Thomas D Byl, Ph.D.
Thomas D Byl is a Biologist in the Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Duty Station: Nashville Tennessee since 1993
He is also affiliated with Tennessee State University through the cooperative agreement program. Tom has advised more than 200 research students at TSU in engineering, biology, chemistry and agriculture sciences. His students’ projects include developing tracer models for non-ideal flow, bioremediation of contaminated groundwater, GIS, karst and wetland hydrology, environmental microbiology, and biogeochemistry.
Professional Experience
Tom’s research focuses on fate of chemicals in surface and groundwater. Tom enjoys working in karst environments. Tom has worked on a wide variety of water resource issues, such water quantity and quality, bio-geochemistry, hydrological and biological processes.
Education and Certifications
Biological Science Ph.D. is from the University of Memphis
Masters in Plant Biochemistry is from LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelors in Biology is from Hope College.
Affiliations and Memberships*
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
American Water Resources Association (AWRA)
National Speleological Society (NSS)
Science and Products
Clarifying Science Needs for Determining the Impact of Climate Change on Harmful Algal Blooms in Southeastern United States
The southeast United States has many lakes, streams and reservoirs that serve as important drinking water sources, recreational, agricultural, and ecological uses. Unfortunately, harmful algal blooms are becoming more common in these waters, causing health issues for humans and animals. While it is clear that nutrients stimulate algae growth, it isn’t clear if there are other parameters that stimu
Biogeochemical data from microcosm experiments to evaluate treatment of acid-rock drainage in selected counties in Tennessee
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, conducted an investigation of acid-rock drainage from road cuts in Tennessee during 2014-2015. The Devonian Chattanooga Shale contains disseminated pyrite and is a primary producer of acid-rock drainage (ARD) in Tennessee. One objective of the overall investigation was to attenuate ARD by manipulating the i
Average well color development data for water samples from six locations within the historic section of Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Water samples were collected from six cave locations where Actinobacterial mats appeared to be plentiful. Community-level physiological capabilities were evaluated using Biolog-Ecolog plates inoculated with cave water dosed with 0 or 0.10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of erythromycin. The data were transformed into average well color development (AWCD). The transformation is done by subtracting the
Attenuation of acid rock drainage by stimulating sulfur-reducing bacteria
Iron-sulfide minerals found in shale formations are stable under anaerobic conditions. However, in the presence of oxygen and water, acid-loving chemolithotrophic bacteria can transform the iron-sulfide minerals into a toxic solution of sulfuric acid and dissolved iron and minerals known as acid rock drainage (ARD). The objective of this study was to disrupt chemolithotrophic bacteria responsible
Authors
Thomas D. Byl, Ronald Oniszczak, Diarra Fall, Petra Kim Byl, Michael Bradley
Stimulation of aquatic bacteria from Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, by sublethal concentrations of antibiotics
Many microorganisms secrete secondary metabolites with antibiotic properties; however, there is debate whether the secretions evolved as a means to gain a competitive edge or as a chemical signal to coordinate community growth. The objective of this research was to investigate if select antibiotics acted as a weapon or as a chemical signal by exposing communities of aquatic cave bacteria to increa
Authors
Thomas D. Byl, Petra Kim Byl, Jacob P. Byl, Rickard Toomey
Microbiology and oxidation-reduction geochemistry of the water-table and Memphis aquifers in the Allen well field, Shelby County, Tennessee
The shallow and Memphis aquifers in Shelby County, Tennessee, are valuable natural resources that are used for domestic, public-supply, and agricultural water use. The Memphis aquifer is the primary source for public supply in West Tennessee and provides 170 to 175 million gallons of water per day for more than 900,000 people (Robinson, 2018). The shallow aquifer includes the unconfined water tabl
Authors
Thomas D. Byl, Mike Bradley
Undergraduate research projects help promote diversity in the geosciences
A workforce that draws from all segments of society and mirrors the ethnic, racial, and gender
diversity of the United States population is important. The geosciences (geology, hydrology,
geospatial sciences, environmental sciences) continue to lag far behind other science, technology,
engineering and mathematical (STEM) disciplines in recruiting and retaining minorities (Valsco
and Valsco, 20
Authors
De'Etra Young, Shannon Trimboli, Rick S. Toomey, Thomas D. Byl
Adaptations of indigenous bacteria to fuel contamination in karst aquifers in south-central Kentucky
