Decision Science and Quantitative Methods
Bird and Terrestrial Species Conservation
Fish and Aquatic Species Conservation
Pollinator Conservation
Fish and Wildlife Disease Investigation and Surveillance
Freshwater and Coastal Ecology
Eastern Ecological Science Center
The USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) strives to provide world-class science to inform natural resource decisions that preserve and enhance our quality of life.
The land and water we live on and around shapes our lives. We share responsibility for the heathy fish, wildlife and landscapes that are assets to current and future generations.
EESC works directly with managers of our shared natural resources to provide the unbiased scientific tools, research and innovations needed to make informed decisions in today’s complex and rapidly changing conditions.
EESC’s broad expertise spans from mountain streams to deep oceans and the lands in between, supporting stewardship of a wide range of species and habitats.
Unique facilities in Maryland, Massachusetts and West Virginia help EESC deliver the reliable, actionable science that partners need to effectively conserve our treasured natural resources.
EESC Makes an Impact
EESC Makes an Impact
Learn how EESC science is applied to today's biggest issues.
Connect with Us
Connect with Us
Find locations, staff profiles and contact information for our team.
News
EESC in the News: No Simple Swim: The Mysterious Migration of the American Eel
EESC in the News: No Simple Swim: The Mysterious Migration of the American Eel
Preserving a Legacy: The Chan Robbins Records Project
Preserving a Legacy: The Chan Robbins Records Project
EESC in the News: Coastal Experts Evaluate Management Options for Mississippi/Alabama Coastline
EESC in the News: Coastal Experts Evaluate Management Options for Mississippi/Alabama Coastline
Publications
The functional effects of African lions on co-occurring carnivores differ across species pairs and with changes in resource availability and lion abundance The functional effects of African lions on co-occurring carnivores differ across species pairs and with changes in resource availability and lion abundance
Apex carnivores are known to regulate ecosystem structure and function, including via interactions with syntopic, competitively inferior carnivores. These effects may be dependent on relative carnivore density and resource availability or productivity. We investigated the functional effect of African lions as an apex carnivore on the presence of co-occurring large carnivore species...
MTAB 113, December 2025 MTAB 113, December 2025
This Memo to All Banders (MTAB 113) was released in December 2025. Subjects in this this memo are 1. The Chief’s Chirp – End-of-Year Message and BBL’s Year in Numbers; 2. Alerts –Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Screw-worms; 3. News – GameBirds Data Release and Banders Without Borders Updates; 4. A note from the permitting shelves – project description template and double-check...
An analysis of the linked decisions in the confiscation of illegally traded turtles An analysis of the linked decisions in the confiscation of illegally traded turtles
Over the last few decades, freshwater turtles have become more common in the illegal wildlife trade because of growing global demand. Illegally traded turtles may be intercepted by several different agencies with separate jurisdictions. When turtles are confiscated, uncertainties may make releasing them back to the wild difficult. We used tools from decision analysis to achieve the...
Science
Where land meets sea: USGS science for resilient coastal habitats
USGS coastal science plays a critical role in supporting the effective, science-based management of coastal ecosystems, where the biodiversity of land and sea meet. It provides managers with the information they need to make sound decisions. Through cutting-edge research, predictive modeling, and decision-support tools, USGS empowers resource managers to make informed, science-based choices. From...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Management Research Program, Science and Decisions Center, Species Management Research Program, California Water Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Fisheries Research Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Evaluating the Risks of Tire-Derived Compounds to Fish in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Tires contain a chemical known as 6PPD which prevents them from quickly breaking down. Microscopic tire particles, generated mainly from the friction of tires on roads, release 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ) when they come into contact with oxygen. During precipitation events, 6PPDQ can be washed off roads, harming fish in nearby waterways. In response to requests from fishery managers, the USGS is studying...
Using monitoring data to measure conditions over time in Chesapeake Bay streams
This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the health of streams throughout the Chesapeake Bay. Monitoring data were used to assess seven key indicators of stream condition, revealing consistent patterns of degradation in urban and agricultural areas. The findings offer critical insights that can inform watershed restoration efforts and improve long-term monitoring strategies.