Meredith B. Nevers is a Bureau Approving Official with the U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Science, Quality, and Integrity, stationed in Chesterton, Indiana.
Nevers received her Bachelor’s in Biology and English from Wittenberg University and her Master’s in Marine Biology from University of North Carolina – Wilmington, where she was inspired by the influence and diversity of algal communities. Nevers has been with USGS since 1997 in multiple appointments, recently including research aquatic ecologist. Nevers is an expert in beach water quality and human health, and she served as President of the Great Lakes Beach Association. Nevers interests include aquatic ecology of the Great Lakes including drivers of nuisance and harmful algal blooms, restoring, and improving urban waterways, detecting invasive species, and improving ecosystems assessments using advanced technology and genomics and continues to encourage science application for improving ecosystem function. In her role as Bureau Approving Official, Nevers now guides science integrity and communication throughout USGS to help maintain scientific excellence.
Science and Products
Water Quality Monitoring and Algal Community Composition Analysis in Support of Eutrophication Beneficial Use Impairment Evaluation in the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern, Northwest Indiana
In cooperation with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cladophora biomass and supporting data collected in the Great Lakes, 2020 (ver. 2, May 2023)
This dataset records Cladophora and associated submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) biomass collected during the growing season of 2020 at stations located along the U.S. shoreline of Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie. It also records a variety of supporting data collected at Cladophora measurement stations. These supporting data include: - measurements of Secchi disk depth and water chemistry; - wate
Cladophora biomass and supporting data collected in the Great Lakes, 2019
This dataset records Cladophora and associated submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) biomass collected approximately monthly during the growing season of 2019 at stations located along the U.S. shoreline of Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. It also records a variety of supporting data collected at Cladophora measurement stations. These supporting data include: - seasonal time series of light,
Environmental DNA detection and survival, influence of sediment, and stream transport in a Lake Michigan watershed, 2018
The data released are associated with an examination of eDNA from round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus) in a series of field sample collections (lake nearshore and stream transport) and in vitro laboratory experiments. The round goby was used as a model for our source of eDNA in the field collections and mesocosm experiments. The field samples for lake nearshore (water and sediment) were collec
Identify sources of high E. coli concentrations, beaches of southern Lake Michigan, 2015, (version 2.0, July 2020)
Data were collected as part of a study to identify sources of E. coli contamination at several beaches located in the Grand Calumet River Areas of Concern, located in northern Indiana on Lake Michigan. Water samples were collected at each site (Jeorse Park 1, Jeorse Park 2, Hammond East, Hammond West, Whihala East, and the Grand Calumet River) three times a week for thirteen weeks and analyzed for
Cladophora biomass and supporting data collected in the Great Lakes, 2018 (ver. 2.0, June 2023)
This dataset records Cladophora and associated submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) biomass collected approximately monthly during the growing season of 2018 at stations located along the U.S. shoreline of Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. It also records a variety of supporting data collected at Cladophora measurement stations. These supporting data include: - seasonal time series of light,
Microbial communities and bacterial indicators for shoreline sand, sediment, and water in Racine, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; and East Chicago, Indiana; 2016-2017
The data associated with the following data release were collected between 2016 and 2017 at three locations on Lake Michigan: Racine, WI; Chicago, IL; and East Chicago, IN. Individual water samples were collected one day a week for ten weeks between June and August. Samples were collected from eight specific sites made up of two river and six shoreline type environments. Sampling was completed at
16S rRNA gene sequencing and E. coli for shorelines and the Grand Calumet River, Indiana, 2015
Data were collected in August and September 2015 for analysis of bacteria communities of the Grand Calumet River and associated shorelines. Water samples were collected on three occasions corresponding to one rain-related (wet) events and two non-rain (dry) events. Water samples were collected in the Grand Calumet River, at the mouth of the river, at offshore locations around the peninsular impoun
16S rRNA gene sequencing and E. coli for shorelines and the Grand Calumet River, Indiana, 2015
Data were collected in August and September 2015 for analysis of bacteria communities of the Grand Calumet River and associated shorelines. Water samples were collected on three occasions corresponding to one rain-related (wet) events and two non-rain (dry) events. Water samples were collected in the Grand Calumet River, at the mouth of the river, at offshore locations around the peninsular impoun