The karst aquifer systems in southern Kentucky can be dynamic and quick to change. Microorganisms that live in these unpredictable aquifers are constantly faced with environmental changes. Their survival depends upon adaptations to changes in water chemistry, taking advantage of positive stimuli and avoiding negative environmental conditions. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study in 2001 to
Authors
Thomas D. Byl, David W. Metge, Daniel T. Agymang, Mike Bradley, Gregg Hileman, Ronald W. Harvey
U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Carlsbad, New Mexico, April 29-May 2, 2014
Karst aquifer systems are present throughout parts of the United States and some of its territories, and have developed in carbonate rocks (primarily limestone and dolomite) that span an interval of time encompassing more than 550 million years. The depositional environments, diagenetic processes, post-depositional tectonic events, and geochemical weathering processes that form karst aquifers are
Authors
Eve L. Kuniansky, Lawrence E. Spangler
U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Fayetteville, Arkansas, April 26-29, 2011
Karst aquifer systems are present throughout parts of the United States and some of its territories and are developed in carbonate rocks (primarily limestone and dolomite) that span the entire geologic time frame. The depositional environments, diagenetic processes, and post-depositional tectonic events that form carbonate rock aquifers are varied and complex, involving both biological and physica
Partnership of Environmental Education and Research-A compilation of student research, 1999-2008
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Tennessee Water Science Center and the College of Engineering and Technology at Tennessee State University developed a Partnership in Environmental Education and Research (PEER) to support environmental research at TSU and to expand the environmental research capabilities of the USGS in Tennessee. The PEER program is driven by the research needs to better define t
U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Bowling Green, Kentucky, May 27-29, 2008
*INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS*
Karst aquifer systems are present throughout parts of the United States and some of its territories. The complex depositional environments that form carbonate rocks combined with post-depositional tectonic events and the diverse climatic regimes under which these rocks were formed result in unique hydrologic systems. The dissolution of calcium carbonate and th
Authors
Eve L. Kuniansky
Non-USGS Publications**
Brown, J.T.; Olson, R.; Solomon, D.; Sharpe, L., Jr; Toomey, R., III; Byl, T.D. (2015) Quantitative Tracer Studies at Mammoth Cave National Park with Implications for Contaminant Transport. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. P5
Byl, T.D.; Byl, P.K.; Trimboli, S.; Toomey, R., III. (2015) Sublethal Concentrations of Particular Antibiotics Stimulate Bacteria from Mammoth Cave Streams. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. 3C1 – 3C2
Barzanji, R.; Sharpe, L. Jr; Byl, T.D. (2015) Karst Aquifer Properties and Water Levels at the TSU Research Farm, Nashville, Tennessee. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. P4
Bradley, M.; Byl, T.D.; Worland, S. (2015) Conceptual Models of the Formation of Acid-Rock Drainage at Road Cuts in Tennessee. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. 2C8 - 2C9
Oniszcak, R.; Fall, D.; Hart, A.; Sharpe, L., Jr; Byl, T.D. (2015) Attenuating Acid-Rock Drainage by Stimulating Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. P19.
Solomon, D.A. Byl, T.D., (2015) Modeling Karst Hydrology. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. 2B-2.
C. Beals and T.D. Byl (2014) Chemiluminescent examination of abiotic oxidative stress of watercress. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 33:798–803. Article published online: 18 FEB 2014 | DOI: 10.1002/etc.2484
T. D. Byl, P. K. Byl, S. Trimboli, R. Toomey, III. (2014) Response of Cave-Stream Bacteria to Sub-Lethal Concentrations of Antibiotics. Pages 127-128. In Kuniansky, E.L., and Spangler, L.E., 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Carlsbad, New Mexico, April 29–May 2, 2014: USGS SIR 2014-5035, 155 p.
Irucka Embry, Victor Roland, Oluropo Agbaje, Valetta Watson, Marquan Martin, Roger Painter, Tom Byl, Lonnie Sharpe. (2013) Derivation of a Multiparameter Gamma Model for Analyzing the Residence-Time Distribution Function for Nonideal Flow Systems as an Alternative to the Advection-Dispersion Equation.
T.D. Byl, R.Toomey, S.Trimboli, L.Sharpe, Jr., R. Painter. (2013) Partners in Water Quality Monitoring at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky pg 178-183
P. Byl, S. Trimboli, R. Toomey, J. Byl, D. Solomon, T. Byl (2013) Antibiotic resistance and substrate utilization by bacteria affiliated with cave streams at different levels of Mammoth Cave. Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 33-39.
R.Painter, I. Embry, V. Roland, R.Toomey, L.Sharpe, T.D. Byl (2013) An Alternative to the Advection Dispersion Model for Interpreting Dye Tracing Studies in Fractured-Rock and Karst Aquifers. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 99-102
A. West, D. Solomon, S. McMillan, H.-W. Ho, V. Roland, I. Embry, R. Toomey, R. Painter, L. Sharpe, D. Hui, T.D. Byl (2013) Three Examples of Chemical Transport in Storm Runoff at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 184-187.
