Unified Interior Regions
Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
Regions L2 Landing Page Tabs
Quantifying relative importance: Computing standardized effects in models with binary outcomes
Scientists commonly ask questions about the relative importances of processes, and then turn to statistical models for answers. Standardized coefficients are typically used in such situations, with the goal being to compare effects on a common scale. Traditional approaches to obtaining standardized coefficients were developed with idealized...
Grace, James B.; Johnson, Darren; Lefcheck, Jonathan S.; Byrnes, Jarrett E.K. Coastal wetland adaptation to sea level rise: Quantifying potential for landward migration and coastal squeeze
Coastal wetland ecosystems are expected to migrate landwards in response to rising seas. However, due to differences in topography and coastal urbanization, estuaries vary in their ability to accommodate migration. Low‐lying urban areas can constrain migration and lead to wetland loss (i.e. coastal squeeze), especially where existing wetlands...
Borchert, Sinéad M.; Osland, Michael J.; Enwright, Nicholas M.; Griffith, Kereen Cumulative spring discharge and survey effort influence occupancy and detection of a threatened freshwater mussel, the Suwannee Moccasinshell
Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are among the most imperiled groups of organisms in the world, and the lack of information regarding species distributions, life-history characteristics, and ecological and biological requirements may limit the protection of remaining mussel populations. We examined the influence of hydrologic factors on the...
Holcomb, Jordan M.; Shea, Colin P.; Johnson, Nathan A. President elect's message
The first morning home the day after I became president of SWS at the annual meeting in Denver, I note the wilting of my garden and the grumpiness of my cats as the dawn of my new reality. The extra hours that I will spend as president of SWS will manifest itself as more cat and garden unhappiness as travel and responsibilities grow. The cats...
Middleton, Beth A. Environmental controls on the geochemistry of Globorotalia truncatulinoides in the Gulf of Mexico: Implications for paleoceanographic reconstructions
Modern observations of planktic foraminifera from sediment trap studies help to constrain the regional ecology of paleoceanographically valuable species. Results from a weekly-resolved sediment trap time series (2008–2014) in the northern Gulf of Mexico demonstrate that 92% of Globorotalia truncatulinoides ...
Reynolds, Caitlin E.; Richey, Julie N.; Fehrenbacher, Jennifer S.; Rosenheim, Brad E.; Spero, Howard J. Ecological resilience indicators for mangrove ecosystems
Mangrove ecosystems are coastal wetland ecosystems dominated by mangrove species that are typically found in the intertidal zone, characterized by frequently flooded saline soil conditions. The majority of the approximately 500,000 acres of mangrove ecosystem in the United States occurs in the NGoM, and almost all of that is in Florida, with over...
Day, Richard H.; Allen, Scott T.; Brenner, Jorge; Goodin, Kathleen; Faber-Langendoen, Don; Ames, Katherine Wirt Ecological resilience indicators for salt marsh ecosystems
Salt marshes are coastal ecosystems within the intertidal zone, characterized by hypoxic, saline, soil conditions and low biodiversity. Low diversity arises from frequent disturbance and stressful conditions (i.e., high salinity and hypoxia), where vegetative reproduction and low competition result in mostly monotypic stands, with some differences...
Allen, Scott T.; Stagg, Camille L.; Brenner, Jorge; Goodin, Kathleen L.; Faber-Langendoen, Don; Gabler, Christopher A.; Ames, Katherine Wirt Establishing a baseline: the amphibians of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, Dixie and Levy counties, Florida
From 2002-2006, we used a variety of sampling techniques to survey the amphibians and water chemistry of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida’s Big Bend region. We recorded 23 amphibian species, 19 frogs and 4 salamanders. Species richness was lower than in other areas of the coastal Big Bend region to the north, perhaps due to a...
Dodd, C. Kenneth; Barichivich, William J.; Johnson, Steve A.; Gunzburger Aresco, Margaret; Staiger, Jennifer S. Lower lethal temperatures for nonnative freshwater fishes in Everglades National Park, Florida
Temperature is an important factor that shapes biogeography and species composition. In southern Florida, the tolerance of nonnative freshwater fishes to low temperatures is a critical factor in delineating their geographic spread. In this study, we provide empirical information on experimentally derived low-temperature tolerance limits of Banded...