Identify sources of high E. coli concentrations, Grand Calumet River Area of Concern beaches of southern Lake Michigan, 2016-2018
Data were collected as part of a study to identify sources of E. coli contamination at several beaches located in the Grand Calumet River Areas of Concern, located in northern Indiana on Lake Michigan. The study was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Water samples were collected at each site (Jeorse Park 1, Jeorse Park 2, Hammond East, Hammond West, Whihala West, Whihala East, Whiha
Round goby eDNA survey, evaluation, and laboratory data in Lakes Michigan and Huron 2016-2017
Data included are from a series of field sample collections from Lakes Michigan and Huron, and laboratory mesocosms targeting the round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus). The round goby is a benthic fish that has heavily invaded four of the five Laurentian Great Lakes. Because it inhabits a variety of substrates, including coastal breakwaters, traditional methods (e.g., trawling, trapping) are in
Filter Total Items: 61
Round goby detection in Lakes Huron and Michigan— An evaluation of eDNA and fish catches
Aquatic surveys for fish in large water bodies (e.g., Laurentian Great Lakes of North America) often require a flexible approach using multiple methods, surveying different depths, and sampling across seasons, especially when the target species is elusive in its natural habitat. The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is an invasive, bottom-dwelling fish inhabiting rocky areas of all five Great La
Authors
Katarzyna Przybyla-Kelly, Ashley M. Spoljaric, Meredith B. Nevers
Microbial source tracking and evaluation of best management practices for restoring degraded beaches of Lake Michigan
Attempts to mitigate shoreline microbial contamination require a thorough understanding of pollutant sources, which often requires multiple years of data collection (e.g., point/nonpoint) and the interacting factors that influence water quality. Because restoration efforts can alter shoreline or beach morphology, revisiting source inputs is often necessary. Microbial source tracking (MST) using so
Authors
Meredith B. Nevers, Paul M. Buszka, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Travis Cole, Steven R. Corsi, P. Ryan Jackson, Julie L. Kinzelman, Cindy H Nakatsu, Mantha S. Phanikumar
Influence of filter pore size on composition and relative abundance of bacterial communities and select host-specific MST markers in coastal waters of southern Lake Michigan
Water clarity is often the primary guiding factor in determining whether a prefiltration step is needed to increase volumes processed for a range of microbial endpoints. In this study, we evaluate the effect of filter pore size on the bacterial communities detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and incidence of two host-specific microbial source tracking (MST) markers in a range of coastal waters fr
Authors
Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Meredith B. Nevers, Dawn Shively, Cindy H Nakatsu, Julie L. Kinzelman, Mantha S. Phanikumar
Sequestration of microfibers and other microplastics by green algae, Cladophora, in the US Great Lakes
Daunting amounts of microplastics are present in surface waters worldwide. A main category of microplastics is synthetic microfibers, which originate from textiles. These microplastics are generated and released in laundering and are discharged by wastewater treatment plants or enter surface waters from other sources. The polymers that constitute many common synthetic microfibers are mostly denser
Authors
Julie R. Peller, Meredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Cassie Nelson, Bharath Ganesh Babu, Mary Anne Evans, Eddie Kostelnik, Morgan Keller, Jenna Johnston, Sarah Shidler
Influence of sediment and stream transport on detecting a source of environmental DNA
Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used for early detection, population estimations, and assessment of potential spread of invasive species, but questions remain about factors that influence eDNA detection results. Efforts are being made to understand how physical, chemical, and biological factors—settling, resuspension, dispersion, eDNA stability/decay—influence eDNA estimations and potentially popu
Authors
Meredith B. Nevers, Katarzyna Przybyla-Kelly, Dawn A. Shively, Charles C. Morris, Joshua Dickey, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli
Evaluating the impacts of foreshore sand and birds on microbiological contamination at a freshwater beach
Beaches along the Great Lakes shorelines are important recreational and economic resources. However, contamination at the beaches can threaten their usage during the swimming season, potentially resulting in beach closures and/or advisories. Thus, understanding the dynamics that control nearshore water quality is integral to effective beach management. There have been significant improvements in t
Authors
Ammar Saffaie, Chelsea J. Weiskerger, Meredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Mantha S. Phanikumar
Utilization of multiple microbial tools to evaluate efficacy of restoration strategies to improve recreational water quality at a Lake Michigan Beach (Racine, WI)
Hydro-meteorological conditions facilitate transport of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) to the nearshore environment, affecting recreational water quality. North Beach (Racine, Wisconsin, United States), is an exemplar public beach site along Lake Michigan, where precipitation-mediated surface runoff, wave encroachment, stormwater and tributary outflow were demonstrated to contribute to beach advis