S. McMillan, A. West, D. Solomon, R. Diehl, V. Roland, I. Embry, R. Toomey, III, T.D. Byl. (2013) Evaluation of Stormwater Filters at Mammoth Cave National Park,
Kentucky, 2011-12. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 188-192.
Kentucky, 2011-12. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 188-192.
S. McMillan, A. West, D. Solomon, R. Diehl, V. Roland, I. Embry, R. Toomey, III, T.D. Byl. (2013) Evaluation of Stormwater Filters at Mammoth Cave National Park,
Kentucky, 2011-12. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 188-192.
Kentucky, 2011-12. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 188-192.
H.W. Ho, R.Toomey, T. Byl.(2013) Use of Sorption Isotherms to Improve the Efficacy of the Storm-water Filters. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 193-196.
V.Roland, K. Dzantor and T.Byl. (2012) Synthesis of Nano-Zero Valent Iron in Sand Matrix and Impact on Microbial Community. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P: 43-49.
B.D. Cobb, M.W. Bradley, T. D. Byl, and R.Thomas (2012) Design & Evaluation of a Bioreactor to Reduce Contaminant Load at Hardeman County Landfill, Tennessee. Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages 1B-1.
Tom Byl, Michael Bradley, Randy Thomas, and Brandon Cobb. 2012. Hydrologic and Geologic Controls on Carbon Tetrachloride Transport and Biodegradation at the Valsicol Dump, Hardeman County, Tennessee. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages 1C-3
Irucka Embry, Victor Roland, Roger Painter, Rick Toomey, and Lonnie Sharpe. 2012. Quantitative Dye Tracing—Development of a New Interpretative Method. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages 1C:6-16.
Aras Barzanji, Mike Bradley, and Tom Byl. Hydraulic Connections Between the Cumberland River and Groundwater in Nearby Wells in Nashville, Tennessee – Implications for the Effects of Surface Water on Water-Supply Wells. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P-23
Jennifer M. Cartwright, William J. Wolfe, Dafeng Hui, Thomas D. Byl, and E. Kudjo Dzantor. Hydrology and Soil Biology of Cedar Glade Ecosystems, 2012. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P-24
Roger Diehl, Rick Toomey, Victor Roland, Irucka Embry, Ashley West and Tom Byl. 2012. Effectiveness of Stormwater Filters at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P: 29-36.
Victor Roland, Kudjo Dzantor and Tom Byl. Synthesis of Nano-Zero Valent Iron in Sand Matrix and Impact on Microbial Community. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P: 43-49.
Ashley West, Rick Toomey, Tyesha Martin, Sean McMillian, David Solomon, and Tom Byl. 2012. Fate of Chemicals Carried from the Surface into a Cave. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P: 52-53.
Painter R, Byl T, Sharpe L, Watson V, Patterson T (2012) A Residence Time Distribution Approach to Biodegradation in Fuel Impacted Karst Aquifers. J Civil Environ Eng 2:121. doi: 10.4172/2165-784X.1000121
Tyesha Martin, Tom Byl. 2012. Microbial Resistance to Quarternary Ammonia Compounds. in Proceedings of Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NSF), 9th Annual Research Conference Awards, MTSU, Murfeesboro, TN. Feb. 3-4, 2012.
R. Painter, T.D. Byl, L. Sharpe, A. Kheder, J.Harris, (2011) The Role of Attached and Free-Living Bacteria in Biodegradation in Karst Aquifers, Water, 3: 1139-1148
Aras Barzanji, A. Morris, M. Bradley, and T. Byl. 2011. Hydraulic Gradients and Groundwater Flow At Tennessee State University, Nashville Tennessee. in Proceedings of Tennessee Water Resource Symposium
V. Roland, T.D. Byl. 2011. Effect of the 2010 Flood Event on Surface and Ground-Water Quality and a Wetland Ecosystem in Nashville, TN. In Proceedings from the 21st Tennessee
Water Resources Symposium,
Water Resources Symposium,
V. Roland, T.D. Byl. 2011. Effect of the 2010 Flood Event on Surface and Ground-Water Quality and a Wetland Ecosystem in Nashville, TN. In Proceedings from the 21st Tennessee
Water Resources Symposium,
Water Resources Symposium,
V. Roland, T.D. Byl. 2011. Effect of the 2010 Flood Event on Surface and Ground-Water Quality and a Wetland Ecosystem in Nashville, TN. In Proceedings from the 21st Tennessee
Water Resources Symposium,
Water Resources Symposium,
Aras Barzanji, Mike Bradley, and Tom Byl (2010) Characterizing Hydraulic Gradients And Groundwater Flow Near The Cumberland River, Nashville Tennessee. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. P-6 .