Schofield, Pamela J.; Kline, Jeffrey L. Partial migration of the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre), from the Dry Tortugas Islands
Nurse sharks have not previously been known to migrate. Nurse sharks of the Dry Tortugas (DRTO) mating population have a highly predictable periodic residency cycle, returning to the Dry Tortugas Courtship and Mating Ground (DTCMG) annually (males) or bi- to triennially (females) during the June/July mating season. For 23 years we have followed...
Pratt, Harold L.; Pratt, Theo C.; Morley, Danielle; Lowerre-Barbieri, Susan K.; Collins, Angela; Carrier, Jeffrey C.; Hart, Kristen M.; Whitney, N.M. A framework for modeling scenario-based barrier island storm impacts
Methods for investigating the vulnerability of existing or proposed coastal features to storm impacts often rely on simplified parametric models or one-dimensional process-based modeling studies that focus on changes to a profile across a dune or barrier island. These simple studies tend to neglect the impacts to curvilinear or alongshore varying...
Mickey, Rangley C.; Long, Joseph W.; Dalyander, P. Soupy; Plant, Nathaniel G.; Thompson, David M. Spatial distribution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in coastal surface sediments in the Hebei Province offshore area, Bohai Sea, China
Seven hundred and nine surface sediment samples, along with deeper sediment samples, were collected from Hebei Province along the coastal section of the Bohai Sea, China, and analyzed for grain size, concentrations of organic carbon (Corg) and heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, As, and Hg). Results indicated that the average concentrations in the...
Ding, Xigui; Ye, Siyuan; Yuan, Hongming; Krauss, Ken W.
Northwest Florida is inundated by floodwaters
The rural landscape in northwest Florida is inundated by floodwaters of the Alapaha River.
Florida floods with extreme highwater
The dry landscape of northwest Florida floods with extreme highwater from the Withlacoochee River.
A Diversity of Corals Growing in the Mangroves Within Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
This photo shows a mangrove ecosystem that may be unique in the Caribbean in terms of the abundance and diversity of corals.
USGS scientists are collaborating with scientists at the University of the Virgin Islands to learn more about why these corals are thriving while coral cover on USVI reefs has declined by 60% from bleaching and disease. With climate change,
...
A Diversity of Corals Growing in the Mangroves Within Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
This photo shows a mangrove ecosystem that may be unique in the Caribbean in terms of the abundance and diversity of corals.
USGS scientists are collaborating with scientists at the University of the Virgin Islands to learn more about why these corals are thriving while coral cover on USVI reefs has declined by 60% from bleaching and disease. With climate change,
...
Mycetophyllia sp. Coral Abundance in the Virgin Islands
This coral (Mycetophyllia sp.) is not abundant in coral reefs of the Virgin Islands. It most commonly grows in water deeper than 40 ft., and it is surprising to find it growing in the shade of the mangroves in 3 ft of water.
Red Mangroves in Hurricane Hole, US Virgin Islands
In Hurricane Hole, Red Mangrove trees extend from land into the water, anchoring the trees along the shoreline and creating a rich marine ecosystem.
Kristen Hart releasing a satellite-tagged hawksbill sea turtle
Kristen Hart releasing a satellite-tagged hawksbill sea turtle, August 2008, Dry Tortugas National Park.
A Queen Angelfish Swims in Front of Coral Colonies of Several Species Growing in Mangroves Within Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
This photo shows a mangrove ecosystem that may be unique in the Caribbean in terms of the abundance and diversity of corals.
USGS scientists are collaborating with scientists at the University of the Virgin Islands to learn more about why these corals are thriving while coral cover on USVI reefs has declined by 60% from bleaching and disease. With climate change,
...
Fall Foliage in North Carolina Mountains
Evening sunset over the mountains in Waynesville.
Fall Foliage in North Carolina Mountains
Evening sunset over the mountains in Waynesville.
The U.S. Geological Survey is expanding its capabilities in hormone research, studying the role contaminants may play in the reproductive development of amphibian, fish and mussel species.
"This morning’s earthquake in southern Alabama was a wake-up call in more ways than one," said Dr. Mark Schaefer, Acting Director of the U.S. Geological Survey. "It serves to remind all of us that earthquakes are not restricted to California, Washington, and Alaska. The East is earthquake country, too."
Federal and local biologists captured and tagged three manatees in early August near Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as part of efforts to better protect West Indian manatees inhabiting this Caribbean island.