Authors
Julie Kinzelman, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Meredith B. Nevers, Dawn Shively, Stephan Kurdas, Cindy H Nakatsu
Interaction of bacterial communities and indicators of water quality in shoreline sand, sediment, and water of Lake Michigan
Shoreline sand harbors high concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) that may be resuspended into the water column through washing and resuspension. Studies have explored coastal processes that influence this sand-water flux for FIB, but little is known about how microbial markers of contamination or the bacterial community interact in the sand-water interface. In this study, we take a thr
Authors
Meredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Cindy H. Nakatsu, Julie L. Kinzelman, Mantha S. Phanikumar, Dawn Shively, Ashley Spoljaric
Quantifying microplastics in Indiana’s Lake Michigan watershed and submerged aquatic vegetation
Environmental breakdown of plastics produces synthetic microfibers, a class of microplastics that are most prevalent in surface waters. A main source of these pollutants is wastewater treatment plants which discharge into surface waters, including those that flow into Lake Michigan. Microplastics can settle into aquatic sediment or exist for lengths of time in the swash zone of the lakes; they can
Authors
Julie R. Peller, Meredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Mary Anne Evans
Real-time nowcasting of microbiological water quality at recreational beaches: A wavelet and artificial neural network-based hybrid modeling approach
The number of beach closings caused by bacterial contamination has continued to rise in recent years, putting beachgoers at risk of exposure to contaminated water. Current approaches predict levels of indicator bacteria using regression models containing a number of explanatory variables. Data-based modeling approaches can supplement routine monitoring data and provide highly accurate short-term f
Authors
Juan Zhang, Han Qiu, Xiaoyu Li, Jie Niu, Meredith B. Nevers, Xiaonong Hu, Mantha S. Phanikumar
Real-time water quality monitoring at a Great Lakes National Park
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used by the USEPA to establish new recreational water quality criteria in 2012 using the indicator bacteria enterococci. The application of this method has been limited, but resource managers are interested in more timely monitoring results. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of qPCR as a rapid, alternative method to the time-consuming membra
Authors
Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Meredith B. Nevers, Dawn Shively, Ashley Spoljaric, Christopher Otto
Identifying and eliminating sources of recreational water quality degradation along an urban coast
Restoration of highly degraded urban coastal waters often requires large-scale, complex projects, but in the interim, smaller-scale efforts can provide immediate improvements to water quality conditions for visitor use. We examined short-term efforts to improve recreational water quality near the Grand Calumet River (GC) in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Identified as an Area of Concern (AOC) by the
Authors
Meredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Dawn Shively, Paul M. Buszka, P. Ryan Jackson, Mantha S. Phanikumar
Science and Products
- Science
Water Quality Monitoring and Algal Community Composition Analysis in Support of Eutrophication Beneficial Use Impairment Evaluation in the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern, Northwest Indiana
In cooperation with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Data
Cladophora biomass and supporting data collected in the Great Lakes, 2020 (ver. 2, May 2023)
This dataset records Cladophora and associated submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) biomass collected during the growing season of 2020 at stations located along the U.S. shoreline of Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie. It also records a variety of supporting data collected at Cladophora measurement stations. These supporting data include: - measurements of Secchi disk depth and water chemistry; - wateCladophora biomass and supporting data collected in the Great Lakes, 2019
This dataset records Cladophora and associated submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) biomass collected approximately monthly during the growing season of 2019 at stations located along the U.S. shoreline of Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. It also records a variety of supporting data collected at Cladophora measurement stations. These supporting data include: - seasonal time series of light,Environmental DNA detection and survival, influence of sediment, and stream transport in a Lake Michigan watershed, 2018
The data released are associated with an examination of eDNA from round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus) in a series of field sample collections (lake nearshore and stream transport) and in vitro laboratory experiments. The round goby was used as a model for our source of eDNA in the field collections and mesocosm experiments. The field samples for lake nearshore (water and sediment) were collecIdentify sources of high E. coli concentrations, beaches of southern Lake Michigan, 2015, (version 2.0, July 2020)