Ashley West, Carlton Cobb, Brandon Cobb, Marquan Martin, Jaala Brooks, Rickard Toomey and Tom Byl. (2010) Protecting The Unique Ecosystem From Contaminated Storm Runoff At Mammoth Cave, KY. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010, Pages P-17.
Baibai Kamara, Loreal Spear, Christin Staples, Lonnie Sharpe, and Tom Byl (2010) Increased Risk Of Groundwater Contamination With Et-85 Fuels. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010 Pgs P-12.
Michael W. Bradley and Thomas D. Byl (2010) Hydrologic and Geologic Controls on Contaminant Transport at the Hardeman County Landfill. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. Pages 2C-25.
Thomas D. Byl and Michael W. Bradley (2010) Reconnaissance Evaluation Of The Hardeman County Landfill For Natural Attenuation. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. pages 2C-26.
Carlton Cobb, Lonnie Sharpe, Patrice Armstrong, Dafeng Hui, and Tom Byl (2010) Interpreting A Spring’s Chemographs To Estimate Groundwater Recharge In An Urban, Karst Terrain. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, Apr 13-15, 2010. P-9
Jaala Brooks, Carlton Cobb, Brandon Cobb, Marquan Martin, Patrice Armstrong, Mike Bradley and Tom Byl. (2010) Indications of Oil Biodegradation at a Crude Oil Spill on Clear Creek, Obed Wild And Scenic River National Park. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. Pages P-8.
Jameka Johnson, Carlton Cobb, Lonnie Sharpe, and Tom Byl. (2010) Comparing the Tanks-In-Series and Continuous-Stirred Flow Reactor Models to Predict Contaminant Removal in a Wetland. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. P-11.
Marquan Martin, Roger Painter, and Tom Byl. (2010) Improving the Residence-Time Distribution Model to Accurately Describe Contaminant Flow in Non-Ideal Flow Systems. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. Pages P-13.
Patrice Armstrong, C. Cobb, B. Cobb, M. Martin and J. Stewart-Wright. (2009) The Link between Groundwater Geochemistry and Bacteria in Two Karst Springs. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. Pages 2C-8.
Marquan Martin, R. Painter and T.D. Byl (2009) Use of Independent Gamma Distribution to Describe Tracer Break-Through Curves, In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. P-13.
Brandon Cobb, Carlton Cobb, Patrice Armstrong, Marquan Martin, L. Sharpe, J. Stewart-Wright, and TD Byl (2009) Wetlands Improve Water-Quality at Tennessee State University. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. P-6.
Loreal Spear, Christin Staples, Lonnie Sharpe, Tom Byl (2009) Solubility and Biodegradation of ET-85 in Groundwater. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. P-13.
Carlton Cobb, J. Stewart-Wright and Tom Byl (2009) Using Chemographs to Characterize a Karst Spring in Nashville, TN. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Tennessee, 2009. P-7.
Chris Beals, & Tom Byl (2009) Watercress as Sentinels of Water Quality. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. Page 2C-20.
Tom Byl and Roger Painter (2009) Microbial Adaptations to Karst Aquifers with Contaminants. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, 2009. 2C-9.
Chris Beals, Farida Forouzon, and Tom Byl. 2008. Development of an Aquatic Plant Chemiluminescent Bioassay to Assess Water Quality. In TN Proceedings of Tenn. AWRA, Burns, TN. April, 2008.
Jameka Johnson, Carlton Cobb, Roger Painter, Lonnie Sharpe and Tom Byl. 2008.
Use of Tanks-In-Series Numerical Model to Predict Nitrate Removal in Wetlands. In TN Proceedings of Tenn. AWRA, Burns, TN. April, 2008.
Use of Tanks-In-Series Numerical Model to Predict Nitrate Removal in Wetlands. In TN Proceedings of Tenn. AWRA, Burns, TN. April, 2008.
Carlton Cobb, Loreal Spear, Keyshon Bachus, Baibai Kamara, Roger Painter, Lonnie Sharpe, and
Tom Byl. 2008. Are Aquifers at Greater Risk from Alternative Alcohol-Fuel Mixes Compared to Regular Gasoline? In 18th Annual Proceedings of Tennessee Water Resources Association.
Tom Byl. 2008. Are Aquifers at Greater Risk from Alternative Alcohol-Fuel Mixes Compared to Regular Gasoline? In 18th Annual Proceedings of Tennessee Water Resources Association.
Jameka Johnson, C. Cobb, L. Sharpe, T. Byl. 2007. Tracer Studies to Evaluate the Advection and Dispersion Properties in an Urban Wetland. Page 20 in the proceedings of MidSouth SETAC, 17th annual conference, Nashville, TN, May 22-24, 2007.
