Travis S Schmidt, Ph.D.
Travis Schmidt is a Research Ecologist for the Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center.
Travis' aims are to better understand how ecosystems respond to natural and human cause disturbances. He researches the effects of metals, pesticides, and other contaminants on aquatic and riparian ecological communities.
Professional Experience
2020 to present, Research Ecologist, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, Helena, MT
2009-2020, Research Ecologist, Colorado Water Science Center, Fort Collins, CO
2007-2009, Mendenhall Fellow, Central Mineral and Environmental Science Center, Denver, CO
2003-2007, USDA Fellow, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2001-2003, Ecotoxicologist, ELM Consulting, Chicago, IL
1999-2001, Research Assistant, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
1998-1999, Research Assistant, Aquatic Ecology Lab, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
1998-1999, Department of Biology, Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Ecotoxicology, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 2007
M.S. Aquatic Toxicology, Biology Department, Virginia Tech, 2001
B.S. Ecology, Biology Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 1998
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 22
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 71
Metamorphosis enhances the effects of metal exposure on the mayfly, Centroptilum triangulifer Metamorphosis enhances the effects of metal exposure on the mayfly, Centroptilum triangulifer
The response of larval aquatic insects to stressors such as metals is used to assess the ecological condition of streams worldwide. However, nearly all larval insects metamorphose from aquatic larvae to winged adults, and recent surveys indicate that adults may be a more sensitive indicator of stream metal toxicity than larvae. One hypothesis to explain this pattern is that insects...
Authors
Jeff S. Wesner, Johanna M. Kraus, Travis S. Schmidt, David M. Walters, William H. Clements
Cross-ecosystem impacts of stream pollution reduce resource and contaminant flux to riparian food webs Cross-ecosystem impacts of stream pollution reduce resource and contaminant flux to riparian food webs
The effects of aquatic contaminants are propagated across ecosystem boundaries by aquatic insects that export resources and contaminants to terrestrial food webs; however, the mechanisms driving these effects are poorly understood. We examined how emergence, contaminant concentration, and total contaminant flux by adult aquatic insects changed over a gradient of bioavailable metals in...
Authors
Johanna M. Kraus, Travis S. Schmidt, David Walters, Richard B. Wanty, Robert E. Zuellig, Ruth E. Wolf
Emergence flux declines disproportionately to larval density along a stream metals gradient Emergence flux declines disproportionately to larval density along a stream metals gradient
Effects of contaminants on adult aquatic insect emergence are less well understood than effects on insect larvae. We compared responses of larval density and adult emergence along a metal contamination gradient. Nonlinear threshold responses were generally observed for larvae and emergers. Larval densities decreased significantly at low metal concentrations but precipitously at...
Authors
Travis S. Schmidt, Johanna M. Kraus, David M. Walters, Richard B. Wanty
Zinc isotope and transition-element dynamics accompanying hydrozincite biomineralization in the Rio Naracauli, Sardinia, Italy Zinc isotope and transition-element dynamics accompanying hydrozincite biomineralization in the Rio Naracauli, Sardinia, Italy
The Rio Naracauli in SW Sardinia drains part of the Ingurtosu Zn–Pb mining district, and contains extreme concentrations of dissolved Zn at near-neutral pH. In the upper reaches of the stream, pH, alkalinity and Zn concentrations are such that hydrozincite [Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6] precipitates in a biologically mediated process facilitated by a microalga (Chlorella sp.) and a cyanobacterium...
Authors
Richard B. Wanty, F. Podda, Giovanni De Giudici, R. Cidu, Pierfranco Lattanzi
Characterizing invertebrate traits in wadeable streams of the contiguous US: differences among ecoregions and land uses Characterizing invertebrate traits in wadeable streams of the contiguous US: differences among ecoregions and land uses
Much is known about invertebrate community traits in basins across Europe, but no comprehensive description of traits exists for the continental US. Little is known about the trait composition of invertebrates in reference or least-disturbed basins of the US, how trait composition varies among ecoregions, or how consistently traits respond to land use. These elements are essential to...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Travis S. Schmidt
Geospatial database for regional environmental assessment of central Colorado. Geospatial database for regional environmental assessment of central Colorado.
In conjunction with the future planning needs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a detailed environmental assessment of the effects of historical mining on Forest Service lands in central Colorado. Stream sediment, macroinvertebrate, and various filtered and unfiltered water quality samples were collected during low-flow over a...
Authors
Stan E. Church, Carma A. San Juan, David L. Fey, Travis S. Schmidt, Terry L. Klein, Ed H. DeWitt, Richard B. Wanty, Philip L. Verplanck, Katharine A. Mitchell, Monique G. Adams, LaDonna M. Choate, Todor I. Todorov, Barnaby W. Rockwell, Luke McEachron, Michael W. Anthony
Non-USGS Publications**
Stahl, Ralph G., Kapustka, Lawrence A., Munns, Wayne R., and Bruins, Randall J. F. 2007. Organizing and Integrating the Valuation Process. pp.129–163. DOI: 10.1201/9781420062632.ch6
Church, S.E., R.B. Wanty, T.S. Schmidt, D.L. Fey, B.W. Rockwell, and C.A. San Juan. 2008. Environmental Assessment of Central Colorado-Effects of hydrothermal alteration on water and sediment quality. [abs.]. In: Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, November 16-20, 2008, Tampa, Florida, USA. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. p. 1.