Data were collected as part of a study to identify sources of E. coli contamination at several beaches located in the Grand Calumet River Areas of Concern, located in northern Indiana on Lake Michigan. Water samples were collected at each site (Jeorse Park 1, Jeorse Park 2, Hammond East, Hammond West, Whihala East, and the Grand Calumet River) three times a week for thirteen weeks and analyzed forCladophora biomass and supporting data collected in the Great Lakes, 2018 (ver. 2.0, June 2023)
This dataset records Cladophora and associated submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) biomass collected approximately monthly during the growing season of 2018 at stations located along the U.S. shoreline of Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. It also records a variety of supporting data collected at Cladophora measurement stations. These supporting data include: - seasonal time series of light,Microbial communities and bacterial indicators for shoreline sand, sediment, and water in Racine, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; and East Chicago, Indiana; 2016-2017
The data associated with the following data release were collected between 2016 and 2017 at three locations on Lake Michigan: Racine, WI; Chicago, IL; and East Chicago, IN. Individual water samples were collected one day a week for ten weeks between June and August. Samples were collected from eight specific sites made up of two river and six shoreline type environments. Sampling was completed at16S rRNA gene sequencing and E. coli for shorelines and the Grand Calumet River, Indiana, 2015
Data were collected in August and September 2015 for analysis of bacteria communities of the Grand Calumet River and associated shorelines. Water samples were collected on three occasions corresponding to one rain-related (wet) events and two non-rain (dry) events. Water samples were collected in the Grand Calumet River, at the mouth of the river, at offshore locations around the peninsular impoun16S rRNA gene sequencing and E. coli for shorelines and the Grand Calumet River, Indiana, 2015
Data were collected in August and September 2015 for analysis of bacteria communities of the Grand Calumet River and associated shorelines. Water samples were collected on three occasions corresponding to one rain-related (wet) events and two non-rain (dry) events. Water samples were collected in the Grand Calumet River, at the mouth of the river, at offshore locations around the peninsular impounIdentify sources of high E. coli concentrations, Grand Calumet River Area of Concern beaches of southern Lake Michigan, 2016-2018
Data were collected as part of a study to identify sources of E. coli contamination at several beaches located in the Grand Calumet River Areas of Concern, located in northern Indiana on Lake Michigan. The study was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Water samples were collected at each site (Jeorse Park 1, Jeorse Park 2, Hammond East, Hammond West, Whihala West, Whihala East, WhihaRound goby eDNA survey, evaluation, and laboratory data in Lakes Michigan and Huron 2016-2017
Data included are from a series of field sample collections from Lakes Michigan and Huron, and laboratory mesocosms targeting the round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus). The round goby is a benthic fish that has heavily invaded four of the five Laurentian Great Lakes. Because it inhabits a variety of substrates, including coastal breakwaters, traditional methods (e.g., trawling, trapping) are in - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 61
Round goby detection in Lakes Huron and Michigan— An evaluation of eDNA and fish catches
Aquatic surveys for fish in large water bodies (e.g., Laurentian Great Lakes of North America) often require a flexible approach using multiple methods, surveying different depths, and sampling across seasons, especially when the target species is elusive in its natural habitat. The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is an invasive, bottom-dwelling fish inhabiting rocky areas of all five Great LaAuthorsKatarzyna Przybyla-Kelly, Ashley M. Spoljaric, Meredith B. NeversMicrobial source tracking and evaluation of best management practices for restoring degraded beaches of Lake Michigan
Attempts to mitigate shoreline microbial contamination require a thorough understanding of pollutant sources, which often requires multiple years of data collection (e.g., point/nonpoint) and the interacting factors that influence water quality. Because restoration efforts can alter shoreline or beach morphology, revisiting source inputs is often necessary. Microbial source tracking (MST) using soAuthorsMeredith B. Nevers, Paul M. Buszka, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Travis Cole, Steven R. Corsi, P. Ryan Jackson, Julie L. Kinzelman, Cindy H Nakatsu, Mantha S. PhanikumarInfluence of filter pore size on composition and relative abundance of bacterial communities and select host-specific MST markers in coastal waters of southern Lake Michigan
Water clarity is often the primary guiding factor in determining whether a prefiltration step is needed to increase volumes processed for a range of microbial endpoints. In this study, we evaluate the effect of filter pore size on the bacterial communities detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and incidence of two host-specific microbial source tracking (MST) markers in a range of coastal waters frAuthorsMuruleedhara Byappanahalli, Meredith B. Nevers, Dawn Shively, Cindy H Nakatsu, Julie L. Kinzelman, Mantha S. PhanikumarSequestration of microfibers and other microplastics by green algae, Cladophora, in the US Great Lakes