Tarra M. Beach, Michael Bradley, Roger Painter, Tom D. Byl. 2007. Advection Versus Dispersion as Determined by Single-Well Tracer Studies. In the 16th Proceedings of the Tennessee Water Resources Symposium
Carlton Cobb, Jameka Johnson, Tom Byl. 2007. Effect of a Riverine Wetland on Parking Lot Runoff at Tennessee State University. In the 16th Proceedings of the Tennessee Water Resources Symposium.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Clarifying Science Needs for Determining the Impact of Climate Change on Harmful Algal Blooms in Southeastern United States
The southeast United States has many lakes, streams and reservoirs that serve as important drinking water sources, recreational, agricultural, and ecological uses. Unfortunately, harmful algal blooms are becoming more common in these waters, causing health issues for humans and animals. While it is clear that nutrients stimulate algae growth, it isn’t clear if there are other parameters that stimu
Biogeochemical data from microcosm experiments to evaluate treatment of acid-rock drainage in selected counties in Tennessee
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, conducted an investigation of acid-rock drainage from road cuts in Tennessee during 2014-2015. The Devonian Chattanooga Shale contains disseminated pyrite and is a primary producer of acid-rock drainage (ARD) in Tennessee. One objective of the overall investigation was to attenuate ARD by manipulating the i
Average well color development data for water samples from six locations within the historic section of Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Water samples were collected from six cave locations where Actinobacterial mats appeared to be plentiful. Community-level physiological capabilities were evaluated using Biolog-Ecolog plates inoculated with cave water dosed with 0 or 0.10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of erythromycin. The data were transformed into average well color development (AWCD). The transformation is done by subtracting the
Attenuation of acid rock drainage by stimulating sulfur-reducing bacteria
Iron-sulfide minerals found in shale formations are stable under anaerobic conditions. However, in the presence of oxygen and water, acid-loving chemolithotrophic bacteria can transform the iron-sulfide minerals into a toxic solution of sulfuric acid and dissolved iron and minerals known as acid rock drainage (ARD). The objective of this study was to disrupt chemolithotrophic bacteria responsible
Authors
Thomas D. Byl, Ronald Oniszczak, Diarra Fall, Petra Kim Byl, Michael Bradley
Stimulation of aquatic bacteria from Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, by sublethal concentrations of antibiotics
Many microorganisms secrete secondary metabolites with antibiotic properties; however, there is debate whether the secretions evolved as a means to gain a competitive edge or as a chemical signal to coordinate community growth. The objective of this research was to investigate if select antibiotics acted as a weapon or as a chemical signal by exposing communities of aquatic cave bacteria to increa
Authors
Thomas D. Byl, Petra Kim Byl, Jacob P. Byl, Rickard Toomey
Microbiology and oxidation-reduction geochemistry of the water-table and Memphis aquifers in the Allen well field, Shelby County, Tennessee
The shallow and Memphis aquifers in Shelby County, Tennessee, are valuable natural resources that are used for domestic, public-supply, and agricultural water use. The Memphis aquifer is the primary source for public supply in West Tennessee and provides 170 to 175 million gallons of water per day for more than 900,000 people (Robinson, 2018). The shallow aquifer includes the unconfined water tabl
Authors
Thomas D. Byl, Mike Bradley
Undergraduate research projects help promote diversity in the geosciences
A workforce that draws from all segments of society and mirrors the ethnic, racial, and gender
diversity of the United States population is important. The geosciences (geology, hydrology,
geospatial sciences, environmental sciences) continue to lag far behind other science, technology,
engineering and mathematical (STEM) disciplines in recruiting and retaining minorities (Valsco
and Valsco, 20
Authors
De'Etra Young, Shannon Trimboli, Rick S. Toomey, Thomas D. Byl
Adaptations of indigenous bacteria to fuel contamination in karst aquifers in south-central Kentucky
The karst aquifer systems in southern Kentucky can be dynamic and quick to change. Microorganisms that live in these unpredictable aquifers are constantly faced with environmental changes. Their survival depends upon adaptations to changes in water chemistry, taking advantage of positive stimuli and avoiding negative environmental conditions. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a study in 2001 to
Authors
Thomas D. Byl, David W. Metge, Daniel T. Agymang, Mike Bradley, Gregg Hileman, Ronald W. Harvey
U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Carlsbad, New Mexico, April 29-May 2, 2014
Karst aquifer systems are present throughout parts of the United States and some of its territories, and have developed in carbonate rocks (primarily limestone and dolomite) that span an interval of time encompassing more than 550 million years. The depositional environments, diagenetic processes, post-depositional tectonic events, and geochemical weathering processes that form karst aquifers are
