This dataset includes field measurements and laboratory analyses of surface water, bottom water (sediment-water interface), surficial (0-2 cm) sediment, pore water (0-2 cm), and biota collected in Lake Combie, California, from September 2017 through August 2021. The study area includes six sites within the reservoir where discrete samples of surface water, bottom water, sediment, and pore water weMercury concentration data for soil, surface water and rice grain from six commercial rice growing fields in the Sacramento Valley of California (USA)
Mercury (Hg) is a well-known toxic element and environmental contaminant. The central valley of California has long been identified as a hotspot for Hg contamination due to the historic mining of Hg in the California coast range, and its use in the mining of gold in the Sierra Nevada, with these mountainous regions bordering the east and the west of the valley, respectively. While the whole centraHigh resolution and discrete temporal and spatial water-quality measurements in support of modeling mercury and methylmercury concentrations in surface waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
The Sacramento / San Joaquin River Delta (SSJRD) is contaminated with legacy mercury (Hg) from historical mining and mineral processing activities throughout the watershed, as well as from contemporary atmospheric and industrial inputs. The current project was designed for the purpose of developing high-resolution spatial and temporal models for estimating concentrations of mercury species in surfConcentration Data for 12 Elements of Concern Used in the Development of Surrogate Models for Estimating Elemental Concentrations in Surface Water of Three Hydrologic Basins (Delaware River, Illinois River and Upper Colorado River)
The release of metals (or metalloids) to surface water can involve both natural and anthropogenic sources. Elevated metals concentrations can pose a risk to human health, wildlife, and ecosystem health, with the modes of toxicity and extent of risk varying as a function of the specific metal, its chemical form and the matrix with which it is associated (for example, dissolved versus particulate).Mercury speciation and other constituent data for surface water and bed sediment associated with the Hamilton Airfield Wetland Restoration, Novato, California. USA (ver. 4.0, March 2023)
The Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project (HWRP) is a joint venture between the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE; San Francisco District) and the California State Coastal Conservancy. The site is located on the property of the former Hamilton Army Airfield in Novato, California, along the western edge of San Pablo Bay, which is part of northern San Francisco Bay. The initial stages of wetland restGeochemistry Data for Wastewater Samples Collected at a Separator Tank and from an On-Site Storage Tank at the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) 2015-2019, Morgantown Industrial Park (MIP), West Virginia (ver. 2.0, May 2023)
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data Release is focused on the geochemistry of wastewater (including flowback and produced water) samples, co-produced with natural gas, collected from the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) site. MSEEL is a long-term field site and laboratory at the Northeast Natural Energy LLC (NNE) production facility, adjacent to the Monongahela River,Geochemical data including mercury for subsamples of deep cores from the Cache Creek Settling Basin, Yolo County, California
Sediment cores were collected in the Cache Creek Settling Basin (CCSB), Yolo County, California, during October 2011 at 10 locations (borehole sites) and during August 2012 at 5 other locations. Total core depths ranged from approximately 4.6 to 13.7 meters (15 to 45 feet), with penetration to about 9.1 meters (30 feet) at most locations. Detailed subsampling (3-centimeter intervals) was done at tThe Geochemistry of Mercury and Other Constituents in Redox Manipulated Sediment cores from Clear Lake, Lake County, California
Clear Lake, located within the Coast Range west of California's Central Valley, is the largest natural freshwater lake contained fully within the state and geologically is considered to be the oldest lake in North America. Clear Lake is popular for recreation and provides critical habitat to a wide variety of fish and bird species. Water quality in Clear Lake is degraded by both by mercury contami - Multimedia
Hells Canyon Sediment Collection
Field sampling in the Hells Canyon Reservoir Complex, with Dr. M. Marvin-DiPasquale at the bow of the sediment collection boat. Photographer: D. Krabbenhoft.
Field sampling in the Hells Canyon Reservoir Complex, with Dr. M. Marvin-DiPasquale at the bow of the sediment collection boat. Photographer: D. Krabbenhoft.