Daunting amounts of microplastics are present in surface waters worldwide. A main category of microplastics is synthetic microfibers, which originate from textiles. These microplastics are generated and released in laundering and are discharged by wastewater treatment plants or enter surface waters from other sources. The polymers that constitute many common synthetic microfibers are mostly denserAuthorsJulie R. Peller, Meredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Cassie Nelson, Bharath Ganesh Babu, Mary Anne Evans, Eddie Kostelnik, Morgan Keller, Jenna Johnston, Sarah ShidlerInfluence of sediment and stream transport on detecting a source of environmental DNA
Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used for early detection, population estimations, and assessment of potential spread of invasive species, but questions remain about factors that influence eDNA detection results. Efforts are being made to understand how physical, chemical, and biological factors—settling, resuspension, dispersion, eDNA stability/decay—influence eDNA estimations and potentially popuAuthorsMeredith B. Nevers, Katarzyna Przybyla-Kelly, Dawn A. Shively, Charles C. Morris, Joshua Dickey, Muruleedhara ByappanahalliEvaluating the impacts of foreshore sand and birds on microbiological contamination at a freshwater beach
Beaches along the Great Lakes shorelines are important recreational and economic resources. However, contamination at the beaches can threaten their usage during the swimming season, potentially resulting in beach closures and/or advisories. Thus, understanding the dynamics that control nearshore water quality is integral to effective beach management. There have been significant improvements in tAuthorsAmmar Saffaie, Chelsea J. Weiskerger, Meredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Mantha S. PhanikumarUtilization of multiple microbial tools to evaluate efficacy of restoration strategies to improve recreational water quality at a Lake Michigan Beach (Racine, WI)
Hydro-meteorological conditions facilitate transport of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) to the nearshore environment, affecting recreational water quality. North Beach (Racine, Wisconsin, United States), is an exemplar public beach site along Lake Michigan, where precipitation-mediated surface runoff, wave encroachment, stormwater and tributary outflow were demonstrated to contribute to beach advisAuthorsJulie Kinzelman, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Meredith B. Nevers, Dawn Shively, Stephan Kurdas, Cindy H NakatsuInteraction of bacterial communities and indicators of water quality in shoreline sand, sediment, and water of Lake Michigan
Shoreline sand harbors high concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) that may be resuspended into the water column through washing and resuspension. Studies have explored coastal processes that influence this sand-water flux for FIB, but little is known about how microbial markers of contamination or the bacterial community interact in the sand-water interface. In this study, we take a thrAuthorsMeredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Cindy H. Nakatsu, Julie L. Kinzelman, Mantha S. Phanikumar, Dawn Shively, Ashley SpoljaricQuantifying microplastics in Indiana’s Lake Michigan watershed and submerged aquatic vegetation
Environmental breakdown of plastics produces synthetic microfibers, a class of microplastics that are most prevalent in surface waters. A main source of these pollutants is wastewater treatment plants which discharge into surface waters, including those that flow into Lake Michigan. Microplastics can settle into aquatic sediment or exist for lengths of time in the swash zone of the lakes; they canAuthorsJulie R. Peller, Meredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Mary Anne EvansReal-time nowcasting of microbiological water quality at recreational beaches: A wavelet and artificial neural network-based hybrid modeling approach
The number of beach closings caused by bacterial contamination has continued to rise in recent years, putting beachgoers at risk of exposure to contaminated water. Current approaches predict levels of indicator bacteria using regression models containing a number of explanatory variables. Data-based modeling approaches can supplement routine monitoring data and provide highly accurate short-term fAuthorsJuan Zhang, Han Qiu, Xiaoyu Li, Jie Niu, Meredith B. Nevers, Xiaonong Hu, Mantha S. PhanikumarReal-time water quality monitoring at a Great Lakes National Park
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used by the USEPA to establish new recreational water quality criteria in 2012 using the indicator bacteria enterococci. The application of this method has been limited, but resource managers are interested in more timely monitoring results. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of qPCR as a rapid, alternative method to the time-consuming membraAuthorsMuruleedhara Byappanahalli, Meredith B. Nevers, Dawn Shively, Ashley Spoljaric, Christopher OttoIdentifying and eliminating sources of recreational water quality degradation along an urban coast
Restoration of highly degraded urban coastal waters often requires large-scale, complex projects, but in the interim, smaller-scale efforts can provide immediate improvements to water quality conditions for visitor use. We examined short-term efforts to improve recreational water quality near the Grand Calumet River (GC) in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Identified as an Area of Concern (AOC) by theAuthorsMeredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara Byappanahalli, Dawn Shively, Paul M. Buszka, P. Ryan Jackson, Mantha S. Phanikumar - News