Authors
Eve L. Kuniansky, Lawrence E. Spangler
U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Fayetteville, Arkansas, April 26-29, 2011
Karst aquifer systems are present throughout parts of the United States and some of its territories and are developed in carbonate rocks (primarily limestone and dolomite) that span the entire geologic time frame. The depositional environments, diagenetic processes, and post-depositional tectonic events that form carbonate rock aquifers are varied and complex, involving both biological and physica
Partnership of Environmental Education and Research-A compilation of student research, 1999-2008
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Tennessee Water Science Center and the College of Engineering and Technology at Tennessee State University developed a Partnership in Environmental Education and Research (PEER) to support environmental research at TSU and to expand the environmental research capabilities of the USGS in Tennessee. The PEER program is driven by the research needs to better define t
U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Bowling Green, Kentucky, May 27-29, 2008
*INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS*
Karst aquifer systems are present throughout parts of the United States and some of its territories. The complex depositional environments that form carbonate rocks combined with post-depositional tectonic events and the diverse climatic regimes under which these rocks were formed result in unique hydrologic systems. The dissolution of calcium carbonate and th
Authors
Eve L. Kuniansky
Non-USGS Publications**
Brown, J.T.; Olson, R.; Solomon, D.; Sharpe, L., Jr; Toomey, R., III; Byl, T.D. (2015) Quantitative Tracer Studies at Mammoth Cave National Park with Implications for Contaminant Transport. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. P5
Byl, T.D.; Byl, P.K.; Trimboli, S.; Toomey, R., III. (2015) Sublethal Concentrations of Particular Antibiotics Stimulate Bacteria from Mammoth Cave Streams. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. 3C1 – 3C2
Barzanji, R.; Sharpe, L. Jr; Byl, T.D. (2015) Karst Aquifer Properties and Water Levels at the TSU Research Farm, Nashville, Tennessee. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. P4
Bradley, M.; Byl, T.D.; Worland, S. (2015) Conceptual Models of the Formation of Acid-Rock Drainage at Road Cuts in Tennessee. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. 2C8 - 2C9
Oniszcak, R.; Fall, D.; Hart, A.; Sharpe, L., Jr; Byl, T.D. (2015) Attenuating Acid-Rock Drainage by Stimulating Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. P19.
Solomon, D.A. Byl, T.D., (2015) Modeling Karst Hydrology. In Proceedings from the 24th Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN, USA, April 2015, pp. 2B-2.
C. Beals and T.D. Byl (2014) Chemiluminescent examination of abiotic oxidative stress of watercress. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 33:798–803. Article published online: 18 FEB 2014 | DOI: 10.1002/etc.2484
T. D. Byl, P. K. Byl, S. Trimboli, R. Toomey, III. (2014) Response of Cave-Stream Bacteria to Sub-Lethal Concentrations of Antibiotics. Pages 127-128. In Kuniansky, E.L., and Spangler, L.E., 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Proceedings, Carlsbad, New Mexico, April 29–May 2, 2014: USGS SIR 2014-5035, 155 p.
Irucka Embry, Victor Roland, Oluropo Agbaje, Valetta Watson, Marquan Martin, Roger Painter, Tom Byl, Lonnie Sharpe. (2013) Derivation of a Multiparameter Gamma Model for Analyzing the Residence-Time Distribution Function for Nonideal Flow Systems as an Alternative to the Advection-Dispersion Equation.
T.D. Byl, R.Toomey, S.Trimboli, L.Sharpe, Jr., R. Painter. (2013) Partners in Water Quality Monitoring at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky pg 178-183
P. Byl, S. Trimboli, R. Toomey, J. Byl, D. Solomon, T. Byl (2013) Antibiotic resistance and substrate utilization by bacteria affiliated with cave streams at different levels of Mammoth Cave. Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 33-39.
R.Painter, I. Embry, V. Roland, R.Toomey, L.Sharpe, T.D. Byl (2013) An Alternative to the Advection Dispersion Model for Interpreting Dye Tracing Studies in Fractured-Rock and Karst Aquifers. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 99-102
A. West, D. Solomon, S. McMillan, H.-W. Ho, V. Roland, I. Embry, R. Toomey, R. Painter, L. Sharpe, D. Hui, T.D. Byl (2013) Three Examples of Chemical Transport in Storm Runoff at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 184-187.
S. McMillan, A. West, D. Solomon, R. Diehl, V. Roland, I. Embry, R. Toomey, III, T.D. Byl. (2013) Evaluation of Stormwater Filters at Mammoth Cave National Park,
Kentucky, 2011-12. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 188-192.
Kentucky, 2011-12. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 188-192.
S. McMillan, A. West, D. Solomon, R. Diehl, V. Roland, I. Embry, R. Toomey, III, T.D. Byl. (2013) Evaluation of Stormwater Filters at Mammoth Cave National Park,
Kentucky, 2011-12. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 188-192.
Kentucky, 2011-12. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 188-192.