Studies of contaminant biogeochemistry and microbial processes in surface watersStudies of contaminant biogeochemistry and microbial processes in surface watersLeft: USGS Employee L. Windham-Myers showing a surface water sample collected in acid-cleaned mason jar (deployed for 24 hours) for a mercury study conducted at the Cosumnes River Nature Preserve (CA). Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale. Date: 10/29/2014.
Left: USGS Employee L. Windham-Myers showing a surface water sample collected in acid-cleaned mason jar (deployed for 24 hours) for a mercury study conducted at the Cosumnes River Nature Preserve (CA). Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale. Date: 10/29/2014.
Laboratory approaches for quantifying microbial process rates and analyte concentrationsLaboratory approaches for quantifying microbial process rates and analyte concentrationsLeft: Distillation rig used in the measurement of microbial sulfate reduction rates associated with a method based on the incubation of sediment samples with radioactively labeled sulfate. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale. Date: 3/5/2001.
Left: Distillation rig used in the measurement of microbial sulfate reduction rates associated with a method based on the incubation of sediment samples with radioactively labeled sulfate. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale. Date: 3/5/2001.
Taking surface sediment measurements at Crissy Marsh in San Francisco, CA.Taking surface sediment measurements at Crissy Marsh in San Francisco, CA.USGS researcher Jennifer Agee taking surface sediment oxidation-reduction and pH measurements at Crissy Marsh, a vegetated saltmarsh near the Golden Gate Bridge (background) in San Francisco, CA. Photographer: L. Windham-Myers.
USGS researcher Jennifer Agee taking surface sediment oxidation-reduction and pH measurements at Crissy Marsh, a vegetated saltmarsh near the Golden Gate Bridge (background) in San Francisco, CA. Photographer: L. Windham-Myers.
Collecting Rice SampleUSGS researcher, Dr. Windham-Myers, collecting a white rice sample after 2 months of growth.
USGS researcher, Dr. Windham-Myers, collecting a white rice sample after 2 months of growth.
Wildlife and Agricultural WetlandsA diversity of birds forage for small fish and invertebrates on fallow fields throughout the year.
A diversity of birds forage for small fish and invertebrates on fallow fields throughout the year.
Rhizosphere (root zone) of a wetland plantUSGS employee showing the rhizosphere (root zone) of a wetland plant, which is a critical zone for microbiological and biogeochemical processes.
USGS employee showing the rhizosphere (root zone) of a wetland plant, which is a critical zone for microbiological and biogeochemical processes.
Studies of contaminant biogeochemistry and microbial processes in wetland environments.Studies of contaminant biogeochemistry and microbial processes in wetland environments.Left Image: Managed wetland at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Preserve (California Central Valley) showing mixed flocks of foraging birds. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale.
Left Image: Managed wetland at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Preserve (California Central Valley) showing mixed flocks of foraging birds. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale.
Studies of contaminant biogeochemistry and microbial processes in surface sediments.Studies of contaminant biogeochemistry and microbial processes in surface sediments.Left: USGS Employee Sherry Wren removing a square meter of surface sediment in pickleweed dominated marsh along the Petaluma River (California), for a study designed to investigate the role of marsh plant root zone on the cycling of mercury. Photographer: L. Windham-Myers. Date: 4/4/2006
Left: USGS Employee Sherry Wren removing a square meter of surface sediment in pickleweed dominated marsh along the Petaluma River (California), for a study designed to investigate the role of marsh plant root zone on the cycling of mercury. Photographer: L. Windham-Myers. Date: 4/4/2006
Ecosystem restoration research in South San Francisco Bay.Ecosystem restoration research in South San Francisco Bay.Hilltop view of the Ravenswood ponds (right side of levee) in South San Francisco Bay. These former salt-production ponds were subsequently slated for a major wetland restoration project.
Hilltop view of the Ravenswood ponds (right side of levee) in South San Francisco Bay. These former salt-production ponds were subsequently slated for a major wetland restoration project.
