This animation of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle illustrates the main steps of the cycle in air, water, and soils. The video explains and connects the many forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia, ammonium, hydroxylamine, nitrite, nitrate, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, and explains the role of nitrate in nitric oxide signaling in the human body.
Thea M Edwards, PhD
Dr. Thea Edwards is a Supervisory Research Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Meet Thea Edwards
Meet Thea Edwards
CERC Biochemistry & Physiology Branch
CERC Biochemistry & Physiology Branch
Her current research investigates the effects of environmental stressors on aquatic animals. She has particular expertise in endocrine disruption and nitrate-related ecotoxicology. Before joining USGS, Dr. Edwards represented the United States as a Fulbright Scholar in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
As a group, CERC’s Biochemistry and Physiology Branch conducts diverse biological studies to understand how environmental stressors and water quality affect the health of fishes, amphibians, and freshwater mussels. Current projects investigate hypoxia, contaminants, and nutrient deficiencies. The group is especially interested in how stressors change gene expression and physiology to induce disease, inflammation, infertility, or other negative health outcomes in aquatic wildlife.
Additionally, Branch environmental DNA (eDNA) projects provide powerful information for resource managers as they address invasive and endangered species challenges. With eDNA technology, our scientists can detect the presence of a species by taking a water sample. This makes detection, monitoring, and management of both endangered and invasive species less expensive and more effective.
To accomplish our mission, we collaborate broadly with other USGS scientists, academic partners, and private companies on mutually beneficial research and development needs. The work of our dedicated and experienced staff is supported by the world class aquaculture and laboratory facilities at CERC. We share and disseminate our findings through scientific publication and public outreach, and, working with USGS data release protocols, we are making all our data universally accessible to current and future stakeholders.
Science and Products
Agricultural Pesticides Could Be Impacting the Natural Beauty at Sequoia National Park Through Atmospheric Deposition
High up in the remote alpine and subalpine lakes of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI), the crystal-clear lakes appear to be greening with an overpopulation of periphyton. Periphyton is a mixture of various water microbes such as algae, cyanobacteria, and others. Scientists at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center and the University of Missouri are working with National Park...
Costs and Benefits of Nitrapyrin
In December 2020, our research group (as part of the Food Integrated Science Team) published a review of nitrapyrin costs and benefits in the journal Environmental Science & Technology .
Fishing and Hunting Integrated Science Team
The Fishing and Hunting integrated science team focuses on contaminant and pathogen exposures in the environment that could impact the presence and vitality of fish and wildlife populations that drive commercial, recreational and subsistence activities such as hunting and fishing. If actual risks are identified this project will inform how to economically and effectively minimize risk by providing...
The Animated Nitrogen Cycle
This animation of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle illustrates the main steps of the cycle in air, water, and soils. The video explains and connects the many forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia, ammonium, hydroxylamine, nitrite, nitrate, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, and explains the role of nitrate in nitric oxide signaling in the human body.
The Animated Nitrogen Cycle (AD)
This animation of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle illustrates the main steps of the cycle in air, water, and soils. The video explains and connects the many forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia, ammonium, hydroxylamine, nitrite, nitrate, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, and explains the role of nitrate in nitric oxide signaling in the human body.
This animation of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle illustrates the main steps of the cycle in air, water, and soils. The video explains and connects the many forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia, ammonium, hydroxylamine, nitrite, nitrate, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, and explains the role of nitrate in nitric oxide signaling in the human body.
Science and Products
Agricultural Pesticides Could Be Impacting the Natural Beauty at Sequoia National Park Through Atmospheric Deposition
High up in the remote alpine and subalpine lakes of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI), the crystal-clear lakes appear to be greening with an overpopulation of periphyton. Periphyton is a mixture of various water microbes such as algae, cyanobacteria, and others. Scientists at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center and the University of Missouri are working with National Park...
Costs and Benefits of Nitrapyrin
In December 2020, our research group (as part of the Food Integrated Science Team) published a review of nitrapyrin costs and benefits in the journal Environmental Science & Technology .
Fishing and Hunting Integrated Science Team
The Fishing and Hunting integrated science team focuses on contaminant and pathogen exposures in the environment that could impact the presence and vitality of fish and wildlife populations that drive commercial, recreational and subsistence activities such as hunting and fishing. If actual risks are identified this project will inform how to economically and effectively minimize risk by providing...
The Animated Nitrogen Cycle
This animation of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle illustrates the main steps of the cycle in air, water, and soils. The video explains and connects the many forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia, ammonium, hydroxylamine, nitrite, nitrate, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, and explains the role of nitrate in nitric oxide signaling in the human body.
This animation of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle illustrates the main steps of the cycle in air, water, and soils. The video explains and connects the many forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia, ammonium, hydroxylamine, nitrite, nitrate, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, and explains the role of nitrate in nitric oxide signaling in the human body.
The Animated Nitrogen Cycle (AD)
This animation of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle illustrates the main steps of the cycle in air, water, and soils. The video explains and connects the many forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia, ammonium, hydroxylamine, nitrite, nitrate, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, and explains the role of nitrate in nitric oxide signaling in the human body.
This animation of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle illustrates the main steps of the cycle in air, water, and soils. The video explains and connects the many forms of nitrogen, such as ammonia, ammonium, hydroxylamine, nitrite, nitrate, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide, and explains the role of nitrate in nitric oxide signaling in the human body.