Scientists explored a unique reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Managers and planners representing Federal, state, and local government agencies and private organizations will gather in Fort Lauderdale on Monday for a 3-day conference (August 25 - 27) to discuss the latest results of more than 50 scientific investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey in South Florida.
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.8 occurred in northeastern Tennessee, Wednesday, July 30, 1997 according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The gasoline additive MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) was detected in some urban stormwater samples collected in 16 cities and metropolitan areas by the U.S. Geological Survey, but all detections of MTBE were less than the lower limit of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s draft lifetime health advisory for drinking water.
The especially wet Hurricane Hortense has U.S. Geological Survey hydrologists and technicians working around the clock to measure its impact on the rivers of Puerto Rico. The Rio de la Plata in northeastern Puerto Rico, for example, has reached its highest level ever, exceeding the previous record high flow of Jan. 5, 1992, when the river reached a flow of 82 billion gallons per day.
From coastal erosion to measuring the storm surge and flooding as well as providing maps of affected areas, the U.S. Geological Survey is gearing up to provide information on Hurricane Fran as the storm develops, including real-time data, from its offices in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
The most important ground-water problems in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee are probably high concentrations of dissolved solids and large water-level declines near wells that pump large amounts of water from the aquifers (underground water-bearing rock layers), according to a new report by the U.S. Geological Survey.
As the U.S. Geological Survey continues to monitor declining streamflows throughout the Northeastern U.S., the Delaware River Basin Commission has issued a drought warning today (Fri., Sept. 15), in the Delaware River basin, limiting reservoir withdrawals and calling for the use of voluntary water conservation measures.
A new satellite image map of south Florida that will aid resource managers planning a $2-3 billion restoration effort in the Everglades and Florida Bay will be presented to the Governor’s office Wednesday (August 23, 1995).
Follow Region 2 activities on social media, get contact information for Region 2 USGS centers, and meet Region 2's staff and center directors.
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Locations
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center - Gainesville, FL
Phone: 352-378-8181
Fax: 352-378-4956
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center - Nashville, TN Office
GS-W-TNnsh Webmaster@usgs.gov
Phone: (615) 837-4700
Fax: (615) 837-4799
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center - Montgomery, AL Office
Phone: (334) 395-4131
Fax: (334) 395-4168
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center - Puerto Rico Office
Phone: (787) 749-7400
Fax: (787) 749-7401
South Atlantic Water Science Center - Raleigh, NC Office
Phone: (919) 571-4000
Fax: (919) 571-4041
South Atlantic Water Science Center - Columbia, SC Office
Phone: (803) 750-6100
Fax: (803) 750-6181
South Atlantic Water Science Center - Norcross, GA Office
Phone: (678) 924-6700
Fax: (678) 924-6710
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center - Florida Office
Phone: (813) 498-5000
Fax: (813) 498-5002
St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Phone: (727) 502-8000
Fax: (727) 502-8181
Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center
USGS-St. Petersburg Carbon Analytical Laboratory
South Atlantic Water Science Center - North Carolina: Charlotte Field Office
Phone: (704) 344-6272
South Atlantic Water Science Center - Tifton, GA Field Office
webmaster-ga@usgs.gov
Phone: 229-382-6353
South Atlantic Water Science Center - Charleston, SC Field Office
Phone: 843-460-9724
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center - Memphis, TN Office
Phone: 901-678-7287
Fax: 901-678-7300
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center - Knoxville, TN Office
rbrendli@usgs.gov
Phone: 865-862-2029
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center - Tuscaloosa, AL Office
Phone: 205-348-0950
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center - Fort Myers office
Phone: (239) 275-8448
Fax: (239) 275-6820
Caribbean Florida Water Science Center - Tallahassee Field office
Phone: (850) 553-3640
Fax: (805) 553-3641
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center - Orlando Office
Phone: (407) 803-5500
Fax: (407) 803-5501
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center Davie office
Phone: (954) 377-5900
Fax: (954) 377-5901
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center - St. John, USVI
USGS Everglades Research Offices
Phone: 305-242-7834
South Atlantic Water Science Center - North Carolina: Asheville Field Office
Phone: (828) 684-5905
South Atlantic Water Science Center - Georgia: Savannah Field Office
Phone: (843) 784-5005
Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK) Southern Appalachian Duty Station
Phone: 865-974-4790
Fax: 865-974-3555
