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Publications

Since 1966, CERC scientists have published over 2000 peer reviewed articles and reports. Browse our publications below or search CERC's publications by author or title through the USGS Publications Warehouse.

If you need assistance in locating a specific CERC publication, please contact the CERC Librarian.

Filter Total Items: 1407

Contaminants without borders: A regional assessment of the Colorado River Delta ecosystem

The Colorado River Delta Region (CRDR) is comprised of large agricultural areas in the U.S. (Imperial and Yuma districts) and Mexico (Mexicali and San Luis districts), the Salton Sea, and the Lower Colorado River from southern Arizona to the Gulf of California (Valdés-Casillas et al., 1998). Before agricultural development, the lower delta comprised large riparian and wetland areas (Sykes, 1937; G
Authors
Miguel A. Mora, Jaqueline Garcia, Maria de la Paz Carpio-Obeso, Kirke A. King

The role of the egg jelly coat in protecting Hyla regilla and Bufo canorus embryos from Ultraviolet B radiation during development

Background. Previous studies have suggested that Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation may play a role in amphibian population declines. Some of these studies also indicate that egg hatching success is unaltered in some species of anurans as a result of UVB exposure. It has been proposed that the egg mass jelly provides photoprotection to the developing embryos. Methods. Direct spectrophotometric scans of
Authors
L.J. Hansen, D. L. Fabacher, R. Calfee

Impact of selenium and other trace elements on the endangered adult razorback sucker

A study was conducted with endangered the razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) to determine if environmental exposure to selenium in flooded bottomland sites affected survival, growth, and egg-hatching success. Adults were stocked at three sites adjacent to the Colorado River near Grand Junction, Colorado, in July 1996: hatchery ponds at Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area (referred to here as H
Authors
Steven J. Hamilton, Kathy M. Holley, Kevin J. Buhl, Fern A. Bullard, L. Ken Weston, Susan F. McDonald

Breeding behavior and reproductive life history of the Neosho Madtom, Noturus placidus (Teleostei: Ictaluridae)

The Neosho madtom, Noturus placidus, is a small catfish listed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened. Little is known of its breeding biology and behavior because high turbidity and flow during its spawning season prevent direct observation in the field, and captive propagation has met with limited success. We held Neosho madtoms in laboratory aquaria in 1996 and 1998 to study sexua
Authors
Angela G. Bulger, Christopher D. Wilkinson, David R. Edds, Mark L. Wildhaber

Bioavailability and toxicity of dietborne copper and zinc to fish

To date, most researchers have used dietborne metal concentrations rather than daily doses to define metal exposure and this has resulted in contradictory data within and between fish species. It has also resulted in the impression that high concentrations of dietborne Cu and Zn (e.g.>900 mg kg−1 dry diet) are relatively non-toxic to fish. We re-analyzed existing data using rations and dietborne m
Authors
Susan J. Clearwater, Aïda M. Farag, J.S. Meyer

Environmental contaminants in prey and tissues of the peregrine falcon in the Big Bend Region, Texas, USA.

Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) have been recorded nesting in Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA and other areas of the Chihuahuan Desert since the early 1900s. From 1993 to 1996, peregrine falcon productivity rates were very low and coincided with periods of low rainfall. However, low productivity also was suspected to be caused by environmental contaminants. To evaluate potential impacts of
Authors
M. Mora, R. Skiles, B. McKinney, M. Paredes, D. Buckler, D. Papoulias, D. Klein

Stabilized liquid membrane device (SLMD) for the passive, integrative sampling of labile metals in water

A stabilized liquid membrane device (SLMD) is described for potential use as an in situ, passive, integrative sampler for cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in natural waters. The SLMD (patent pending) consists of a 2.5-cm-wide by 15-cm-long strip of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) layflat tubing containing 1 mL of an equal mixture (v/v) of oleic acid (ci
Authors
W. G. Brumbaugh, J. D. Petty, J.N. Huckins, S.E. Manahan

Hazard assessment of selenium to endangered razorback suckers (Xyrauchen texanus)

A hazard assessment was conducted based on information derived from two reproduction studies conducted with endangered razorback suckers (Xyrauchen texanus) at three sites near Grand Junction, CO, USA. Selenium contamination of the upper and lower Colorado River basin has been documented in water, sediment, and biota in studies by US Department of the Interior agencies and academia. Concern has be
Authors
S. J. Hamilton, K.M. Holley, K.J. Buhl

Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program: Environmental contaminants and their effects on fish in the Mississippi River Basin

We collected, examined, and analyzed 1378 fish of 22 species from 47 sites in the Mississippi River basin (MRB) during 1995 and from a reference site in 1996. The sampling sites in the MRB represented National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (NCBP) stations situated at key points on major rivers and National Water- Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) stations located on lower-order rivers and str
Authors
Christopher J. Schmitt