Publications
Read publications and other informational products to learn more about USGS science occurring in the Mississippi Basin.
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Spatial and temporal trends of freshwater mussel assemblages in the Meramec River Basin, Missouri, USA Spatial and temporal trends of freshwater mussel assemblages in the Meramec River Basin, Missouri, USA
The Meramec River basin in east-central Missouri has one of the most diverse unionoid mussel faunas in the central United States with >40 species identified. Data were analyzed from historical surveys to test whether diversity and abundance of mussels in the Meramec River basin (Big, Bourbeuse, and Meramec rivers, representing >400 river miles) decreased between 1978 and 1997. We found...
Authors
Jo Ellen Hinck, Stephen E. McMurray, Andrew D. Roberts, M. Christopher Barnhart, Christopher G. Ingersoll, Ning Wang, Tom Augspurger
Determination of selenium in fish from designated critical habitat of the Gunnison River, Colorado, summer 2011 Determination of selenium in fish from designated critical habitat of the Gunnison River, Colorado, summer 2011
This report presents results for the summer 2011 sampling of muscle plugs from common carps (Cyprinus Linnaeus), roundtail chub (Gila robusta), and bonytail chub (Gila elegans) inhabiting critical habitat in the Gunnison River in Western Colorado. Total selenium in fish muscle plugs was determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Total selenium concentrations (range and mean...
Authors
Thomas W. May, Michael J. Walther
An algorithmic and information-theoretic approach to multimetric index construction An algorithmic and information-theoretic approach to multimetric index construction
The use of multimetric indices (MMIs), such as the widely used index of biological integrity (IBI), to measure, track, summarize and infer the overall impact of human disturbance on biological communities has been steadily growing in recent years. Initially, MMIs were developed for aquatic communities using pre-selected biological metrics as indicators of system integrity. As interest in...
Authors
Donald R. Schoolmaster, James B. Grace, E. William Schweiger, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Brian R. Mitchell, Kathryn M. Miller, Amanda M. Little
Polybrominated diphenyl ether metabolism in field collected fish from the Gila River, Arizona, USA-Levels, possible sources, and patterns Polybrominated diphenyl ether metabolism in field collected fish from the Gila River, Arizona, USA-Levels, possible sources, and patterns
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in fish collected from the Gila River, Arizona, a tributary of the Colorado River in the lower part of the Colorado River Basin. Fish samples were collected at sites on the Gila River downstream from Hayden, Phoenix, and Arlington, Arizona in late summer 2003. The Gila River is ephemeral upstream of the Phoenix urban area due to dams...
Authors
Kathy R. Echols, Paul H. Peterman, Jo Ellen Hinck, Carl E. Orazio
Invertebrate and fish assemblage relations to dissolved oxygen minima in lowland streams of southwestern Louisiana Invertebrate and fish assemblage relations to dissolved oxygen minima in lowland streams of southwestern Louisiana
Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in lowland streams are naturally lower than those in upland streams; however, in some regions where monitoring data are lacking, DO criteria originally established for upland streams have been applied to lowland streams. This study investigated the DO concentrations at which fish and invertebrate assemblages at 35 sites located on lowland streams in
Authors
B. G. Justus, Scott V. Mize, Daniel Kroes
Concentrations, loads, and yields of select constituents from major tributaries of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in Iowa, water years 2004-2008 Concentrations, loads, and yields of select constituents from major tributaries of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in Iowa, water years 2004-2008
Excess nutrients, suspended-sediment loads, and the presence of pesticides in Iowa rivers can have deleterious effects on water quality in State streams, downstream major rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico. Fertilizer and pesticides are used to support crop growth on Iowa's highly productive agricultural landscape and for household and commercial lawns and gardens. Water quality was...
Authors
Jessica D. Garrett
Computing daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in Iowa by using the Flow Anywhere and Flow Duration Curve Transfer statistical methods Computing daily mean streamflow at ungaged locations in Iowa by using the Flow Anywhere and Flow Duration Curve Transfer statistical methods
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains approximately 148 real-time streamgages in Iowa for which daily mean streamflow information is available, but daily mean streamflow data commonly are needed at locations where no streamgages are present. Therefore, the USGS conducted a study as part of a larger project in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to develop...
Authors
S. Mike Linhart, Jon F. Nania, Curtis L. Sanders, Stacey A. Archfield
Flood of August 11–16, 2010, in the South Skunk River Basin, central and southeast Iowa Flood of August 11–16, 2010, in the South Skunk River Basin, central and southeast Iowa
Severe thunderstorm activity during August 8–11, 2010 in central and southeast Iowa resulted in major flooding from August 11–16, 2010, in the South Skunk River Basin. Rain gages at Ames and Story City recorded 96-hour rainfall amounts of 9.61 and 8.70 inches, respectively. The majority of the rainfall occurred during a 52-hour period, beginning late at night on August 8. Within the...
Authors
Kimberlee K. Barnes, David A. Eash
Prevalence of a potentially lethal parasite of wading birds in natural and agricultural wetlands in south Louisiana Prevalence of a potentially lethal parasite of wading birds in natural and agricultural wetlands in south Louisiana
Gambusia affinis (Western Mosquitofish) were sampled from 18 sites representing marsh, forested wetlands, and agricultural wetlands in south Louisiana to determine distribution and infection parameters of Eustrongylides ignotus, a potentially lethal nematode parasite of wading birds, (n = 400 per site). Overall, prevalence of infection was 0.3%, with significantly higher prevalence in...
Authors
Margaret C. Luent, Melissa Collins, Clinton Jeske, Paul Leberg
Compartment-based hydrodynamics and water quality modeling of a northern Everglades wetland, Florida, USA Compartment-based hydrodynamics and water quality modeling of a northern Everglades wetland, Florida, USA
The last remaining large remnant of softwater wetlands in the US Florida Everglades lies within the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. However, Refuge water quality today is impacted by pumped stormwater inflows to the eutrophic and mineral-enriched 100-km canal, which circumscribes the wetland. Optimal management is a challenge and requires scientifically based...
Authors
Hongqing Wang, Ehab A. Meselhe, Michael G. Waldon, Matthew C. Harwell, Chunfang Chen
Estimating pesticide sampling rates by the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) in the presence of natural organic matter and varying hydrodynamic conditions Estimating pesticide sampling rates by the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) in the presence of natural organic matter and varying hydrodynamic conditions
The polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) was calibrated to monitor pesticides in water under controlled laboratory conditions. The effect of natural organic matter (NOM) on the sampling rates (Rs) was evaluated in microcosms containing 0.05). However, flow velocity and turbulence significantly increased the sampling rates of the pesticides in the FTS and SBE compared to the...
Authors
Lucner Charlestra, Aria Amirbahman, David L. Courtemanch, David A. Alvarez, Howard Patterson
Effects of a drawdown on plant communities in a freshwater impoundment at Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana Effects of a drawdown on plant communities in a freshwater impoundment at Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana
Disturbance is an important natural process in the creation and maintenance of wetlands. Water depth manipulation and prescribed fire are two types of disturbance commonly used by humans to influence vegetation succession and composition in wetlands with the intention of improving wildlife habitat value. A 6,475-hectare (ha) impoundment was constructed in 1943 on Lacassine National...
Authors
Rebecca J. Howard, Larry Allain