H.W. Ho, R.Toomey, T. Byl.(2013) Use of Sorption Isotherms to Improve the Efficacy of the Storm-water Filters. In S. Trimboli Ed., Proceedings of 10th Mammoth Cave Science Symposium, pg 193-196.
V.Roland, K. Dzantor and T.Byl. (2012) Synthesis of Nano-Zero Valent Iron in Sand Matrix and Impact on Microbial Community. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P: 43-49.
B.D. Cobb, M.W. Bradley, T. D. Byl, and R.Thomas (2012) Design & Evaluation of a Bioreactor to Reduce Contaminant Load at Hardeman County Landfill, Tennessee. Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages 1B-1.
Tom Byl, Michael Bradley, Randy Thomas, and Brandon Cobb. 2012. Hydrologic and Geologic Controls on Carbon Tetrachloride Transport and Biodegradation at the Valsicol Dump, Hardeman County, Tennessee. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages 1C-3
Irucka Embry, Victor Roland, Roger Painter, Rick Toomey, and Lonnie Sharpe. 2012. Quantitative Dye Tracing—Development of a New Interpretative Method. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages 1C:6-16.
Aras Barzanji, Mike Bradley, and Tom Byl. Hydraulic Connections Between the Cumberland River and Groundwater in Nearby Wells in Nashville, Tennessee – Implications for the Effects of Surface Water on Water-Supply Wells. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P-23
Jennifer M. Cartwright, William J. Wolfe, Dafeng Hui, Thomas D. Byl, and E. Kudjo Dzantor. Hydrology and Soil Biology of Cedar Glade Ecosystems, 2012. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P-24
Roger Diehl, Rick Toomey, Victor Roland, Irucka Embry, Ashley West and Tom Byl. 2012. Effectiveness of Stormwater Filters at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P: 29-36.
Victor Roland, Kudjo Dzantor and Tom Byl. Synthesis of Nano-Zero Valent Iron in Sand Matrix and Impact on Microbial Community. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P: 43-49.
Ashley West, Rick Toomey, Tyesha Martin, Sean McMillian, David Solomon, and Tom Byl. 2012. Fate of Chemicals Carried from the Surface into a Cave. in Proceedings from the 22nd Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, April 11-13, 2012, pages P: 52-53.
Painter R, Byl T, Sharpe L, Watson V, Patterson T (2012) A Residence Time Distribution Approach to Biodegradation in Fuel Impacted Karst Aquifers. J Civil Environ Eng 2:121. doi: 10.4172/2165-784X.1000121
Tyesha Martin, Tom Byl. 2012. Microbial Resistance to Quarternary Ammonia Compounds. in Proceedings of Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NSF), 9th Annual Research Conference Awards, MTSU, Murfeesboro, TN. Feb. 3-4, 2012.
R. Painter, T.D. Byl, L. Sharpe, A. Kheder, J.Harris, (2011) The Role of Attached and Free-Living Bacteria in Biodegradation in Karst Aquifers, Water, 3: 1139-1148
Aras Barzanji, A. Morris, M. Bradley, and T. Byl. 2011. Hydraulic Gradients and Groundwater Flow At Tennessee State University, Nashville Tennessee. in Proceedings of Tennessee Water Resource Symposium
V. Roland, T.D. Byl. 2011. Effect of the 2010 Flood Event on Surface and Ground-Water Quality and a Wetland Ecosystem in Nashville, TN. In Proceedings from the 21st Tennessee
Water Resources Symposium,
Water Resources Symposium,
V. Roland, T.D. Byl. 2011. Effect of the 2010 Flood Event on Surface and Ground-Water Quality and a Wetland Ecosystem in Nashville, TN. In Proceedings from the 21st Tennessee
Water Resources Symposium,
Water Resources Symposium,
V. Roland, T.D. Byl. 2011. Effect of the 2010 Flood Event on Surface and Ground-Water Quality and a Wetland Ecosystem in Nashville, TN. In Proceedings from the 21st Tennessee
Water Resources Symposium,
Water Resources Symposium,
Aras Barzanji, Mike Bradley, and Tom Byl (2010) Characterizing Hydraulic Gradients And Groundwater Flow Near The Cumberland River, Nashville Tennessee. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. P-6 .
Ashley West, Carlton Cobb, Brandon Cobb, Marquan Martin, Jaala Brooks, Rickard Toomey and Tom Byl. (2010) Protecting The Unique Ecosystem From Contaminated Storm Runoff At Mammoth Cave, KY. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010, Pages P-17.
Baibai Kamara, Loreal Spear, Christin Staples, Lonnie Sharpe, and Tom Byl (2010) Increased Risk Of Groundwater Contamination With Et-85 Fuels. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010 Pgs P-12.
Michael W. Bradley and Thomas D. Byl (2010) Hydrologic and Geologic Controls on Contaminant Transport at the Hardeman County Landfill. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. Pages 2C-25.