Surface sediment sampling in a vegetated Louisiana saltmarsh.Surface sediment sampling in a vegetated Louisiana saltmarsh.USGS researchers Jennifer Agee and Le Kieu sampling surface sediment in a vegetated Louisiana saltmarsh. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale.
USGS researchers Jennifer Agee and Le Kieu sampling surface sediment in a vegetated Louisiana saltmarsh. Photographer: M. Marvin-DiPasquale.
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Filter Total Items: 82
Long-term mercury loading and trapping dynamics in a Western North America reservoir
Study RegionThe Carson River including Lahontan Reservoir in Northwestern Nevada, USAStudy FocusThe discovery, mining, and processing of silver and gold from the Comstock Lode in northwestern Nevada heavily contaminated the Carson River system with mercury (Hg). The river now contains some of the highest recorded water column and bed sediment Hg concentrations reported in peer-reviewed literature.AuthorsEric D. Morway, Robert M. Hirsch, Angela Paul, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Carl E ThodalLinking meso-scale spatial variation in methylmercury production to bioaccumulation in tidal marsh food webs
Differences in sediment biogeochemistry among tidal marsh features with different hydrological and geomorphological characteristics, including marsh interiors, marsh edges, first-order channels, and third-order channels, can result in spatial variation in MeHg production and availability. To better understand the link between MeHg production in sediments and bioaccumulation in primary and secondarAuthorsLaurie Anne Hall, Isa Woo, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, John Y. Takekawa, David P. Krabbenhoft, Donald Yee, Letitia Grenier, Susan E. W. De La CruzSuccessful hindcast of 7 years of mud morphodynamics influenced by salt pond restoration in south San Francisco Bay
Alviso Slough in South San Francisco Bay has been experiencing restoration of adjacent former salt-production ponds into muted tidal ponds, tidal ponds, and salt marsh. As a result, tidal prism through Alviso Slough has increased and mercury-contaminated sediment has been remobilized. We developed a 2D, high-resolution, process-based model (Delft3D FM-wave) to hindcast observed morpho-dynamic deveAuthorsMick Van der Wegen, Johan Reyns, Bruce E. Jaffe, Amy C. Foxgrover, Fernanda Achete, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Theresa A. Fregoso, Judy Nam, Jessica LoveringSouth San Francisco Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project—A synthesis of Phase-1 mercury studies
The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project (SBSPRP) encompasses over 6,000 hectares of former salt production ponds along the south edge of the San Francisco Bay and represents the largest wetland restoration effort on the west coast of North America. A series of studies associated with Phase 1 (2010–2018) restoration activities that are focused on a historically mercury contaminated slough and sAuthorsMark Marvin-DiPasquale, Darell Slotton, Josh T. Ackerman, Maureen A. Downing-Kunz, Bruce E. Jaffe, Amy C. Foxgrover, Fernanda Achete, Mick van der WegenThe relative importance of mercury methylation and demethylation in rice paddy soil varies depending on the presence of rice plants
Neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) accumulates in rice grain from paddy soil, where its concentration is controlled by microbial mercury methylation and demethylation. Both up- and down-regulation of methylation is known to occur in the presence of rice plants in comparison to non-vegetated paddy soils; the influence of rice plant presence/absence on demethylation is unknown. To assess the concurrentAuthorsR. J. Strickman, S. M. Larson, H. Huang, Evangelos Kakouros, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, C. P. J. Mitchell, R. B. NeumannResolving a paradox—high mercury deposition, but low bioaccumulation in northeastern Puerto Rico
At a “clean air” trade winds site in northeastern Puerto Rico, we found an apparent paradox: atmospheric total mercury (THg) deposition was highest of any site in the USA Mercury Deposition Network, but assimilation into the local food web was quite low. Avian blood THg concentrations (n = 31, from eight species in five foraging guilds) ranged widely from 0.2 to 32 ng g−1 (median of 4.3 ng g−1). WAuthorsJames B. Shanley, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Oksana P. Lane, Wayne J. Arendt, Steven J. Hall, William H. McDowellDisentangling the effects of habitat biogeochemistry, food web structure, and diet composition on mercury bioaccumulation in a wetland bird