Church, S.E., D.L. Fey, T.L. Klein, T.S. Schmidt, R.B. Wanty, E.H. DeWitt, B.W. Rockwell, and C.A. San Juan. 2008. Environmental effects of hydrothermal alteration and historical mining on water and sediment quality in central Colorado. [pages in] In: The Third Interagency Conference on Research in Watersheds, September 8-11, 2008, Estes Park, Colorado, USA. p. 1.
Van Metre. (2022). Sediment Sources and Sealed-Pavement Area Drive Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon and Metal Occurrence in Urban Streams. Environmental Science & Technology., 56(3), 1615–1626. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c00414
**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
Filter Total Items: 22
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 71
Metamorphosis enhances the effects of metal exposure on the mayfly, Centroptilum triangulifer Metamorphosis enhances the effects of metal exposure on the mayfly, Centroptilum triangulifer
The response of larval aquatic insects to stressors such as metals is used to assess the ecological condition of streams worldwide. However, nearly all larval insects metamorphose from aquatic larvae to winged adults, and recent surveys indicate that adults may be a more sensitive indicator of stream metal toxicity than larvae. One hypothesis to explain this pattern is that insects...
Authors
Jeff S. Wesner, Johanna M. Kraus, Travis S. Schmidt, David M. Walters, William H. Clements
Cross-ecosystem impacts of stream pollution reduce resource and contaminant flux to riparian food webs Cross-ecosystem impacts of stream pollution reduce resource and contaminant flux to riparian food webs
The effects of aquatic contaminants are propagated across ecosystem boundaries by aquatic insects that export resources and contaminants to terrestrial food webs; however, the mechanisms driving these effects are poorly understood. We examined how emergence, contaminant concentration, and total contaminant flux by adult aquatic insects changed over a gradient of bioavailable metals in...
Authors
Johanna M. Kraus, Travis S. Schmidt, David Walters, Richard B. Wanty, Robert E. Zuellig, Ruth E. Wolf
Emergence flux declines disproportionately to larval density along a stream metals gradient Emergence flux declines disproportionately to larval density along a stream metals gradient
Effects of contaminants on adult aquatic insect emergence are less well understood than effects on insect larvae. We compared responses of larval density and adult emergence along a metal contamination gradient. Nonlinear threshold responses were generally observed for larvae and emergers. Larval densities decreased significantly at low metal concentrations but precipitously at...
Authors
Travis S. Schmidt, Johanna M. Kraus, David M. Walters, Richard B. Wanty
Zinc isotope and transition-element dynamics accompanying hydrozincite biomineralization in the Rio Naracauli, Sardinia, Italy Zinc isotope and transition-element dynamics accompanying hydrozincite biomineralization in the Rio Naracauli, Sardinia, Italy
The Rio Naracauli in SW Sardinia drains part of the Ingurtosu Zn–Pb mining district, and contains extreme concentrations of dissolved Zn at near-neutral pH. In the upper reaches of the stream, pH, alkalinity and Zn concentrations are such that hydrozincite [Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6] precipitates in a biologically mediated process facilitated by a microalga (Chlorella sp.) and a cyanobacterium...
Authors
Richard B. Wanty, F. Podda, Giovanni De Giudici, R. Cidu, Pierfranco Lattanzi
Characterizing invertebrate traits in wadeable streams of the contiguous US: differences among ecoregions and land uses Characterizing invertebrate traits in wadeable streams of the contiguous US: differences among ecoregions and land uses
Much is known about invertebrate community traits in basins across Europe, but no comprehensive description of traits exists for the continental US. Little is known about the trait composition of invertebrates in reference or least-disturbed basins of the US, how trait composition varies among ecoregions, or how consistently traits respond to land use. These elements are essential to...
Authors
Robert E. Zuellig, Travis S. Schmidt
Geospatial database for regional environmental assessment of central Colorado. Geospatial database for regional environmental assessment of central Colorado.
In conjunction with the future planning needs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a detailed environmental assessment of the effects of historical mining on Forest Service lands in central Colorado. Stream sediment, macroinvertebrate, and various filtered and unfiltered water quality samples were collected during low-flow over a...
Authors
Stan E. Church, Carma A. San Juan, David L. Fey, Travis S. Schmidt, Terry L. Klein, Ed H. DeWitt, Richard B. Wanty, Philip L. Verplanck, Katharine A. Mitchell, Monique G. Adams, LaDonna M. Choate, Todor I. Todorov, Barnaby W. Rockwell, Luke McEachron, Michael W. Anthony
Non-USGS Publications**
Stahl, Ralph G., Kapustka, Lawrence A., Munns, Wayne R., and Bruins, Randall J. F. 2007. Organizing and Integrating the Valuation Process. pp.129–163. DOI: 10.1201/9781420062632.ch6
Church, S.E., R.B. Wanty, T.S. Schmidt, D.L. Fey, B.W. Rockwell, and C.A. San Juan. 2008. Environmental Assessment of Central Colorado-Effects of hydrothermal alteration on water and sediment quality. [abs.]. In: Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, November 16-20, 2008, Tampa, Florida, USA. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. p. 1.
Church, S.E., D.L. Fey, T.L. Klein, T.S. Schmidt, R.B. Wanty, E.H. DeWitt, B.W. Rockwell, and C.A. San Juan. 2008. Environmental effects of hydrothermal alteration and historical mining on water and sediment quality in central Colorado. [pages in] In: The Third Interagency Conference on Research in Watersheds, September 8-11, 2008, Estes Park, Colorado, USA. p. 1.
Van Metre. (2022). Sediment Sources and Sealed-Pavement Area Drive Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon and Metal Occurrence in Urban Streams. Environmental Science & Technology., 56(3), 1615–1626. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c00414
**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.