Thomas D. Byl and Michael W. Bradley (2010) Reconnaissance Evaluation Of The Hardeman County Landfill For Natural Attenuation. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. pages 2C-26.
Carlton Cobb, Lonnie Sharpe, Patrice Armstrong, Dafeng Hui, and Tom Byl (2010) Interpreting A Spring’s Chemographs To Estimate Groundwater Recharge In An Urban, Karst Terrain. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, Apr 13-15, 2010. P-9
Jaala Brooks, Carlton Cobb, Brandon Cobb, Marquan Martin, Patrice Armstrong, Mike Bradley and Tom Byl. (2010) Indications of Oil Biodegradation at a Crude Oil Spill on Clear Creek, Obed Wild And Scenic River National Park. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. Pages P-8.
Jameka Johnson, Carlton Cobb, Lonnie Sharpe, and Tom Byl. (2010) Comparing the Tanks-In-Series and Continuous-Stirred Flow Reactor Models to Predict Contaminant Removal in a Wetland. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. P-11.
Marquan Martin, Roger Painter, and Tom Byl. (2010) Improving the Residence-Time Distribution Model to Accurately Describe Contaminant Flow in Non-Ideal Flow Systems. In Proceedings from the Twentieth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, April 13-15, 2010. Pages P-13.
Patrice Armstrong, C. Cobb, B. Cobb, M. Martin and J. Stewart-Wright. (2009) The Link between Groundwater Geochemistry and Bacteria in Two Karst Springs. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. Pages 2C-8.
Marquan Martin, R. Painter and T.D. Byl (2009) Use of Independent Gamma Distribution to Describe Tracer Break-Through Curves, In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. P-13.
Brandon Cobb, Carlton Cobb, Patrice Armstrong, Marquan Martin, L. Sharpe, J. Stewart-Wright, and TD Byl (2009) Wetlands Improve Water-Quality at Tennessee State University. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. P-6.
Loreal Spear, Christin Staples, Lonnie Sharpe, Tom Byl (2009) Solubility and Biodegradation of ET-85 in Groundwater. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. P-13.
Carlton Cobb, J. Stewart-Wright and Tom Byl (2009) Using Chemographs to Characterize a Karst Spring in Nashville, TN. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, Tennessee, 2009. P-7.
Chris Beals, & Tom Byl (2009) Watercress as Sentinels of Water Quality. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium Montgomery Bell State Park Burns, Tennessee, 2009. Page 2C-20.
Tom Byl and Roger Painter (2009) Microbial Adaptations to Karst Aquifers with Contaminants. In Proceedings from the Nineteenth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium, 2009. 2C-9.
Chris Beals, Farida Forouzon, and Tom Byl. 2008. Development of an Aquatic Plant Chemiluminescent Bioassay to Assess Water Quality. In TN Proceedings of Tenn. AWRA, Burns, TN. April, 2008.
Jameka Johnson, Carlton Cobb, Roger Painter, Lonnie Sharpe and Tom Byl. 2008.
Use of Tanks-In-Series Numerical Model to Predict Nitrate Removal in Wetlands. In TN Proceedings of Tenn. AWRA, Burns, TN. April, 2008.
Use of Tanks-In-Series Numerical Model to Predict Nitrate Removal in Wetlands. In TN Proceedings of Tenn. AWRA, Burns, TN. April, 2008.
Carlton Cobb, Loreal Spear, Keyshon Bachus, Baibai Kamara, Roger Painter, Lonnie Sharpe, and
Tom Byl. 2008. Are Aquifers at Greater Risk from Alternative Alcohol-Fuel Mixes Compared to Regular Gasoline? In 18th Annual Proceedings of Tennessee Water Resources Association.
Tom Byl. 2008. Are Aquifers at Greater Risk from Alternative Alcohol-Fuel Mixes Compared to Regular Gasoline? In 18th Annual Proceedings of Tennessee Water Resources Association.
Jameka Johnson, C. Cobb, L. Sharpe, T. Byl. 2007. Tracer Studies to Evaluate the Advection and Dispersion Properties in an Urban Wetland. Page 20 in the proceedings of MidSouth SETAC, 17th annual conference, Nashville, TN, May 22-24, 2007.
Tarra M. Beach, Michael Bradley, Roger Painter, Tom D. Byl. 2007. Advection Versus Dispersion as Determined by Single-Well Tracer Studies. In the 16th Proceedings of the Tennessee Water Resources Symposium
Carlton Cobb, Jameka Johnson, Tom Byl. 2007. Effect of a Riverine Wetland on Parking Lot Runoff at Tennessee State University. In the 16th Proceedings of the Tennessee Water Resources Symposium.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government