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a globally pervasive contaminant with known toxicity to humans and wildlife. Several sources of variation can lead to spatial differences in MeHg bioaccumulation within a species including: biogeochemical processes that influence MeHg production and availability within an organism’s home range; trophic positions of consumers and MeHg biomagnification efficiency in food websAuthorsLaurie Anne Hall, Isa Woo, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Danika C Tsao, David P. Krabbenhoft, John Y. Takekawa, Susan E. W. De La CruzWetland management strategy to reduce mercury export in water and bioaccumulation in fish
Wetland environments provide numerous ecosystem services but also facilitate methylmercury (MeHg) production and bioaccumulation. We developed a wetland‐management technique to reduce MeHg concentrations in wetland fish and water. We physically modified seasonal wetlands by constructing open‐ and deep‐water treatment cells at the downstream end of seasonal wetlands to promote naturally occurring MAuthorsJoshua T. Ackerman, Jacob Fleck, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Mark P. Herzog, Harry L. McQuillenBiogeochemical and physical processes controlling mercury methylation and bioaccumulation in Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah and Arizona, 2014 and 2015
Mercury monitoring results from about 300 Morone saxatilis (striped bass) muscle tissue samples collected by the State of Utah from Lake Powell resulted in a Utah/Arizona fish consumption advisory issued in 2012 for approximately the lower 100 kilometers of the reservoir. Chemical, physical, and biological data were collected during two synoptic sampling cruises on Lake Powell during May/June 2014AuthorsDavid L. Naftz, Mark Marvin-DiPasquale, David P. Krabbenhoft, George Aiken, Eric S. Boyd, Christopher H. Conaway, Jacob M. Ogorek, Gregory M. AndersonSlough evolution and legacy mercury remobilization induced by wetland restoration in South San Francisco Bay
Coastal wetlands have a long history of degradation and destruction due to human development. Now recognized as one of the most productive ecosystems in the world, substantial efforts are being made to restore this critical habitat. While wetland restoration efforts are generally viewed as beneficial in terms of providing wildlife habitat and flood control, they are often accompanied by dramatic pAuthorsAmy C. Foxgrover, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Bruce E. Jaffe, Theresa A. FregosoHuman-induced and natural carbon storage in floodplains of the Central Valley of California
Active floodplains can putatively store large amounts of organic carbon (SOC) in subsoils originating from catchment erosion processes with subsequent floodplain deposition. Our study focussed on the assessment of SOC pools associated with alluvial floodplain soils that are affected by human-induced changes in floodplain deposition and in situ SOC mineralisation due to land use change and drainageAuthorsKristin Steger, Peter Fiener, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Joshua H. Viers, David R. SmartGeochemical data for water, streambed sediment, and fish tissue from the Sierra Nevada Mercury Impairment Project, 2011–12
This report presents geochemical data for surface water, streambed sediment, and fish tissue samples collected during low-flow conditions in 20 to 24 Sierra Nevada streams during 2011 and 2012. The dataset is part of a larger study designed to assess the factors that control mercury concentrations in fish tissue and to develop a model that predicts mercury concentration in the tissue of selected fAuthorsElizabeth B. Stumpner, Charles N. Alpers, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Jennifer L. Agee, Evangelos Kakouros, Michelle R. Arias, Le H. Kieu, David A. Roth, Darrell G. Slotton, Jacob A. Fleck - Web Tools
Concentration data for 12 elements of concern in surface water of three hydrologic basins (Delaware River, Illinois River and Upper Colorado River) – A data visualization tool
This data visualization and exploration tool was designed as part of the USGS WMA Proxies Project. It provides surface water concentration data associated with 12 elements of concern (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se, U, Zn) in a geospatial framework spanning three hydrologic basins (Delaware River, Illinois River, and the Upper Colorado River).
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